Regional Project On Rule Of Law And Inclusive Development In Africa: Rhetoric, Contestations And Options For Access Justice For Women Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Rule of Law Program for Sub‐Saharan Africa, Windhoek, Namibia, 20th ‐21st January 2017

Between the 21-22 January Windhoek, Namibia was the place to be as a Regional High-Level Dialogue, or Workshop and engagement session took place involving key stakeholders and decision makers in the space of Africa women's rights. The project was organised under the auspices of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's Rule of Law Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa,

The workshop and networking session was a culmination of a project that has been in the making for almost a year. The intention was to reflect on how a rule of law that is inclusive can and should look like especially within the space of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The inclusiveness, prosperity, and stability underlying the spirit of Agenda 2030 is very important to the Agenda of human rights, specifically as relates to African women, who are 'the excluded of the excluded'. Thus a project that was built on engaging with challenges that these women have faced during the last 15 years or so, and discussing innovative ways on how to move forward in the next 15 years seemed not only overdue, but also necessary. 

Thus women and stakeholders, from Eastern, Western and Southern Africa gathered to set pace for such engagement and determine relevant approaches to employ in the process. The point was also to build a network of key stakeholders who can take this African agenda forward and build relationships amongst each other as the project moves forward and gains momentum. 

During the two days forum participants had an opportunity to inter alia,

 • Discuss evidence based research and policy development, as well as exchange knowledge, experience and best practices on women and access to justice in Africa;

 • Discuss innovative policy implementation options, and point out areas of improvement; 

• Lay a foundation for strong networks of stakeholders and women’s rights advocates at national, regional and continental levels; 

As a way forward, the workshop underscored the need for, 

• Building strong networks and coalitions on the continent to promote and protect women’s rights; 

• Enhance public awareness at all levels on matters women’s rights with special mentions of increased use of ICT and social media to ensure wide reach; 

• Multi-faceted approach and building synergies among various disciplines and stakeholders to advance women’s rights; 

• Benchmarking and sharing best practices across the continent;

 • Defining, identifying and strengthening legal and judicial systems that effectively and adequately address women rights’ issues as may be applicable from situation to situation and society to society provided that basic minimum standards that guarantee fairness and justice are adhered to and upheld by all.

The workshop was graced by Rashida Manjoo, Professor, Public Law Department, University of Cape Town and Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences; Hon. Dr. Nancy Baraza, Senior Lecturer and Head of Public Law Department, University of Nairobi and Former Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya and Kondwa Sakala-Chibiya, Legal Practitioner and Vice Chair, Zambia Human Rights Commission among others.

By Dr Olivia Lwabukuna (Project Coordinator)