The Trust Fund for Victims

The Trust Fund for Victims envisions a world where the rights of individuals are fulfilled and where survivors of the gravest human rights violations are empowered to live a life of hope, dignity and respect. The Trust Fund for Victims responds to the harm resulting from the crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC by ensuring the rights of victims and their families through the provision of reparations and assistance.

Working in: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Northern Uganda.

Situation reports, WHO African Region COVID 19

In Africa, the virus has spread to dozens of countries within weeks. Governments and health authorities across the continent are striving to limit widespread infections. Since the start of the outbreak the World Health Organization (WHO) has been supporting African governments with early detection by providing thousands of COVID-19 testing kits to countries, training dozens of health workers and strengthening surveillance in communities. Forty-seven countries in the WHO African region can now test for COVID-19. At the start of the outbreak only two could do so. WHO has issued guidance to countries, which is regularly updated to take into account the evolving situation.

Defend Defenders

DefendDefenders serves as the Secretariat of East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) representing more than 78 members, i.e. HRDs and their organisations. The Network envisions a region in which the human rights of every citizen as stipulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) are respected and upheld. Its mission is to maximize the protection of HRDs working in the sub-region and to enhance the awareness of human rights work through linkages with national, regional and international like-minded entities.

Report of the Study on the Situation of Women Human Rights Defenders in Africa

This report highlights the work of women human rights defenders and their leading role in protecting vulnerable and under-privileged groups, including those working on rights associated with sexual orientation and gender identity. It urges States Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to be visionary, and to consider women defenders as partners in securing respect for human rights (pdf. 87 pages).

The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs)

TIERs is a Nigerian-based organization that promotes and protects the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria and West Africa. They have various programs, including mental health initiatives, that address the specific needs and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people.

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)

Is an umbrella non-governmental organization based in Kampala, Uganda. SMUG advocates for the protection and promotion of human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ugandans.

The Coalition of African Lesbians

A formation of more than 30 organisations in 19 countries in Africa committed to advancing justice for lesbian and bisexual women and transdiverse people.

Reaching for Justice – The Right to Reparation in the African Human Rights System

This report seeks to examine the procedures as well as the jurisprudence of the African Commission on the right to reparation for victims of gross human rights violations, in light of the evolving international standards and taking into account the practice of other international and regional human rights mechanisms.

African Commission on Human and People’s rights

This commission was established in 1987 by the African Charter on Human and Peoples`Rights, adopted in 1981 by the Organization of African Unity OAU. The commissions’ task is to ensure the “promotion and protection of Human and Peoples`Rights throughout the African Continent. Headquarter is in Banjul/Gambia. Homepage in French and English.

1. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights “Banjul Charter” (1981)

Article 7 Every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard. This comprises: a) the right to an appeal to competent national organs against acts of violating his fundamental rights as recognized and guaranteed by conventions, laws, regulations and customs in force; b) the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty by a competent court or tribunal.

Truth, justice, and reconciliation in Africa: Issues and cases

This essay identifies a number of problematic issues concerning transitional justice and restorative justice in particular and suggests that they can be fruitfully explored through thoughtful examination of the truth-seeking projects of this issue’s case countries: South Africa, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

‘The Maputo Protocol’ – Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

One of the world’s most comprehensive and progressive women’s human rights instruments, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (‘the Maputo Protocol’) was adopted by Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003.

Central African Republic: Detain War Crimes Suspect Now

(Nairobi) – The Central African Republic government should coordinate with United Nations peacekeepers to ensure that war crimes suspect Hassan Bouba, who was released from detention in defiance of court orders and escorted home by national gendarmes on November 26, 2021, is returned to custody, Human Rights Watch said today.

International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)

ICMP ensures the cooperation of governments and others in addressing the issue of missing persons, including provisions to build institutional capacity, encourage public involvement and address the needs of justice and provides technical assistance to governments in locating, recovering and identifying missing persons.

Enforced Disappearances – An Information Guide for Human Rights Defenders and CSOs

This publication speaks about enforced disappearances and underscores the important issue of human rights concerns globally.

Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems, International (HURIDOCS)

Based in Geneva, HURIDOCS is an NGO that since 1982 supports human rights defenders use information technologies and documentation methods to organize and present data about violations. We are passionate about providing NGOs with the simplest and most efficient tools and techniques to advocate for their cause. Our team working in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe understands the specific challenges of each of these contexts.

The rape of men: the darkest secret of war

Sexual violence is one of the most horrific weapons of war, an instrument of terror used against women. Yet huge numbers of men are also victims. In this harrowing report, Will Storr travels to Uganda to meet traumatised survivors, and reveals how male rape is endemic in many of the world’s conflicts. Of all the secrets of war, there is one that is so well kept that it exists mostly as a rumour. It is usually denied by the perpetrator and his victim. Governments, aid agencies and human rights defenders at the UN barely acknowledge its possibility.

Male victims of sexual violence: war’s silent sufferers

Sexual violence is a tactic of war, used to humiliate, dominate and instill fear. It is also increasingly being used as a tactic of terrorism. While the focus has largely been on women and girls as victims of sexual violence, boys and men are equally at risk. Sexual violence against men and boys takes on a range of heinous acts, including anal and oral rape, genital torture, castration and coercion to rape others. Many of these acts are seen as emasculating, and while many male victims are willing to give accounts of what they witnessed, they are less likely to express what they themselves had experienced in conflict (webpage).

Evaluating Asylum Seekers: An Interview with Dr. Arno Vosk

In the third installment of Evaluating Asylum Seekers, Sampsonia Way speaks to Dr. Arno Vosk, an advisor to a medical student clinic at the University of Pennsylvania. I find it incredible that people who have endured such suffering in their home countries should find it so difficult to get refuge in the United States.

Child soldiers and Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration in West Africa

This report describes current child soldier and DDR programs, as well as gaps, funding needs and overlaps identified by those organizations. It further outlines proposals for information sharing and more effective advocacy work on child soldier issues in the sub-region. Ideas for new research are also proposed. this report is not an evaluation or compilation of best practices, but an attempt to share knowledge about the organizations working on DDR in the region, giving an overview of programs being undertaken by child protection agencies in West Africa. It does not intend to give a complete picture and many relevant and important programs and activities are not mentioned here simply because it was not possible to meet every stakeholder.

Torture in Uganda A Baseline Study on the Situation of Torture Survivors in Uganda

The objective of this Baseline Study on Torture in Uganda is to obtain a clear understanding of the situation of victims of torture and conflict in the country and to assess the key issues pertinent to improving access to justice and adequate and effective forms of reparation. The Baseline Study is intended to serve as the foundation for further work in support of torture survivors in the country, and is intended to be of benefit not only to REDRESS and ACTV, but other civil society groups, government agencies and others working towards these goals in Uganda.

Stop stealing our stories: the ethics of research with vulnerable groups

The article discusses the challenges and opportunities faced when integrating participatory methods into human rights-based research. It describes the development of a participatory action research approach designed to fulfil the aim of undertaking advocacy-focused research grounded in human rights and community participation. It reflects the principles of anti-oppressive social work and the ethics of undertaking research with vulnerable populations. In line with other contributions to this special issue, the article explores questions such as: Where does knowledge about the story come from and how is it passed on?; What spurs ethical thinking at an individual and organizational level?; and How can ethical sensitivity and strategic effectiveness be combined?’

Group therapy model for refugee

This article looks at the Center for Torture and Trauma Survivors’ therapy group model for torture survivors and describes two of its variants: The Bashal group for African and Somali women and the Bhutanese multi-family therapy group. Group therapies in this model extend to community healing. Groups develop their cohesion to graduate to a social community club or initiate a community organization.

Rehabilitation as a form of reparation under International law

The Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law (Basic Principles) further clarify this right. These Principles indicate the types of reparation that may be needed, depending on the particular circumstances of the case, to afford adequate and effective reparation to victims, explicitly recognising five forms of reparation for such violations: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.

Children, torture and psychological consequences

Deliberate infliction of pain and suffering or intimidation or coercion on children to obtain a confession or information, for punishment of real or perceived offences on the basis of discrimination about race, ethnic or political affiliation, is practiced in many places around the world. Impact of torture on children may vary depending on the child’s coping strategies, cultural and social circumstances.

Trauma, Peacebuilding and Development: An Africa Region Perspective

Armed conflict and its aftermath impose an enormous burden of psychological and social suffering on affected populations. During the 1990s and early in the 21st century, this suffering was conceptualized in terms of a trauma paradigm, which held that life threatening experiences cause individual traumatic reactions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and also collective maladies such as collective trauma. In many regions, practitioners who adhere to a trauma paradigm assume that unhealed traumas may contribute to ongoing cycles of violence and thwart peacebuilding efforts, and they seek to alleviate trauma through individualized approaches such as trauma counseling .

Sexual violence against women and girls in war and its aftermath: realities, responses, and required resources

Addressing GBV requires coordinated, inter-agency, and multi-sectoral strategies that aim for prevention through policy reform and implementation of protective mechanisms and building the capacity of health, social welfare, legal and security systems to recognize, monitor, and respond to GBV; in addition to ensure rapid and respectful services to survivors (34 pages, .pdf. for historical reference).

Because I am a Girl: the State of the Worlds Girls reports

The public images of war focus almost exclusively on young men  armed forces, suicide bombers, young men throwing stones at soldiers. The fact that girls remain invisible casts a long shadow on their involvement in war, particularly as the changing nature of war and conflict means that increasingly, civilians are affected as war is played out closer to people’s homes.

The psychosocial impact of war, HIV and other high-risk situations on girls and boys in West and Central Africa.

The psychological and physical suffering of children expressed in the testimonies makes for disturbing reading. But the findings need to be understood for what they are: reports on children in extreme situations where traditional and modern protection mechanisms of states, families and communities have failed .

Children in Emergency and Crisis Situations

Commission Of The European Communities, 2008. A framework for community humanitarian actions covering children in crisis situations with focus on separated and no accompanied children, child soldiers and education in emergencies. This general framework will be implemented according to the specificities of each crisis situation taking into account the available resources and the presence of competent partners in the field.

Security Council Cross Cutting Report Children and armed conflict

These reports track Security Council involvement with children and armed conflict over the years, highlighting trends since the issue first emerged as a separate thematic agenda item in 1998. The present report covers relevant developments at the thematic level during 2014 and into the first half of 2015 (40 pages).

Combating Female Genital Mutilation in Europe

A Comparative Analysis of Legislative and Preventative Tools in the Netherlands,France, the United Kingdom, and Austria, Every year, 3 million girls and women are subjected to the harmful traditional practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Worldwide, the number of girls and women who have undergone this practice is estimated to lie between 100 and 150 million. FGM is not only an important issue in Africa, the Middle-East, and Asia where it has been traditionally practised, but due to the arrival of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers from these countries to the West, to Europe, North America, and Australia, FGM has also become a Western concern.

The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is unstable and rapidly shifting in some areas. This report contains the most current information available about Congolese children up to early June 2003.

Preventing Torture in Africa

Proceedings of a joint APT – ACHPR Workshop, Robben Island, South Africa, 12-14 February 2002

Resolution on Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa

The Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment in Africa, “Robben Island Guidelines”, were drafted in a workshop convened by the APT and the African Commission in February 2002 on Robben Island, a symbolic place in South Africa where Nelson Mandela and anti-Apartheid activists were detained for years.

Medica Mondiale

Medica Mondiale acts to support traumatised women and girls in war and crisis zones and views its role as that of an advocate for the rights and interests of women who have survived sexualised wartime violence.

Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA)

PRAWA was established to promote safety and security in the African community by a creating humane criminal justice system. This is achieved through service delivery to the community in general; to particular vulnerable groups, such as prisoners, ex-prisoners, torture survivors, youths-at-risk, women, and the affected families; as well as to other personnel and stakeholders working within the formal and informal security, justice and penal systems.

Torture against children in rebel captivity in Northern Uganda: physical and psychological effects and implications for clinical practice

TORTURE Volume 19, Number 2,
Although torture in adults is well documented, studies that document its use against children, especially during war, are rare. This study documented the use of torture against children and its physical and psychological consequences during the war in Northern Uganda.

The Politics of Torture: Dispelling the Myths and Understanding the Survivors

Understanding the modem use of torture entails the dispelling of myths about its nature and purpose. There remains a perception that torture is practiced randomly, that it is punishment carried to an extreme, that it is performed by psychopaths or sadists, that it exists outside of governmental responsibility and is practiced by “less civilized” societies.