Strategic Advocacy for Human Rights (SAHR)

On August 9th, we partnered with Gumzo Youth Group to train a new batch of paralegals from Bungoma, Kenya who are serving survivors of SGBV in their communities. Our goal: to equip them with the skills necessary to document cases of SGBV effectively. ?? We examined what makes violence "gendered" and discussed the importance of a survivor-centered approach, and the nuances of documenting sensitive cases. ?? Objectives: ? Examine gender-competent approaches to documentation. ? Ensure documentation processes prioritize the survivor’s well-being and autonomy. ? Highlight the critical role of accurate, comprehensive documentation in legal advocacy. ?? Outcomes: The paralegals left the workshop with a deeper understanding of how to interview survivors; how to manage and document cases; and the importance of approaching each case with empathy and respect. ?? Reflections: For SAHR, we acknowledge the indispensable role that paralegals play. They are often the first line of support for survivors, and their ability to document accurately can make a significant difference in the outcomes of these cases.

??From November 25 to December 10, we stand united for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. At SAHR, we are committed to ending violence against women and supporting survivors worldwide ?? Join our movement, share our message, and make a difference. Stay tuned for upcoming posts and ways to get involved. ?Together, we can build a world free from violence.

Joint Statement Condemning Gender-Based Violence in Bungoma County, Kenya We stand united in condemning the tragic killing of Beatrice Akwenda, a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need to address gender-based violence in Bungoma County and beyond. This joint statement calls for immediate government action to enhance protective measures, strengthen community-based interventions, and secure justice for all victims and survivors. As we urge the government to improve community-based interventions, provide resources for law enforcement, and ensure survivors' access to shelter, healthcare, and legal aid, we renew our commitment to ending gender-based violence. No one should experience fear in their own home, and we stand together for justice, safety, and the fundamental right to life for all. In unity, we reaffirm our commitment to a future free from violence, where every person’s right to safety is protected. Let us honor Beatrice’s memory by driving meaningful change and strengthening support for those in need. To read the full statement, click here: https://lnkd.in/dqhjwqJW

?? We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our talented Legal Interns from Temasek Polytechnic School of Law and Management— Venneth Tay, Nur Syafiqah, and @Yashnee — for their invaluable contributions to SAHR's mission. And thanks to our former intern Amelia Cheng In partnership with SAHR Fellows from Kenya, these dedicated interns have developed groundbreaking Guidelines for Paralegals and Community Health Volunteers in Bungoma County. These guidelines are the first of their kind in Bungoma, designed to manage and document cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence through a community-centered approach. What truly sets this work apart is its community-based and ground-up methodology, placing responsibility on local actors to detect and respond to violence through a survivor-centered lens. This approach empowers communities to take an active role in addressing SGBV issues. Our SAHR Legal Interns have also put together a comprehensive training package for paralegals and community health volunteers. This package focuses on crucial skills such as documenting injuries, assessing risks, and applying for protection measures. Through creative capacity-building techniques, including role-plays and scenario-based methods, we've found innovative ways to fast-track learning on SGBV case documentation and response skills. This initiative marks a significant step towards empowering communities to address SGBV effectively and compassionately, and we're incredibly proud of our interns' contributions to this important cause. We hope that through these experiences more Singaporean students are also exposed to Access to Justice Work internationally from a survivor-centered and rights-based approach. SAHR is a partner of Temasek Polytechnic Student Internship Program (SIP) and supported by Janney Y.

We are incredibly humbled and proud to support the “Girls Unstoppable” program, which is empowering girls across China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico to unleash their full creative potential?

?? International Day of the Girl - centering protection, power and play! ?? Today, on International Day of the Girl, we are proud to be collaborating with Save the Children Denmark, on their efforts to center girls' power, protection and play in their global and national country strategies. How do very young girls take initiative and lead in decision making processes which affect them? How do we do this in safe and age appropriate ways? Over the last weeks of consultations with Save the Children country offices, these were some of the key questions discussed. True agency for girls is not just about being included; it's not just about participation. It's about girls being supported to lead, shape, and hold the power to make decisions in their own lives. ???? Play is an important method of engagement with very young girls. Through play, they can define and express their concerns and collectively create solutions. We are inspired by Save the Children’s approach and proud to be a partner in this! The LEGO Foundation the LEGO Group Save the Children Denmark #GirlsUnstoppable #GirlsRights #InvestInGirls #SaveTheChildren #LEGO #PlayAndLearn #InternationalDayoftheGirl

???International Day of the Girl Child??? ?? Gender inequality is not just a women's issue, but a human rights crisis ? Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and potential of girls worldwide. But it's also a call to action—reminding us that gender inequality, violence, and discrimination remain daily realities for millions of girls. SAHR's work is based on principles of human rights and intersectional gender justice. This means recognizing that girls, especially those from marginalized communities, deserve equal opportunities, freedom from violence, and the right to be heard. We have to recommit to changing the ways we include girls. We are proud to collaborate with Save the Children Denmark and we are particularly inspired by their approach to girls’ empowerment that goes beyond mere involvement and participation. The last several weeks of consultations and exchange with their Global and National teams, gave us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the critical role of girls in decision-making, self-initiation, and leadership in advocacy and campaigning, particularly on issues that most concern them. The driving question for us has been: How can we put girls - especially those who are the most marginalized - at the driver’s seat of locally-led responses? Save the Children México Save the Children in Vietnam Save the Children Indonesia Save the Children Denmark We are also pleased to see children’s decision-making at the forefront of the UN Special Rapporteur Surya Deva’s most recent report relating to the Right to Development. He states: “The right to development also has a collective component. This means that children can collectively raise issues as a group about policies or decisions affecting their right to development. To illustrate, this collective dimension will be relevant in exercising the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, assessing the impact of a major development project on several villages or cities, and asserting the right to self-determination in relation to preserving Indigenous culture, land, language or traditions.” “Since the process of development under the right to development is as important as the outcome of development, children can participate in the process of conceiving and implementing various development-related policies, programmes and projects. Children have agency not merely over their own development but also over the development of other human beings.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ddtCMqKa

?Congrats Jimena and Yamila on your Final Report! ? 2023 SAHR Gender Justice Fellows Jimena Gibertoni and Yamila Carballido conducted a comprehensive field analysis of cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Argentina. Their report provides a detailed and nuanced understanding of the role of forensic-psychological examinations in criminal proceedings related to SGBV, with a particular focus on gender-competent and trauma-informed practices. Through years of experience legally representing victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Argentina, Jimena Gibertoni and Yamila Carballido had identified one factor that substantially improves victims’ access to justice: gender-competent forensic psychological examination. Mobilized by this discovery, they examined 11 cases of sexual abuse and 22 comprehensive expert psychological reports; interviewed survivors, their legal representatives, psychologists and other legal professionals; and conducted a desk review of existing literature, including international laws, local regulations, human rights standards, and research on forensic-psychological examinations in cases of sexual violence. Follow the link ??for the full report: https://lnkd.in/ddjpEGHD

??We are proud to stand with young girls in Mexico as they share their excitement and vision for the future, inspired by the possibility of the first woman president. At SAHR, we are committed to learning from and supporting these unstoppable voices. Together, we can work to break barriers and create a more inclusive world where girls lead with confidence ??