Feminist CSOs from the Souths are in the first line of the fight against GBV. Their members are deeply committed and have creative, inclusive and innovative propositions based on a deep knowledge of their context, focus population and the work they do (and the work is needed in order to respond to their needs).

CSOs need to be supported and accompanied in their work and capacity building to be heard in the dissemination of the message of equity and non-violence in regional, national and international advocacy spaces. Furthermore, they need spaces and platforms to document the violation of human rights.) What they need is support to reinforce their capacities, support to be bring their messages to multiple advocacy spaces, national, regional and international fora, support to document the violations of women’s rights.

  • FON supports the advocacy strategies of the feminist CSOs.
  • FON contributes to the building of feminist movements across countries, regions and continents.
  • FON supports feminist movements to have their voices heard louder, whether it is at local, national, regional or international level.
  • And FON also advocates for more direct and flexible funding to small feminist organizations around the globe, as the most efficient way to undermine gender injustice.

The need for change in national legislation and policies to ensure respect for the rights of women and girls, particularly in relation to the fight against SGBV and access to justice for survivors, highlights the growing importance for feminist civil society organizations (CSOs) to fully engage with African human rights bodies and instruments. Understanding how this regional mechanism works, the possibilities for participation and mobilization, and the opportunities for advocacy, enable CSOs campaigning against gender-based violence to make their actions more effective.

Having celebrated its 35th anniversary last year, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), based in Banjul, The Gambia, is a quasi-judicial mechanism charged with promoting and protecting human and collective rights, and interpreting the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Maputo Protocol). As the main regional body for the defense of human rights in Africa, its decisions, recommendations and resolutions can contribute to the work of feminist CSOs in strengthening and guaranteeing women’s rights on the continent.

As part of the 77th session of the ACHPR held in Arusha, Tanzania, from October 20 to November 9, 2023, a 7-day mission has been organized, from October 15 to 23, 2023, with 8 selected English-speaking feminist CSOs, so that they can introduce themselves to this advocacy regional network and understand how to bring their priorities to it in the future."

Attached is a picture of FON activists (+ some others) with Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa of the ACHPR.

English
English