Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa

09/10/2026

🌍Climate justice is gender justice.

The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) and Women and Law in Southern Africa – Zambia (WLSA-Zambia) have jointly applied to participate as amici curiae (friends of the court) in a climate change case before the High Court of Zambia in Lusaka.

The case, brought by Climate Action Professionals Zambia (CAPZ) against the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Attorney General, challenges the State’s failure to operationalise the Green Economy and Climate Change Fund and the Environmental Fund.

Why does this matter?

Climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately affect women and girls. These impacts make it essential that measures to address climate change are gender-responsive and recognise the different challenges women and girls face.

Through their proposed joint amicus brief, ISLA and WLSA-Zambia seek to assist the Court by outlining relevant regional and international human rights standards, the State’s obligations regarding environmental protection, and the importance of operationalising these funds to support climate mitigation, adaptation and gender-responsive interventions.

📅 The application was filed on 25 September 2026. On 28 September 2026, the Court directed the other parties to consider the application and raise any objections before the next hearing. The matter was adjourned to 26 October 2026.

This work forms part of ISLA’s Feminist Litigation Network, which supports African feminist lawyers and organisations to use strategic litigation to challenge structural inequality and advance rights protections.

Climate action must account for gender inequality. Women and girls cannot be left out of the legal and policy responses to the climate crisis.

See full statement here : https://www.the-isla.org/the-states-failure-to-operationalise-the-green-economy-and-climate-change-fund-and-the-environmental-fund/

For Immediate Release

09/10/2026

ISLA devant les tribunaux :
Le 8 octobre 2026, l’affaire HCCHRPET/E028/2025 – AN et autres c. le gouvernement du comté de Kakamega et autres a été portée devant la Haute Cour de Kakamega afin qu’elle se prononce sur la demande d’ISLA et de Kituo Cha Sheria visant à être admis en tant qu’amicus curiae conjoints. La Cour a fait droit à la demande d’intervention. Dans son arrêt, l’honorable Alice Bett a déclaré que cette affaire portait principalement sur la violence obstétricale, un sujet d’intérêt public général. La Cour a indiqué que le rôle de l’ISLA et de Kituo Cha Sheria serait utile pour mettre en lumière les lois, normes et jurisprudences comparatives et internationales relatives à la violence obstétricale. L’affaire sera mentionnée le 17 décembre 2026 pour instructions.

Pour en savoir plus, suivez ce lien :

A month ago, on 25 July 2026, African feminists, women’s rights organisations, survivors, legal advocates, human rights defenders and civil society movements gathered outside the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, to demand meaningful scrutiny of the African Union Convention on Endin...

09/10/2026

ISLA in Court:
On 8 October 2026, HCCHRPET/E028/2025 – AN & Others v The County Government of Kakamega & Others came before the Kakamega High Court for ruling on the application by ISLA and Kituo Cha Sheria to be admitted as joint amicus curiae. The court allowed the application for joinder. In the ruling, Hon. Alice Bett stated that this case presents its main issue as obstetric violence, which is a matter of general public importance. The court indicated that the role of ISLA and Kituo Cha Sheria will be useful in highlighting comparative and international laws, standards and jurisprudence on obstetric violence. The matter will be mentioned on 17 December 2026 for directions.

To read more read follow this link:

A month ago, on 25 July 2026, African feminists, women’s rights organisations, survivors, legal advocates, human rights defenders and civil society movements gathered outside the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, to demand meaningful scrutiny of the African Union Convention on Endin...

09/10/2026

Today, ISLA’s Countering Anti-Rights Actors (CARA) thematic area team facilitates 'Law as a Weapon, Law as a Shield' at Noor’s Popular Education School — Know Your Enemy.

We’ll unpack court capture, regressive laws, and anti-rights litigation, then explore how feminist movements can mobilise legal protections and strategic litigation to defend rights and disrupt the machinery of exclusion. Read more: https://wearenoor.org/noors-popular-education-school-know-your-enemy-2026/

Noor’s Popular Education School- Know Your Enemy Applications are now open: Noor’s Popular Education School – Know Your Enemy – 2026 Know Your Enemy, a popular educational summer school, is for those who refuse to give up ground, who are not only resisting but organizing toward something bet...

07/10/2026

Consultation stratégique FLN-FWA – Retour sur le Jour 1
Ce lundi 5 octobre, l'Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) a ouvert à Abidjan la Consultation stratégique du Réseau de litige féministe en Afrique de l'Ouest francophone (FLN-FWA). Elle réunit les Partenaires de collaboration de cas (CCP) et les membres du Panel d'experts du réseau.
La première journée a permis de clarifier les rôles de chacun·e dans le réseau, puis d'explorer la théorie juridique féministe et les cadres d'analyse féministes appliqués aux dossiers. Les échanges ont été riches, ancrés dans les réalités de nos pays : droit de la famille, transmission du nom, protection des victimes, place de la recherche féministe.
Les travaux se poursuivent jusqu'au vendredi 9 octobre avec l'analyse juridique féministe, les mécanismes africains des droits humains, les recours dans le litige d'intérêt stratégique et les thématiques prioritaires du réseau.

Objectif : développer, devant les juridictions, une jurisprudence féministe en Afrique de l'Ouest francophone qui tienne les acteurs étatiques et non étatiques responsables des violations des droits des femmes.

02/10/2026

📢 Call for Applications – VAW & WSER Institute

The Feminist Litigation Network of the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa is delighted to open its upcoming VAW & WSER Institute to self-funded participants! 🌍

Join committed professionals for an enriching experience of learning, networking and exchange.

📝 Apply here: https://ow.ly/7aBh50ZU28E
📅 Deadline: 19 October 2026

All applications will be carefully reviewed, and selected participants will be contacted.

Know someone who would be interested? Tag them or share this post! 🤝🏿🤝🏾🤝🏽🤝🏼🤝🏻

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02/10/2026

ISLA’s Executive Director, Sibongile Ndashe, spoke in an interview following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on gender-based violence (GBV).

Sibongile highlighted that while the government has taken steps to address the violence against women, significant gaps remain, particularly in ensuring that existing laws and protections are effectively implemented and upheld.

South Africa has a legal framework to address GBV. The challenge, as Sibongile emphasised, is ensuring that these laws translate into meaningful protection and justice for women and girls.

📻 Listen to the interview to hear Sibongile's reflections on the President’s address and what is needed to strengthen the response to GBVF: https://omny.fm/shows/ukhozi-current-affairs-sabcnews/ezanamuhla-gender-activist-reacts-to-president-ramaphosas-address



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Inhlangano elwa nodlame olubhekiswe kwabesifazane, i-Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa for Rise Against Gender Based Violence Organisation, ithi uhulumeni noma kukhona akwenzayo ukulwa nesihlava sokubulawa kwabesifazane kepha akwanele. Lenhlangano ithi nakuba iNingizimu Afrikha inemithet...

02/10/2026

Happening now! African young women are shaping feminist thought, organising and the struggle for justice.

Join ISLA at FEMNET’s dialogue on African Young Women and Intergenerational Feminist Leadership. We’ll examine anti-rights organising and feminist concerns around AU-CEVAWG, connecting legal analysis to our collective struggles for autonomy, equality and freedom from violence.

Come through for an intergenerational exchange and the launch of young women’s Maputo articles!

Today, 2 October | 2-4 p.m. EAT
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bG83c6UMQliMBOsNaUrDEQ #/registration

29/09/2026

Sibongile Ndashe will be on Point of View on KayaFM with Phemelo Motene.

Tune in for a discussion about ’s court battle over the National Council Act.

📅 When: Tuesday, 29 September
⏰ Time: 21:15
📻 Tune in: Kaya FM 959

22/09/2026

📢 Calling all human rights defenders and civil society across Africa!

Join human rights defenders and civil society organisations from across the continent for a critical dialogue on the ACHPR Draft Declaration on Human Rights Defenders 🌍⚖️

What protections does the Draft offer, where are the concerns, and what needs to change? Come unpack the text, hear diverse perspectives and help shape collective advocacy ahead of the 89th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR in Dakar.

🗓️ Friday, 25 September 2026
🕐 14:00–16:30 EAT | 13:00–15:30 SAST | 11:00–13:30 UTC
💻 Virtual

✨ Your voice matters in shaping the standards meant to protect those who defend human rights.

👉 Register now https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SO6NXutEQgyEpX58d3n6GA