Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa

19/08/2026

When the evidence used against you is proof of the violence done to you - that's the legal contradiction now before Kenya's High Court.

A Constitutional Petition is underway at the High Court in Narok, brought by survivors of Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM) who were arrested and subjected to forced ge***al examinations. These examinations were recorded on P-3 forms which are medical reports designed to document physical assault in criminal cases and were then used as evidence against the survivors themselves in prosecutions under Sections 20 and 24 of the Prohibition of FGM Act.
The Petitioners are asking the Court to declare that both the forced examinations and the resulting criminal proceedings against them are unconstitutional. They are also seeking a declaration that the Attorney General's office failed in its duty to propose legislative clarity on the ambiguity within Sections 20 and 24 of the Act.
ISLA and FIDA-Kenya were admitted as joint amicus curiae to advance three key arguments:
🔹 The State's obligation to protect women from violence against women (VAW)
🔹 The State's duty to protect FGM survivors navigating the criminal justice system
🔹 The need for a victim-centred approach in developing and implementing laws -recognising FGM as a harmful practice, a form of VAW, and therefore discrimination
On 14th August 2026, the Court made a Ruling that this Petition raises substantial questions of law, including:
• The constitutional limits on investigative powers that intrude on bodily integrity and privacy
• The limits of State enforcement where those investigated may themselves be victims
• The State's constitutional obligation to protect vulnerable persons
• Whether evidence from forced ge***al examinations can be reconciled alongside the right to a fair trial
• The proper interpretation of Sections 20 and 24 of the Prohibition of FGM Act
Recognising the case's broader public interest, the Court has certified it for hearing by a bench of no fewer than three judges, as required under Article 165(4) of the Constitution of Kenya, and referred the matter to the Chief Justice for empanelment.

11/08/2026

Du 3 au 6 août 2026, l’Initiative pour le contentieux stratégique en Afrique (ISLA) a rejoint Voix des Femmes (VDF) à Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso, pour une visite de quatre jours visant à renforcer la contentieux stratégique féministe.

Les trois premiers jours ont été consacrés au Renforcement institutionnel (RI). Cette partie de la visite était particulièrement significative, car elle a vu la première mise en œuvre de l'Outil de suivi organisationnel (Organisational Monitoring Tool - OMT), adapté spécifiquement pour le modèle de partenaire coordinateur local de l'Afrique de l'Ouest francophone (LCP-AOF). L'OMT a permis à ISLA et VDF de réfléchir de manière pratique aux systèmes et pratiques institutionnels nécessaires pour soutenir la lutte stratégique féministe à long terme.

Les discussions ont couvert le leadership et la gouvernance, la stratégie de litige, le développement des dossiers et les rôles du personnel. Ils ont également exploré la durabilité financière, la culture organisationnelle et le partenariat entre ISLA et VDF. Au cours de ce processus, les équipes ont identifié les domaines qui fonctionnaient bien et ceux qui nécessitaient un développement supplémentaire. Ces discussions permettront d'établir les priorités du programme de renforcement institutionnel et de guider l'application du programme de renforcement institutionnel dans la prochaine phase du projet.

Le dernier jour, l'accent a été mis sur les affaires en cours et potentielles. Les discussions ont porté sur le développement des dossiers, le soutien aux clients et la coordination nécessaire pour faire avancer la lutte stratégique féministe en faveur des droits humains au Burkina Faso et dans l'Afrique de l'Ouest francophone.

Nous tenons à remercier VDF pour leur accueil chaleureux, leur ouverture et leur engagement réfléchi tout au long de la visite.

11/08/2026

From 3 to 6 August 2026, the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) joined Voix des Femmes (VDF) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening feminist strategic litigation.

The first three days were dedicated to institutional strengthening (IS). This part of the visit was particularly significant as it saw the first implementation of the Organisational Monitoring Tool (OMT), adapted specifically for the Francophone West Africa (FWA) Local Coordinating Partner model. The OMT provided ISLA and VDF with a practical space in which to reflect on the institutional systems and practices needed to support long term feminist strategic litigation.

Discussions covered leadership and governance, litigation strategy, case development and staff roles. They also explored financial sustainability, organisational culture, and the partnership between ISLA and VDF. Throughout the process, the teams identified areas that were functioning well and those that required further development. These discussions will inform the priorities of the Institutional Strengthening programme and guide the application of the Institutional Strengthening Curriculum in the next phase of the project.

On the final day, the focus shifted to ongoing and potential cases. The discussions covered case development, client support, and the coordination required to advance feminist strategic litigation in Burkina Faso.

We are grateful to VDF for their warm welcome, openness and thoughtful engagement throughout the visit.

07/08/2026

In mid-July, ISLA held its Annual Reflections in Johannesburg, South Africa. This annual gathering brings together staff, Board members, and Core Feminist Litigation Network (FLN) Lawyers to reflect on the highlights, challenges, and lessons from the past year, while identifying strategic priorities and opportunities for improvement as we look to the future.

At ISLA, we remain intentional in fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Strong internal systems, structured learning processes, and effective knowledge sharing across teams form the foundation of our work. These practices strengthen our ability to litigate, build partnerships, and produce impactful knowledge.

This year's Annual Reflections also embraced the theme of African attire; it was a celebration of our identity, heritage, and shared commitment to Pan-Africanism. It was a fitting reminder that ISLA is a Pan-African and feminist organisation, with these principles continuing to shape and guide our work.

07/08/2026

We invite you to join ISLA as we participate in the second Justice Beyond Jails Webinar, an important event addressing impactful justice reform. Please click the link to register:
https://lnkd.in/p/geYNySXS

07/08/2026

This week, the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa participated in the 4th Annual Reproductive Justice , and we extend our sincere thanks to Afya na Haki for convening such an important space for reflection and dialogue.

Our Executive Director, Sibongile Ndashe, joined two panels during the week long Baraza, driving the point home that the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) and the Draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values are regressive (the Draft Charter) and create normative fragmentations that cannot be ignored.

During the first panel discussion, she drew lessons from progressive jurisprudence in Zimbabwe while reflecting on emerging regional developments. Her 3 key points were as follows:

First, she highlighted the importance of clarity in treaty drafting, cautioning that definitions - particularly of "family" in AUCEVAWG and the Draft Charter - should strengthen, rather than weaken, established human rights protections. Leaving such definitions entirely to States, as AUCEVAWG does, risks restrictive national interpretations that undermine accountability and women's rights.

Second, she emphasised that gender-neutral frameworks are insufficient in treaties pertaining to violence against women and girls (VAWG), as VAWG is inherently gendered. Regional and international human rights standards have long recognised gender-based violence as a form of discrimination. AUCEVAWG's non-recognition of this framework, and its omission of clear state due diligence obligations to investigate, prosecute, punish and provide remedies, erodes its usefulness as a tool available to litigators and courts.

Finally, she reminded us that Africa's strongest advances in women's rights have come from relying on, not eroding, existing regional human rights standards. From ending child marriage to challenging discriminatory family laws, progressive jurisprudence has been made possible because advocates could rely on strong international and regional human rights instruments. Any new treaty should reinforce these gains rather than create gaps that anti-rights actors can exploit. AUCEVAWG's gaps include its silence on some of the most rampant harmful practices on the Continent - including child marriage and FGM.

It is vital that new legal instruments strengthen, not dilute, the protections African women and girls have fought so hard to secure.

06/08/2026

Le droit parle. Notre analyse juridique parle d’elle-même. Et nous la maintenons.

ISLA réaffirme l’intégrité, l’indépendance et la crédibilité juridique de son analyse du projet de Charte africaine sur la famille, la souveraineté et les valeurs. Notre analyse n’est ni une opinion politique ni un commentaire idéologique. Il s’agit d’une évaluation juridique rigoureuse, article par article, fondée sur les normes contraignantes du droit africain et international des droits humains.

Les tentatives visant à écarter cette analyse sans répondre à ses conclusions juridiques de fond ne remettent en cause ni son raisonnement ni ses conclusions.

Lisez notre communiqué et notre analyse juridique :

ISLA’s legal analysis on the Draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values speaks for itself

06/08/2026

The law speaks. Our legal analysis speaks for itself. And we stand by it.

ISLA reaffirms the integrity, independence and legal credibility of our analysis of the Draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values. Our analysis is not political opinion or ideological commentary. It is a rigorous, article-by-article legal assessment grounded in binding African and international human rights law. Attempts to dismiss the analysis without engaging its substantive legal findings do not displace its reasoning or conclusions.

Read our communiqué and legal analysis:

ISLA’s legal analysis on the Draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values speaks for itself

31/07/2026

Can a safeguarding clause and a future amendment process rescue a deeply flawed treaty?

Our latest legal brief explains why the answer is NO.

As pressure grows on African States to ratify the African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls, Articles 15 and 18 are increasingly being presented as solutions to the serious concerns raised about the Convention.

The running argument is: ratify now, rely on the safeguarding clause, and amend the Convention later.

But these provisions are not legal silver bullets.

Article 15 cannot fix the Convention because it:

• guides interpretation but does not create missing rights or obligations;
• does not guarantee that stronger standards will prevail in a dispute;
• depends on institutions choosing to interpret the Convention progressively; and
• preserves the fragmented legal framework instead of resolving it.

Article 18 cannot fix the Convention because it:

• provides a procedure, not a guaranteed remedy;
• allows the defective text to become binding first;
• may leave States bound by different versions of the Convention; and
• cannot substitute for the comprehensive revision the instrument requires.

Over the past month, African Union institutions and mandate holders have visited Kenya, Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Eswatini to encourage ratification. On 25 July, the Pan-African Parliament also held a high-level dialogue urging Member States to ratify.

Civil society does not have the same access to governments or the same institutional resources.

What we have is rigorous legal analysis, strong partnerships and a firm belief that political momentum must never replace legal clarity, coherence and accountability.

Africa can and must adopt a strong regional instrument to end violence against women and girls. But ratifying a legally deficient Convention is not progress.

We are calling for a pause in further ratification and a serious process to address the Convention’s normative incoherence, fragmentation, conceptual flaws and troubling legal regressions.

Read the full briefing here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10z5m3DHdOTxsgB94RWQ1gWQtLnhnGU6D/view?usp=sharing

Share it with Member States, institutions and organisations considering ratification.

The question is not whether Africa needs a treaty on violence against women and girls.

The question is whether this Convention is legally capable of delivering the protection African women and girls deserve.

30/07/2026

Aujourd’hui, ISLA réunit des experts de Pologne et de plusieurs pays africains pour une discussion consacrée à l’influence croissante des réseaux transnationaux de plaidoyer juridique sur les débats relatifs aux valeurs familiales et aux droits humains.

Alors que ces acteurs interviennent de plus en plus auprès des juridictions, des décideurs et des institutions régionales, il est essentiel de comprendre leurs stratégies ainsi que leurs implications pour le système africain des droits humains.

Rejoignez-nous pour un échange avec des praticiens et des défenseurs des droits humains qui analyseront ces évolutions et réfléchiront à leurs conséquences pour le plaidoyer fondé sur les droits en Afrique.

Il est encore temps de vous inscrire :
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Nd-jniPgQ3uevxCY1rGG-w #/registration