Kenya
Tapping into the grassroots in Kenya
After violence rocked Kenya in the wake of the 2007 elections, Fahamu, an African human rights movement, set out to tackle some of the social, economic, and political factors behind the crisis. Fahamu targeted its efforts at providing New Tactics tools to a citizen movement called the Bunge La Mwananchi – the People’s Parliament – and to a network of women living in the vast Nairobi
Engaging local leaders to become women’s rights and victim advocates
The Coalition on Violence against Women (COVAW) engages chiefs and other local leaders to become women’s rights advocates and resources for victims. The program was formed because of the lack of women’s rights advocates for women who have been subjected to violence. Women who have been abused usually turn either to local hospitals/clinics or to their chiefs.
Performing independent postmortem examinations to document cases of torture
The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) was established in 1995, after the Kenya Medical Association issued a press statement asserting that no torture took place in Kenya. The IMLU is a network of independent doctors and lawyers who challenge official reports of deaths in custody by performing postmortem examinations to document suspected cases torture and providing medical and legal aid to prisoners and survivors of torture. Clients who want a postmortem on family members first complete a Post-Mortem Request Form and, because of IMLU’s network throughout the country, doctors who live nearest to the victim quickly administer postmortems. Results are carefully documented according to medical and legal guidelines. IMLU encourages clients to seek legal redress when evidence of torture is discovered. For clients who cannot afford a lawyer, IMLU refers them to a network of lawyers and NGOs providing pro bono legal services. Their goal is to pursue public interest cases that will set a precedent against the use of torture and send a message to perpetrators of torture.
Transmitting vote tallies by mobile phone to prevent tampering
Mobile phone networks can also be useful in other situations when time is of the essence. For example, during and immediately following elections, control of ballot boxes and vote tallies is critical.
Search
Featured Dialogue
Join New Tactics and other practitioners for an online dialogue on Advancing Children’s Right to Education from February 15 to 21, 2012. Education is a basic human right, enshrined in law all...
