“UN Rights Body Must Not Abandon Sudan”
Joint Statement on the UN Human Rights Council decision to postpone the discussion of the human rights situation in Sudan to its 15th Session in September 2010.
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Confronting the climate and ecological emergency in East Africa depends
The undersigned African Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and various international
The undersigned African civil society organizations (CSOs) and various international
Dear Colleagues and Friends, As we approach the end of
Born and raised in the Mathare slum, Rachael faced numerous challenges growing up, particularly as a young girl navigating a patriarchal society that often overlooked her rights and well-being. These early experiences of violence and discrimination, including sexual and emotional abuse, shaped her activism and her determination to fight for justice.
“Growing up as a girl, having access to basic needs was a challenge. At one point, I was engaged in a relationship with someone older than me, who took advantage of me in multiple ways. This had a profound effect on my childhood and development. It led me to embrace feminism and activism because I realized that this wasn’t just a personal issue, but a systemic one affecting many girls around me. No one was giving us a platform to speak out or condemning what was happening.” – Rachael Mwikali
Somaia was born and raised in Dito village in Gereida locality, South Darfur State, Sudan—a community where socio-cultural norms often dictate the lives of young girls. These norms allow parents to marry off girls as young as 10 years old, depriving them of basic rights such as education. At the age of 16, Somaia was married to her 28-year-old cousin, forcing her to drop out of school to focus on her marital obligations. However, Somaia’s determination to complete her education never wavered. She was deeply inspired by stories related to studying that she heard from her high school friends and longed to return to her studies. Early in her marriage, she began asking for a divorce so she could pursue her education—a request met with strong resistance. For three years, the elders and the village council opposed her decision, warning her, “If we grant you this divorce, it will teach your sisters in the family that divorce is an option.”
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