Kenya, 20-22 October, 2010

INTERIGHTS is pleased to announce a call for applications to lawyers who would like to participate in a forthcoming litigation surgery on women’s human rights. Applicants are required to submit cases involving women’s human rights violations.

INTERIGHTS defends and promotes human rights and freedoms worldwide through the use of international and comparative law. We achieve this through a range of activities designed to strengthen human rights jurisprudence and obtain redress for people whose rights have been violated. We provide expertise and advice on human rights litigation regarding issues of particular international, regional or national importance. In cases where important principles are at stake we may act as co-representative, a ‘friend of the court’ (amicus curiae) or adviser to counsel. We work with local lawyers, judges and NGOs, strengthening their capacity to defend human rights effectively at both national and international fora. We do so through tailored training programmes including practical case-focused ‘litigation surgeries’, internship programmes and the development of litigation partnerships. INTERIGHTS does not provide funding for cases.

In April 2009, we held our first litigation surgery on women’s human rights where we had 13 lawyers from different African countries. The seminar provided an opportunity for lawyers to talk about their work and to learn from their peers.  Subsequent to this meeting, we have continued to provide technical legal assistance, to some of the lawyers who attended, in litigating before domestic courts. Through the meeting, we have also been able to identify cases that have been referred to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. 

The objective of the planned litigation surgery is to identify and provide substantive support to cases involving women’s human rights that could be pursued before domestic or international fora and to build relationships with lawyers undertaking such cases. The litigation surgery will be held in Kenya from 20th October to 22nd October 2010.

Criteria for eligibility:

- The call for applications is open to lawyers, whether in private practice or affiliated to an NGO, who litigate on women’s human rights in Africa. It is desirable that lawyers have an affiliation to an NGO. A total of 12 participants will be selected;

- The lawyers must have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of women’s human rights;

- The lawyers must also have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of international and regional human rights law;

- In order to be considered, the lawyers must be involved in litigating a case or cases that address women’s human rights violations. With their application, they must submit at least one case study of a case that they are litigating or intend to litigate that could be discussed during the litigation surgery;

- The cases submitted must involve the violation of a fundamental right protected in a national constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“ACHPR”), Economic Community of West African States (“ECOWAS”) Treaty, East African Community Treaty, Southern Africa Development Community Treaty (“SADC”), Treaty on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (“CEDAW”).

- The complainant must be willing to have the case litigated before their national courts and, if domestic remedies have been exhausted, to have the case referred to the ACHPR or other applicable treaty body.

- The cases must fall within one of the following themes:

Violence against women
Sexual harassment 
Women’s property rights including inheritance rights
Discrimination based on HIV AIDS
Family law

- Applicants are encouraged to submit more than one case 

- The working language for the meeting will be English 

Closing date for applications: 6 August 2010 (extended from original deadline of 30 July 2010)

How to apply:

Please complete the application form and submit it together with your case summaries to Iya Kvitsiani-King at ikvitsiani-king@interights.org

If you should require any further information please contact Sibongile Ndashe at sndashe@interights.org

Shortlisted applicants will be notified soon after the closing date and should be available for telephone interviews on 13 August 2010.