Human Rights Activists

"Men have been dominating Malawi politics for too long. Maybe that's why they are blundering. But I think that if a woman can come up, she would improve a lot of things"

"I am still available, watching with keen interest. If the current government fails, I will certainly stand as a presidential candidate in the next elections."

"Driven by our people’s suffering, motivated by our people’s yearning for a just dignified life and lasting peace, urged by the gap in the required leadership, I have decided to answer the call. South Sudan must arise peacefully against violence, political exploitation, and manipulation."

"Furthermore, rallying our people to fully embrace the peace agreement is key to moving towards the actualization of peace, living it and protecting it. This shall further help our people prioritize and see clearly the need for an elected responsible, competent government that shall serve and be answerable to them."

"the political party is rapidly growing in different parts of South Sudanese, among the displaced and refugees as well the Diaspora where many had lost hope in peace."

"STEPS is a national political party that addresses issues pertaining to peace and democracy in South Sudan."

"it is our prime concern to address injustices and empowerment issues regarding the youth and women such as education and economic empowerment. Women, historically and traditionally due to several conflicts, continue to bear the brunt of wars the most and areas such severally affected and marginalized."

"it is our concern to ensure women’s holistic empowerment ranging from their inclusion in peace-and decision-making processes, politics and the economy."

"Unlike all the others, I satisfied all the conditions to be their presidential candidate but I hear they rejected me when they discussed my application. They were afraid of me. Here in Malawi we are still chauvinistic."

"Actually I did not withdraw, I stepped down. Many people in Malawi asked me to stand; it was under that pressure that I decided to declare myself an independent presidential candidate. But later the church saw the opposition was not very strong, so they decided to form a coalition. We needed a change of government, for many reasons.... There were nine parties at the time, so the church advised me not to stand, because I was going to divide the votes. So I applied to join the coalition."

"Where I was voting there was peace, people voted freely. I am president of Women's Voice and director of the Malawi Centre for Advice, Research and Education on Rights. We participate in voter education and we also do monitoring. All the information I received from my own offices told me the elections have been almost peaceful."

"Safe housing,electricity,a toilet and running water are basic human rights. We will build sustainable low cost housing boosting manufacturing and employment."

"We will prioritise finding long lasting solutions to Ancestral lands and issues of land justice ensuring no communities are left behind. Transparency and integrity will be upheld . We will also protect eco-systems and promote food resiliency"

"Everyone should be entitled to quality healthcare no matter what their budget. We will increase training opportunities and improve hospitals and health centres and access to quality care"

"Namibia has enough rainfalls to sustain us long into the future. We will manage the rainwater stopping the drought flood cycle so bio-diversity can flourish and all regions can grow Health food."

"I think as Namibians we have very challenging times where as the individual we need to create our own script. How do I want to live? How do I want to contribute"

"We will set up industry to maximise Namibia's abundant Natural resources, keeping the wealth within the country creating diverse training and employment opportunities"

"We want to unlock the potential of every Namibians through access to foal and informal training opportunities developing the skills,capacity, citizenship and sovereignty of our brave Nation"

"want to stand where the people want me to stand as long as it doesn't contravene the law and also push for revision of bad laws."

"I joined politics to add a voice to the legal voice so that voices of suffering Ugandans can reach far. To participate in making laws that are not against the people and to push for revision of bad laws and outdated ones."

"can confidently say that this leadership came from God and that I am answerable to God and the people (servant leadership)."

"A leadership that is substantial than formal, politics that is real other than dramatic. Leadership that tackles issues affecting the transport sector, hawkers, street vendors, landlords and tenants, women and children, the business community etc. A leadership that is conscious of the core values of discipline, reliability, inclusiveness, integrity, Fidelity and service."

"I have a number of challenges, very many but intimidation by the state operatives is key."

"The most important thing is to manage and keep time for home, work politics, parents and family. I allocate time. I don’t carry politics home unless I am seeking guidance or advice,”"

"In 2019, I got 100 People Power files, 25 cases were dismissed, 65 still pending in court, 10 are reporting on police bond."

"I joined as a legal representative of oppressed People Power supporters that face arrests. I was later appointed head of legal for the People Power Women League."

"I like to think of stairs, if I may. Stairs because we have climbed a few steps, but a lot more steps remain to be climbed on the way up to the top."

"Women must be a key partner in preventing the propagation of offensive stereotypes and views."

"Few women believe that they will be able to reach whatever position they want, regardless of their abilities."

"Girls are more aware of their rights and have the cour­age to submit complaints against harassers to the police."

"It is a very good thing that parents have recognized that both boys and girls deserve the same chance at formal education."

"All in all, there were more than 1,700 scenes that were clearly offensive to women, including some that incited violence against women."

"To return to the question of context, it can be said that there is an awareness among certain States, reiterated by certain institutions and non-governmental organizations, of the importance of human rights education, and what it requires in terms of the development of values, orientations and behaviors capable of protecting and promoting human rights."

"Massive spread of fake news, disinformation, hate speech and digital violence are the most notable issues."

"Because life is the inherent and absolute right on which other rights are based."

"We are doing this work not only here, but in various less endowed communities around the country. We are giving extra attention to those communities because we want the message to sink here very clearly. Because a lot of times it is the young people from these areas that are misused or misled into taking up illegal activities around elections."

"Growing up, I knew education was important and from an early age, I knew I had to do a profession, so that shaped how I ended up choosing what I chose."

"Ms. Bouayach quoted Nelson Mandela’s belief that "education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. She underlined that this idea extends beyond achieving sustainable development, fighting climate change, promoting equality and human rights or building a better future. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and preventing atrocities and violations."

"We came here to discuss things like violence and violent activities, and remind citizens that these things are outside of the law, and it doesn't help our country. So, we must avoid becoming victims of politicians who come and give us arms, give us knives, and a little bit of money to go and cause trouble during the election."

"Also, it can be said that the main objective has a clear political dimension, coupled with an educational dimension that emphasizes the need to provide a “working tool” within everyone’s reach. In addition to the benchmarks, this working tool includes principles, definitions, clear provisions and well-defined responsibilities in terms of implementation. In principle, these consensuses are likely to encourage the various parties to move forward with this project, by implementing it while taking into account their contexts and the accumulations in the matter and by mutually benefiting from each other's experiences, and by carrying out mid-term evaluations in order to draw the necessary lessons."

"lot of people don’t even know what the wrong thing is because wrong has been normalized,”"

"issues arise with unprecedented and dangerous consequences and practices"

"Then you are always advised not to decide what you want to do as a profession until you have done your house job, and ‘house job’ means you have to go through all the different departments in medicine. You do surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology. I enjoyed it and it occurred to me that this is where my calling was. And that was how I decided to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. The rest is history"

"We trust that the many public sector folks sponsored to attend were inspired to also lead with integrity, right in the corner where they are."

"Women who shouldn’t die because of childbirth are dying simply because they have not had the care that they desire"

"We are grateful to all our corporate partners whose generous sponsorship made this possible, and the participation of several emerging leaders from our schools and universities."

"We have the rich culture of the Nupe people, we have our beautiful dancers and when you see the way they make their cultural clothes, very beautiful to behold. We have a rich history."

"The African woman must arm herself to defend her rights when they are flouted."

"Getting girls into a classroom is not enough in itself; girls have to be able to stay in school and get proper education once enrolled"

"And when the now young lady is thinking of entering the workforce, will she have access to skills training—including digital skills? Or science, technology, engineering and math-based skills? Or will she be left out of these opportunities because of her gender?"