Cordaid, PBI, WO=MEN, and their partners from the Just Future alliance, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spotlight the unique challenges faced by Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in shrinking civic spaces, including in Africa. The event will focus on how the international community, and especially diplomatic missions can better support WHRDs, who face a range of escalating threats such as physical violence, cyber harassment, and restrictive laws. Featuring WHRDs from Africa, representatives from civil society and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this hybrid event will provide a platform for dialogue and policy recommendations, emphasizing the urgent need for tailored protection and support for WHRDs.

Spreakers: Tsano (Women Human Right Defender Zimbabwe), Yeno Suzan (Cordaid advocacy officer – South Sudan (online), Sabina Atzei (Cordaid – Peace, Inclusive Governance & Participation), Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament) and Kiza Magendane (moderator)

Language: English

With the arrival of the CSDDDD law, large European companies can no longer look the other way when it comes to human rights and environmental violations in their value chains. The European initiator of this law, Lara Wolters, explains why this law is so important. Together with CNV International, we then look at the implementation in practice: the working conditions in horticulture in Senegal. How does this law ensure robust food chains in Africa? How do we ensure that trade can contribute to development? And can this law contribute to having products on the shelves that have been made under fair working conditions?

Speakers: Lara Wolters (MEP), Elles van Ark (CNV), Anne Wehkamp (CNV)

Language: Dutch

A dialogue with Jan Pronk about his vision on international development in which he has had a diverse and elaborate carreer. What has changed en how does the field deal with current global changes? Central to the discussion are human rights and the ways in which they are violated.

Also do not miss the " Kijk niet weg" book signing at 16.30 with Jan and Ellen Mangnus.

Sprekers: Jan Pronk

Language: Dutch

How can we “get rights right” in the current polycrisis? And what rights are at stake in food systems? As complex issues such as climate change, state instability or pollution intersect, food-related inequalities are exacerbated and existing vulnerabilities reinforced. Yet, just, inclusive and sustainable food systems are essential to achieving the SDG’s. Addressing food insecurity and food sovereignty requires systemic change to the production, value chain and consumption of food, in which it is pivotal to strengthen the agency of excluded groups. With this session, we will showcase initiatives that address these challenges and illustrate pathways to the food systems of the future.

Speakers: Professor Rama Dieng, Dr. Roland Azibo Balgah (Cameroon and Living Lab manager for the INCiTiS-Food project), Semia Gharbi (Association of Environmental Education for Future Generations, Tunisia)

Language: English

In this workshop, the Expertise centre Humanitarian Communication (HuCom) will explain why and how they are committed to ethical, inclusive and equal communication about international cooperation and humanitarian aid. One way they will do so is by announcing the winners of the HuCom Awards - the annual awards for the most and least successful campaign by a Dutch INGO. Which campaigns are ethically acceptable and which are not? And why is it important to (continue to) critically examine the image of Africa and other continents in relation to international cooperation and humanitarian aid? HuCom sees representation as an integral part of the “production” of the global South and sees communication about so-called “developing countries” by governments, corporations, INGOs and the media in the global North as part of (the failure of) the practice of international society and humanitarian aid. In short, HuCom sees communication not as a means to an end, but as an important, if not the most important, part of the goal: a just society.

Sprekers: Dr. Wouter Oomen (UU) en Dr. Emiel Martens (UvA; EUR)

Taal: Engels

The United Nations, established in 1945, prior to the decolonisation wave, and much of the multilateral institutions created at the time, embody a system that no longer represents today’s world and is incapable of effectively addressing the global challenges we face. African countries lack representation on the Security Council, and international financial institutions fail to meet the needs of developing nations. This discussion will focus on how the recently adopted, Pact for the Future, and the upcoming Financing for Development Forum can drive reforms to international institutions, rethink financial development tools, and better support African countries in achieving the SDGs, addressing the climate crisis, and creating a more just and democratic global order.

Speakers: Paul Okumu (head of secretariat for the Africa Platform), Anna Pot (National SDG Coordinator), David Luke (the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at LSE), Beatriz Abellan (Moderator)
Language: English

Do you want to understand the challenges ánd opportunities of implementing Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) in fragile and conflict affected settings?
Please join The Broker, WIPC & Cordaid in this session in which we navigate together with various inspiring speakers the most recent developments on Feminist Foreign Policy.
With this interactive and playful session we aim to provide and gather insights and inspiration for anyone working on Feminist Foreign Policy. Part of the content will be based on the study “A REALITY CHECK OF DUTCH FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY IN AFGHANISTAN & SOUTH SUDAN” by The Broker, WIPC & Cordaid which can be found on Cordaid website https://www.cordaid.org/en.

Speakers: Helen Kezie Nwoha (WIPC), Mpanzu Bamenga (D66) Anne Kwakkenbos (moderator, Cordaid), Ruth van der Velde (The Broker), Sever Džigurski (KPSRL),
Language: English•

Amid the manifold signs of failing international cooperation, something hopeful is happening that many are unaware of. In December 2023, the majority of UN member states voted in favor of the groundbreaking proposal that was originally submitted by the Africa Group: to work towards a legally binding instrument (a Framework Convention) on International Tax Cooperation. Unfortunately, the Netherlands is among the countries that has resisted this effort so far. Cross-border tax evasion causes significant revenue losses for the public purse of almost all countries worldwide: very big losses for countries on the African continent, but also significant losses for a country like the Netherlands. This is highly detrimental to the realization of public services and human rights, such as affordable healthcare for all. After a viewing of fragments of the 2024 film “Tax Wars”, renowned experts shed light on the issues associated with tax evasion within the battle for universal health care.

Speakers: Everlyn Muendo (Tax Justice Network Africa), Hege Dehli (director of Tax Wars)

Language: English

As a democracy support organisation, operating for over 25 years. We have - as you can imagine - seen a lot, working tirelessly on getting rights right worldwide.
 
Let us take Uganda for instance, a country that has been in the spotlight due to newly enacted Anti-Homesexuality act. Reactions vary concerning the new law from east to west, north to south. Here in the west mostly outrage - but is this reaction correct? Is this the start of a serious trend of backsliding concerning the rights of Ugandans? This is what Primus Bahiigi, Director of NIMD Uganda will discuss with us: When do we get rights right? Especially  concerning the laws in Uganda.

Looking into rights from different perspectives has also been the focus in the work of NIMD’s previous executive director, Thijs Berman.  Now retired, Berman has been working on getting the rights right for others his whole career. From Journalist to Politician to Director of NIMD. Together we will delve into specific moments of Berman’s career.

Join our conversation, we hope to see you there!

Speakers: Thijs Berman (NIMD), Primus Bhagii (NIMD Uganda), Moderator: Milka Yemane

Langugae: English

During this session, Secretary-General Foreign Affairs Christiaan Rebergen and philosopher Michael Eze will delve into the Africa Strategy, with a strong focus on the principle of equality. A key theme is the balance between reality and ideals, a long-standing tradition for the Netherlands. The Africa Day encourages critical reflection on how we project our values internationally, a dilemma also addressed in the development of the Africa Strategy.

Speakers: Christiaan Rebergen (Secretary General Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Michael Onyebuchi Eze (CSU Fresno), Meike de Goede (Moderator)

Language: English

Trade union rights are human rights. In particular, they are social rights. For more than 10 years, the ITUC has been tracking trade union rights worldwide. The annual Global Rights Index compares countries around the world about labor conditions. A neo-colonial view in which Western countries tend to score better? Or a useful tool in the hands of trade union movements globally? We then discuss the importance of trade union rights for African workers and how in Africa, struggles for better working conditions often go hand in hand with struggles for more democracy and equal rights. Finally, we consider the case of Zimbabwe, where trade union rights are trampled on.

Speakers: Alex Nkosi ( IVV-Africa), Zakeyo Mtimtema (Human and Trade Union Rights Regions Officer- Africa)

Language: English

Despite being silenced for decades, communities torn by conflict in eastern DRC are starting to claim their rights. But what does justice look like for them? How can justice be delivered amidst ongoing violence? And what can be done to guarantee their rights are respected? Over recent years, the Congolese government has implemented policies for victims' reparations, and a national policy is about to be adopted. To include eastern DRC survivors' views in this key debate, Impunity Watch and partners conducted a research with more than 700 Congolese people. We bring their voices and our main findings to a conversation with you about those timely questions in our troubled world.

Speakers: Faridah Luanda (GPE Youth Leader), Diavy Kubuya (North Kivu Coalition of Victem Groups), Carla Kabmba (Leader Congolese Diaspora Netherlands), Jules Mbokani Mathe (Just Futere), Gentil Kasongo (Impunity Watch), Kim Baudewijns (moderator) and others.

Language: English

In this session we explore the importance and potential of equal and sustainable green hydrogen projects. The transition to green hydrogen should not lead to exploitation of countries in the South, such as South Africa and Namibia, where the extraction of raw materials for the production of green hydrogen is often accompanied by human rights violations and negative environmental impact. Women and marginalized groups are the hardest hit in this regard. This is especially problematic in regions already struggling with (energy) poverty.
We discuss current negative impacts of hydrogen projects, but also focus on how local communities can benefit from green hydrogen development. Breaking colonial patterns of exploitation is essential here. The energy transition must be fair and inclusive, with attention to the energy needs of local women and communities, their active involvement, and a fair distribution of the benefits of green hydrogen.
This session provides a platform for discussion on how to build a sustainable future where no one is left behind.

Speakers: Sophie Kwizera (ActionAid), Willem de Vries (Hyphen Project Namibië), Nienke Homan (Impact Hydrogen Africa), Daniëlle Hirsch (GroenLinks-PvdA) Moderator: Ties Huis in 't Veld (PvdA)

Language: Dutch

The IOM Legal Identity Unit (LIU), part of the Division of Immigration and Border Governance, provides strategic direction and expertise to assist Member States and IOM missions in promoting legal identity for all, fostering inclusive identity management systems and ensuring equitable access to legal identity documents, as outlined in the IOM Institutional Strategy on Legal Identity. This includes supporting Member States in improving legal identity processes, such as strengthening civil registration, providing consular support, and improving identity management systems. The unit also provides technical assistance and capacity development on issues such as biometrics and digital identity systems, while promoting innovation in legal identity practices and programming. In this panel, LIU will raise awareness of the critical role of legal identity as a gateway to access other fundamental rights. As part of this, the LIU proposes to present its tools and capacity-building initiatives, including the IOM Institutional Legal Identity Strategy, the Legal Identity Toolkit, capacity building and training tools, and the findings from key research on the topic.

Speakers: IOM Legal Identity unit

Language: English

This House of Commons session will bring MPs into debate with young people active in the field of development cooperation in African contexts. During the Commons debate, we will discuss a number of thought-provoking statements that respond to the question, “How do we get rights right?” We will balance the perspective of Western rights advocates with local initiatives in Africa defending the same rights. Different views on how we should think about and take action for human and democratic rights in a changing world order will be discussed.

Speakers: Danielle Hirsch (GL/PvdA), Eric van der Burg (VVD), Mpanzu Bamenga (D66), Marieke Koekkoek (Volt) and Sarah Dobbe (SP). Moderator: Kido Koening (FMS)

Language: Dutch

The European Union has a longstanding commitment to supporting sustainable development in Africa. The Inequality marker, adopted in 2023 by the European Commission, represents a key instrument to ensure that any development programme, including investments, reduces inequalities by benefiting, to a large extent, most disadvantaged populations and groups in Africa. But how will this tool work in practice? How can this tool be part of a broader political action recentering development cooperation, including investments towards sustainable development and, in particular, social inclusion? This panel will bring together experts and policymakers to examine the progress made by the EU’s development policies in Africa, exploring perspectives from both European and African stakeholders. The discussion will also look at the challenges facing these partnerships amid increasing political polarization, regional instability, and the arrival of a new European Commission.

Speakers: Paul Okumo, Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, Christian Morabito, David Rinaldi

Language: English

Democratic decline is a global issue, and Africa is not immune. Why has democracy remained an illusion for many African citizens? How has it, instead of fostering self-determination, entrenched oppressive hierarchies that alienate individuals from their countries and political realities? What steps can we take to change this? Moreover, what conversations must we engage in to inspire a transformative vision of self-determining sovereignty?

Together with artists and thinkers from West Africa, we delve into these questions. “WhoseDemocracy?” is a co-creative exploration of democratic practices rooted in African traditions, particularly in the realms of peace-building and decision-making. In this session, we aim to open a dialogue on the possibility of an African democracy grounded in traditional practices of negotiation and shared humanity.

Join us for an insightful conversation with political scientist Michael Onyebuchi Eze and experience an interactive photo studio by Malian photography collective, Yamarou Photo. This setting is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of the Korèduga—initiated sages who have long used playful mediation to resolve conflicts and promote mutual understanding.

Speakers: Michael Onyebuchi Eze (Political Scientist and Philosopher), Valérie Schuit (Eyewonder Doclab), Seydou Camara, Ana N’Diaye, Abdoul Karim Diallo (Yamarou Photo)

Language: Engels

Environmental defenders take significant risks to protect nature. Worldwide, four people are killed every week for standing up for their land, forests, or waters. However, these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg: many more conservationists face violence, criminalization, and intimidation. The growing global population, combined with increasing consumption, is creating a rising demand for resources such as minerals, timber, and palm oil, which are often produced in unsustainable ways and require vast amounts of land. From Europe, we aim to secure our resource needs, but this also puts pressure on protected areas. African conservationists are fighting this, but they find themselves on the frontlines of a battle against established and powerful interests, and are seeing their rights increasingly restricted.

Speakers: MEP Raquel Garcia Hermida-van der Walle (D66) , Diana Nabiruma (AFIEGO) and more frontline voices

Language: English

Queer people have always existed. Through an interactive debate, we will explore how the colonial narrative of queerness can be transformed. Colonization was a series of brutal events and continues to be a source of complex trauma for indigenous communities in Africa. Many of the vulnerabilities LGBTI+ people experience on the continent come from this colonial history, values, norms and narratives. In this session, we will look at the influence of religion and tradition on contemporary attitudes in Africa toward people who are LGBTI+. Together we will reflect on the commitment of the Netherlands and civil society organizations to sexual rights and international cooperation, particularly in relation to (neo)colonialism. Finally, we will explore steps toward a more just world that incorporates the perspectives of communities, tradition, religion and queer rights.

Speakers: Gracie Brendah Nanyunja (Diverse Empowerment Foundation), Quinter Obiero (Equal Voices Kenya) (speaker), Robert Amoafo and Lakshita Kanhiya (Pan Africa ILGA)

Language: English