Banjul, The Gambia – October 2025
At the sidelines of the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) joined partners in two powerful regional convenings advancing gender justice, equality, non-discrimination and accountability within the African human rights system.
On 22 October 2025, KELIN joined the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) for the launch of Lives on the Line, the first comprehensive documentation of human rights violations against sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in Kenya.
Covering the period October 2023 to September 2024, the report records 2,141 cases of violations affecting LGBTIQ+ Kenyans—including physical assault, harassment, and emotional violence—and exposes systemic barriers rooted in stigma, discrimination, and biased media narratives. The report challenges the reasoning in Petition No. 16 of 2019, which dismissed claims of violence against LGBTIQ+ individuals for lack of evidence, by presenting lived experiences that prove the contrary.
During the side event, KHRC’s Program Lead for Transgender Rights, Mr. Adrian Kibe, emphasized that the report compels society and duty bearers to confront structural and social factors that perpetuate harm. KELIN’s Program Officer for SRHR, Ms. Elsie Milimu, welcomed the innovative documentation methods used, noting their potential for strengthening future evidence on discrimination faced by sexual and gender minorities in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. KELIN reaffirmed its commitment to advancing equality, dignity, and non-discrimination for all persons, in line with Article 2 of the African Charter and Kenya’s Constitution.
A day later, on 23 October 2025, KELIN co-hosted another landmark side event with KHRC and the Women’s Association for Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE-Gambia) titled “The Case for Reparations: States’ Due Diligence Obligation to Prevent, Protect and Ensure Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.” The hybrid dialogue drew advocates, legal practitioners, and experts to reflect on how the African human rights system can better address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) committed by both state and non-state actors.
KHRC’s Senior Program Advisor, Mr. Martin Mavenjina, shared Kenya’s ongoing litigation journey under Constitutional Petition No. 122 of 2013 and Civil Appeal No. E645 of 2021, where partial justice was achieved for survivors of post-election sexual violence. He highlighted that, in July 2025, the Government of Kenya made a historic Ksh. 16 million compensation payment to four survivors—marking a rare instance of reparations nearly two decades after the violations. Ms. Priscilla Ciesay, Senior Technical Advisor at WAVE-Gambia, underscored that conflict-related sexual violence is life-long in impact, compounded by stigma, trauma, and displacement. She urged states and CSOs to adopt survivor-centred approaches that balance justice and accountability.
KELIN’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Program Officer, Ms. Elsie Milimu, reiterated that state obligations to investigate, prosecute, and compensate survivors are embedded in the Maputo Protocol and Niamey Guidelines. She referenced ACHPR decisions affirming that states must investigate violations even when committed by private actors, and ensure that such investigations are prompt, thorough, and effective.
Across both engagements, KELIN and partners emphasized that justice and reparations must extend to all survivors of gender-based and conflict-related violence, as well as sexual and gender minorities, in accordance with the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol.
By supporting evidence-based advocacy and strategic litigation,
With upcoming elections in several African states, speakers cautioned and called on the ACHPR to urge governments to adopt multisectoral prevention and response frameworks against conflict related sexual violence. KELIN and KHRC committed to sharing key outcomes from the discussions with the ACHPR Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our website and social media platforms.
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
Twitter(X): @KELINKenya.
For more information please contact, Elsie Milimu,
Program Officer- SRHR, Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS(KELIN),
Email: elsiemilimu@kelinkenya.org
