Human Rights & Democracy
Friends of Africa International (FAI) seeks to bridge the gap between State institutions and the civil society using a human rights framework in order to promote the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in Africa. By studying the role of international assistance in promoting and sustaining democracy in post-conflict and conflict-prone settings, FAI projects ultimately support the development of credible and efficient electoral process and assist in building public confidence by ensuring the professional management of elections and by increasing the level of access and turn out of voters. FAI conducts training on Human Rights and democracy focusing on countries in conflict, post-conflict and conflict-prone countries in Africa. Human Rights Education is an important and a recurring theme on the agenda of the organization's activities. This is based on the belief that human rights can truly be achieved in a sustainable and irreversible democracy.
Project Activities
- 2005 Liberia elections
- Sudan Human Rights Project
- Sudan Electoral Assistance Project
- United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Women's Rights
Increasing the level of female representation and participation in decision-making processes requires a clear cut approach and information on which measures have worked successfully in different countries with different political systems. FAI is committed to collaborate with policy makers, regional and international institutions to design training programs that will enable women participate in decision-making processes and to develop economic resources and build their self-confidence.
FAI supports equal participation of men and women in public life and offers training on gender and political awareness with the goal of women's full and equal representation in government.
Project Activities
- Women Leaders Intercultural Forum
- United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
HIV / AIDS & Peace and Security
The increasing rate of HIV infection among the military is a great cause for concern. Research studies have shown that the Military personnel are two-to-five times more likely to contract STIs including HIV than the civilian population. African militaries are worse hit by this epidemic due to their increasing peacekeeping operations within the African continent. ECOMOG, the most prominent peacekeeping body on the African continent is not left out either. Nigeria as a major troop contributing country to this body is severely affected by the AIDS pandemic.
The prevalence of HIV/AIDS among Nigerian ECOMOG troops increased from less than one percent in 1990 to about 10 percent in 1999. Compared to the 5% prevalence of HIV infection of civilian adult population in Nigeria, it was 11% among Nigerian peacekeepers who returned home from duty in Sierra Leone and Liberia in 2000. This is no doubt a public health threat to Nigeria particularly and Africa as a whole. The military could serve as a core transmission group for HIV, but from the Eritrean and Ugandan experience, we learnt that the Nigerian military could actually reach lower prevalence rates than the civilian population if they are equipped with the right information, tools and knowledge.
Therefore, FAI is engaged in research on prevention programs from other countries in Africa and the policy issues on HIV, detailing some of the challenges to effective programs such as weak infrastructure, lack of political will and geographical spread. The result will be a tool kit for effective HIV prevention programs for any military population in Africa including military commanders and planners, researchers, the Nigerian government, and other African troop contributing countries.
Further, FAI makes submissions by way of paper presentations and/or poster exhibitions at every international AIDS conferences to support the ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives. FAI was present at the 2006 AIDS Conference in Canada. Click here for the report.
Economic and Socio-Cultural Rights
In June/July 2006, FAI participated at a women’s leadership program in Dakar. At the same time, the organization visited two settlements of some of the 2005 flood victims in Senegal, as well as Medina Gounass. During the months of August and September 2005, the Senegalese capital Dakar and its impoverished suburbs were devastated by the heaviest rains seen in two decades with 5,600 people displaced by floods and thousands still living in water around their ankles. FAI visited these sites as well as the makeshift settlements. The purpose of this trip was central to the mission of FAI – to promote social justice and human rights. These displaced families see themselves as "the forgotten," partly because they were not news anymore and the government seems to think that their case was settled.
For more information, please click HERE.