Human Rights Reggae Festival

The Human Rights Festival was conceptualised as a response to the 2007 / 8 post- election violence, under the positive vibrations project. It aimed at using Reggae  music that has positive messages, on peaceful co-existence, and resonates with youth in urging them to be agents of change and appreciating the positive roles of youth in good governance and peace building.

 In 2010, the Human Rights Festival themed KENYA FRESHI... NIKO SET ( A new Kenya, I am ready) used Raggae and other positive music to emphasize on the role of all citizens in enhancing women's human rights and protecting this.This event gave YWLI an opportunity to continue its work in networking as a strategic investment for the women's movement. The festival sought to raise the political consiuosness of young people from a feminist perspective. This though has to be understood within the broader framework of human rights.

Under the theme KENYA FRESHI...NIKO SET the human rights festival adopted the 4U's namely Uwezo Usawa Uadilifu and Udada.

Uwezo is capability/power. The ability to do something gives you power to do it. We believe that Young Women have what it takes and its time women took power over their situations. They must not be held back in controlling their own lives, their communities, and their countries.

"The thing women have to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it"~ Roseanne Barr

Usawa This means equity. Equity in access to opportunities and resources. As YWLI, we believe and are commited to anti-oppresive, non-discriminatory and inclusiveness.We believe in the rights of all women to have access to sustainable and just livelihoods as well as welfare provision, including quality health care, education water and sanitation regardless of their age, religion, race and other diversities.

"The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes."~ Bella Abzug

Udada This translates to sisterhood. We believe that women are not a homogeneous group but that we share a common bond of sisterhood and the power of sisterhood brings us together as a movement. Young women need to support each other; recognizing the need to build multi-generational movements that acknowledge diversity as strength.

"Sisterhood is powerful" `~ Robin Morgan.

Uadilifu It is the swahili word for integrity. Women have by long suffered Injustices in all aspects of their lives. We must no longer sit down and wait for international agencies to plea on our behalf, instead we must take initiave  and work with the aid agencies to achieve utmost results. All types of violence must be dealt with head on.

"If we want beloved community, we must stand for justice, have recognition for difference without attaching difference to privilege" ~ Bell Hooks.

The Aftermath

This was YWLI's response to the post election violence in Kenya. 'The Aftermath' comprises of a series of events organised by YWLI following the chaos after the December 2007 general elections. The chaos and violence left a total of 1,133 people dead and approximately 350,000 others homeless and internally displaced (Commission on Inquiry into Post Election Violence (CIPEV) aka Waki Commission). A notable number of women and girls and in some instances men and boys faced different forms of sexual violations including gang rape, forced female and male genital mutilation. 

In line with our commitment to advance the rights of women, we joined other women's organisations in addressing the situation and especially alleviating the status of internally displaced persons. YWLI engaged in peace and social justice initiatives aimed at promoting the dignity of women as well as enhance the role of women as agents of change in promoting peace and social justice.

The following activities have been implemented:

a)   The sanitary pads project

This initiative specifically addressed the sanitary needs of women in IDP camps by providing sanitary items like sanitary pads, inner pants, lessos (kangas), soaps, antiseptic, baby diapers and baby oils to women and girls. The goal of the project was to safeguard & promote sexual and reproductive health rights of girls and women affected by the violence. It also sought to acknowledged and create visibility on the impact of violence on women's rights and health. It also sought to promote their self esteem through sessions at the camps. The exercise covered some IDP camps in Molo, Eldoret, Turbo and the refugee camp in Tororo, Uganda. We reached over 5,000 women and girls.

b)   Positive vibrations

Positive Vibrations (PV) is an initiative aimed at mobilising the young women and men to wage peace and promote social justice through reggae music. The initiative uses messages from reggae music to open dialogue on peaceful co-existence while at the same time addressing issues of hegemonic masculinities that 'normalize' violence against women. It is also aimed at creating a network of young women and men leaders who promote peace within the existing community projects. 

Though this initiative uses reggae music it is meant to be a leadership call for action by community members and the political class.  

Positive Vibrations engages the youth in creating solutions in addressing impunity and promoting social justice, peace and reconciliation within the community.   The initiative included sessions dubbed "spit and move forward" where women expressed their anger, shock, grief, joys, and hopes about the post elections violence. Tears were shed and hugs were exchanged. Strategic leadership training was also carried out to enable the women be agents of change in their localities.