Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN)

Nyokabi is the Legal Counsel at the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and Aids (KELIN). She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya who holds a Master of Laws in Human Rights from the Central European University (Budapest), A Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from Daystar University (Nairobi) and a Bachelor of Laws from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (Nairobi). She has nine years professional experience, which has been gained from her previous positions as a legal researcher in the Judiciary of Kenya, a lecturer at the Kenya School of Law and in private practice.

The Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW)

Isabella is a feminist with over 7 years of children and women rights. Isabella has an LLB from the University of Nairobi and is interested in Strategic Litigation with a feminist focus. She has chaired the Kilifi County Gender Based Violence (GBV) Network (2015-2017) where she advocated for proper reporting and referral mechanisms on violation to legal structures for purposes of access to justice; and played a key role in capacity building members on the laws and polices related to GBV, held consultative meetings with key stakeholders, including the development of the Terms of Reference for Kilifi GBV, technical working group.

The Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW)

Elsie is a feminist with 3 years of experience defending women and children; and is interested in strategic litigation on the same. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, holds an LLB from the University of Nairobi; and is an Accredited Mediator with the Mediation Training Institute East Africa. She has represented women and children in court in matters including GBV, Child maintenance, Divorce and Succession. Elsie has experience in the prevention and response to Sexual & Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment. She is a member several GBV working groups including the State Department for Gender Sector Working Group.

Katiba Institute

Emily is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with an LLB and LLM from the University of Pretoria, and a postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law. She is a litigation and research counsel at Katiba Institute conducting public interest litigation, research and publishes articles on constitutional and human rights issues. Emily worked as a law research clerk to the Justices at the Supreme Court of Kenya and the Constitutional Court of South Africa; as an academic associate at the faculty of law, University of Pretoria and lecturer at the faculty of law, the African Nazarene University; and served in the Public Interest Litigation and Legal Aid Committee of the Law Society of Kenya.

Katiba Institute

Ruth is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with an LLB from Kampala International University and Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law. She is a Litigation and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Advocate at Katiba Institute and specializes in Public Interest Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Security Sector governance and CVE. She has litigated cases at the Court of Appeal, High Court and Lower Courts on issues relating to good governance, human rights and institutional integrity challenging the constitutionality of legislations, illegal appointments into public offices and failure by the duty bearers to act as required by law. She has appeared as a defence counsel in criminal cases, including terror related cases.

FIDA Kenya

Janet is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a graduate of Moi University with a Post Graduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Project Planning and Management. She is the Senior legal Counsel at FIDA- Kenya’s Kisumu Office. Janet is an experienced litigator and has successfully litigated cases succession, matrimonial property, women land rights, child custody and maintenance amongst others. Janet is also a certified public mediator with skills in Alternative Dispute Resolution such as mediation and alternative justice systems.

FIDA Kenya

Vivian is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, trained Trial advocate by Justice Advocacy Africa (JAA) and a graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) with a Post Graduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law. She is also a certified mediator trained by Mediation Training Institute (MTI). Vivian is a Legal Counsel at FIDA-Kenya’s Nairobi Office. She is passionate about women’s and girl’s rights, specifically using the law to address structural inequalities and gender discrimination. Vivian is a litigator with legal experience in aspects including but not limited to family law, reproductive health rights, succession and women’s land rights.

Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI)

Elizabeth is a Human Rights Lawyer at the Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI) in Uganda as a Programs Officer in charge of research and knowledge management. She works to amplify voices of vulnerable women and does sensitization to ensure that domestic workers, sexual assault victims, victims of human trafficking, women with mental health disabilities know their rights and the right procedures for reporting cases. She has represented WPI in Women at Work campaigns and is currently involved in litigation of various women’s rights Public Interest Cases. Previously, Liz worked as a legal Assistant leading mediation procedures, interviewing clients, conducting legal research and general court correspondences.

Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI)

Beatrice is a Human Rights lawyer at the Women’s Probono Initiative in Uganda leading advocacy on impact litigation of indigent women and girls. She has undertaken various investigations into human rights abuses such as sexual violence faced by persons with mental disabilities in Gulu District. Beatrice has handled cases involving domestic violence, human trafficking, child marriages and sexual violence; and conducted litigation surgeries where lawyers who are like minded agree on issues to litigate and develop an advocacy plan for the litigation. Her interests are Human rights and advocacy especially women’s and children’s rights, activism for marginalized groups, Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights, Economic rights and Conflict resolution.

Uganda Law Society (ULS)

Constance is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and works as a Legal Officer within the Legal Aid and Pro-Bono Department at the Uganda Law Society (ULS). Constance holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre and a Bachelor’s degree from Makerere University. She specializes in litigation and policy research; has over 6 years of professional experience working to uphold the rule of law and access to justice; and has extensive expertise in family justice as well as alternative dispute resolution and mediation matters. She is the focal point and contact at the ULS for the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention.

Center for Strategic Litigation (CSL)

Prisca is an advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and Courts subordinate thereto except Primary Court. Prisca is the Program Manager – Litigation, at the Center for Strategic Litigation. She has over 8 years of experience in legal practice and is an accomplished Advocate who has successfully litigated civil and criminal cases in Tanzania. She has two years’ experience working as a member of the secretariat of a regional human rights body; supporting the work of one of its committees and engaging with Civil Societies. Prisca has worked in private practice involved in litigation and arbitration with special interest in public interest litigation.

The Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC)

Kumvana is Human rights lawyer and an in-house Counsel at Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) in Malawi. Kumvana litigates for women who are victims of gender-based violence, illegal land seizure, property and Deceased Estates. Kumvana trains community paralegals to entrench socio-economic empowerment and gender justice within community-level social and governance structures. Kumvana is also responsible for a project working with tea industry smallholder commercial farmers empowering them so they can advocate for better conditions. Kumvana also guest lecturers at the Polytechnic University of Malawi, lecturing a module of Human rights, Welfare & Gender in a final year Physical Planning Course.

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS)

Basetsana is a human rights lawyer and dedicated activist at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS). She specializes in Gender Justice lawyering focusing on gender-based violence, in particular the trauma and structural violence people face when they are failed by the very systems that are meant to protect. She works on Home, Land and Rural Democracy, focusing on the progressive protection for socio-economic rights, ensuring that these rights are realized by the state; provides legal advice and undertakes litigation on behalf of communities and civil society organisations in line with CALS’s litigation strategy and priorities in order to achieve strategic change and improved practice. Basetsana holds BA degree in Political Science and English Literature and an LLB degree from Witwatersrand University.

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS)

Thandeka is an Attorney at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) focusing on defending environmental and civil and political justice. Her practice upholds the rights of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in South Africa. She has worked on strategic litigation which helped to set ground-breaking legal precedents. Thandeka is excited to be a part of the FLN as she believes it will help her to develop knowledge and skills necessary to be a powerful Pan-African Feminist Litigator. Thandeka holds an LLB and Honours degree in Psychology and has worked for the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Social Justice Coalition and Wits Justice Project.