J v Namibia – (Human Trafficking)

Document Description

Under 59(3) of the African Charter the Commission has (wrongly) interpreted the section to mean information about a pending case cannot be published.

There is advocacy to change this understanding because it impacts on access to justice.

Justice for J: J v The Republic of Namibia Fact Sheet

As we mark this year’s 16 Days of Activism, we reflect on a decision of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in the case of J v the Republic of Namibia. This year’s theme on ending digital violence against women and girls could not be more timely. The facts of this case highlight the vulnerability that women face while being online. J, was lured under the guise of a job advertisement via Facebook, only to be trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The decision of the African Commission reiterates the obligation of the State to effectively and thoroughly investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators. This Fact sheet explores the context of digital violence and its relation to human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, the role of the State in adequately responding to violence against women and a reflection on the feminist jurisprudence of the African Commission in this decision.