{"id":1350,"date":"2020-10-20T21:34:43","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T21:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hlsorgs3stg.wpenginepowered.com\/hala\/?page_id=1350"},"modified":"2020-10-20T21:38:20","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T21:38:20","slug":"statement-on-2020-protests-endsars-shutitalldown-congoisbleeding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/hala\/statements\/statement-on-2020-protests-endsars-shutitalldown-congoisbleeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement on 2020 Protests: #EndSars, #Shutitalldown, #CongoIsBleeding"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Statement on the Ongoing Protests in Nigeria, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo<\/b><\/p>\n

The Harvard African Law Association (HALA) offers its unequivocal support for the protests happening in Nigeria, Namibia and The Democratic Republic of Congo. The right to protest, and the right to convey dissatisfaction with the prevailing regime, is an integral part of any democracy, and such demonstrations should be respected, encouraged and applauded. In the aforementioned countries, citizens have courageously taken to the streets to air their grievances and to exercise their key civic rights. HALA stands in solidarity with these movements and amplifies their voices and respective missions.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Nigeria, under the #EndSars campaign, protestors are mobilizing against the country\u2019s Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS). The unit was established in 1984 to tackle theft and armed robbery in Nigeria. However, in the succeeding decades, SARS became notorious for indiscriminately targeting and harassing everyday citizens, and for carrying out extrajudicial killings. Although the #EndSars campaign was initially prompted by SARS\u2019 malfeasance, the campaign\u2019s scope has evolved. Currently, it is largely seen as a pushback against systemic issues in the country, such as corruption, police brutality, and the lack of government accountability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Namibia, under the #shutitalldown campaign, protestors are mobilizing against the rampant sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country. According to the Namibia Demographic Health Survey, over 33% of married women, aged 15-49 years, have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence from their partner. These stark statistics \u2013 alongside specific episodes, such as the killing of Shannon Wasserfall, a 21 year old who had previously been missing for six months \u2013 prompted the current wave of protests that have rocked Windhoek and other Namibian cities.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), under the #CongoIsBleeding campaign, protestors are mobilizing against the endemic sexual violence in the country. The protestors are also demanding that the perpetrators of human rights violations in the country be brought to justice.<\/span><\/p>\n

2020 has witnessed an impressive and historic slate of protests and acts of civil activism, from the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States to the Hong Kong protests. The ongoing protests in Nigeria, Namibia and the DRC are no different, and deserve our full-hearted attention, support and concern. We stand in solidarity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/b>Resources<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Ways to Help the #EndSars Movement in Nigeria<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n