click here to register
We invite you to the 49th SHE & Rights session on the theme: “Countering anti-rights pushes and upholding human right to health and gender equality,” scheduled on Friday, 28th August 2026, at 3:30pm Sri Lanka/ India time (12noon South Africa/ Zimbabwe/ Geneva).
With 52 months left to deliver on SDGs, and despite legally binding treaties like CEDAW and Maputo Protocol, and other commitments such as ICPD, Beijing Declaration, and others, we are NOT on track on goals related to gender equality and health rights. In many instances, attacks against gender and health rights have resulted in stalling, or even reversing, the gains made.
Next month world leaders will meet at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Earlier this month, Africa Family Law Network Conference was held where prominent leaders, including women’s rights advocates, judges and lawyers, launched a coordinated campaign to reform family laws that discriminate against women and girls in Africa.
Earlier in previous SHE & Rights sessions, we had heard from speakers how the draft African charter on family values and sovereignty is attacking health and gender rights, as well as the AU CEVAWG. We have to ensure that we advance towards gender and health justice.
Next UPR cycle is in November 2026: Also, as part of the 4th cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the next 53rd session would be held in November 2026 where 14 countries will be under UPR review on health indicators. We will listen to voices from Eswatini, one of the countries for UPR cycle this November.
In addition, 1st October is observed as International Day of Older Persons on the theme: “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.” More importantly, the next Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) meeting to draft a legally binding treaty on human rights of older persons would also be held in October 2026, where SHE & Rights is also represented.
In this upcoming SHE & Rights session, a panel of experts will share insights on not only the anti-rights pushes but also coordinated movements to counter such regressive pushbacks and advance gender equality and health rights. Speakers will also discuss the abysmal progress (or lack of it) on a few of indicators of gender equality and human right to health - such as, ending child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and ageism.
Next month world leaders will meet at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Earlier this month, Africa Family Law Network Conference was held where prominent leaders, including women’s rights advocates, judges and lawyers, launched a coordinated campaign to reform family laws that discriminate against women and girls in Africa.
Earlier in previous SHE & Rights sessions, we had heard from speakers how the draft African charter on family values and sovereignty is attacking health and gender rights, as well as the AU CEVAWG. We have to ensure that we advance towards gender and health justice.
Next UPR cycle is in November 2026: Also, as part of the 4th cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the next 53rd session would be held in November 2026 where 14 countries will be under UPR review on health indicators. We will listen to voices from Eswatini, one of the countries for UPR cycle this November.
In addition, 1st October is observed as International Day of Older Persons on the theme: “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.” More importantly, the next Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) meeting to draft a legally binding treaty on human rights of older persons would also be held in October 2026, where SHE & Rights is also represented.
In this upcoming SHE & Rights session, a panel of experts will share insights on not only the anti-rights pushes but also coordinated movements to counter such regressive pushbacks and advance gender equality and health rights. Speakers will also discuss the abysmal progress (or lack of it) on a few of indicators of gender equality and human right to health - such as, ending child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and ageism.
Date: 28th August 2026, Friday
Time
- 12noon South Africa/ Zimbabwe/ Zambia/ Eswatini/ Geneva
- 1pm Kenya/ Uganda
- 11am Nigeria
- 10am Sierra Leone/ Ghana/ UK
- 3:30pm Sri Lanka/ India
- 5pm Thailand/ Jakarta
- 6pm KL/ Manila/ Bali/ Singapore
Duration: 90 minutes
Click here to register
Panel of speakers
- Dr Robert Eno, Registrar of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
- Rehema Namukose, Senior Regional Programme Officer for sub-Saharan Africa, Musawah, Uganda
- Samah Hadid, Global Executive Director, Musawah
- Fatou Bintou Sallah, Strengthening Regional Mechanism (SRM) Associate, Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA); and earlier served Gambia’s judiciary as First-Class Magistrate
- Deborah Nyokabi, Associate Manager, Economic Justice and Family Law, Equality Now
- Vimbai Kapurura, Executive Director, Girls Not Brides, and Founder Executive Director, Women Unlimited Eswatini
- Dr Mabel Bianco, President of FEIM, Argentina
- Shobha Shukla, Coordinator and Host of SHE & Rights; Founder Executive Director, CNS
Click here to register
Join SHE & Rights WhatsApp group
Thanks
SHE & Rights team and partners
