Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The Centre for Human Rights is inviting applications for a training programme focused on strengthening litigation skills related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights across Africa. The programme supports legal practitioners, civil society actors, human rights defenders, researchers, adjudicators, and community advocates working to improve access to justice and accountability for SRHR-related violations.
The training focuses on practical legal capacity building, strategic litigation, accountability mechanisms, national and regional adjudicatory systems, and the implementation of legal decisions and remedies. Limited spaces are available.
What is the SRHR Litigation Skills Training Programme?
The SRHR Litigation Skills Training Programme is a capacity-building initiative by the Centre for Human Rights.
It is designed to strengthen practical litigation skills for actors working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights across Africa.
The programme supports participants who are engaged in legal advocacy, public interest litigation, human rights protection, case identification, adjudication, and access to justice for marginalized communities.
Main Purpose of the Training
The main purpose of the training is to improve the effective litigation of SRHR-related claims before national and regional adjudicatory bodies.
The programme aims to:
- Strengthen SRHR-related litigation skills
- Support strategic case identification
- Build practical legal advocacy capacity
- Improve access to justice
- Promote accountability for SRHR violations
- Support use of national and regional human rights mechanisms
- Strengthen implementation of legal decisions and remedies
- Protect the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups
Geographic Focus
The training focuses on Africa.
It is intended for applicants working on SRHR litigation, advocacy, legal support, adjudication, or human rights protection within African legal and human rights contexts.
Focus Areas
The training covers key areas related to SRHR advocacy and litigation.
Focus areas include:
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights advocacy
- Strategic litigation
- Accountability mechanisms
- Access to justice
- Human rights protection
- Legal capacity building
- National adjudicatory mechanisms
- Regional adjudicatory mechanisms
- Implementation of legal decisions
- Remedies for rights violations
- Protection of marginalized groups
Why the Programme Was Created
The training responds to a continued gap in the effective litigation of SRHR-related claims.
Although awareness of SRHR standards has increased, many practitioners and advocates still face challenges in translating these standards into practical legal strategies.
This gap is especially serious for vulnerable and marginalized groups whose rights may be insufficiently protected in law, policy, and practice.
What the Training Will Support
The programme goes beyond awareness raising.
It focuses on practical litigation skills that participants can apply in real cases, advocacy work, legal support, or institutional strategies.
The training will help participants strengthen their ability to:
- Identify strategic SRHR cases
- Develop litigation strategies
- Use domestic human rights mechanisms
- Engage regional human rights systems
- Build accountability arguments
- Support enforcement of judicial decisions
- Advocate for effective remedies
- Strengthen institutional litigation capacity
Target Participants
The training is designed for individuals and organizations working on SRHR-related justice, litigation, advocacy, or adjudication.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Legal practitioners
- Public interest litigators
- Civil society organizations
- Community-based organizations
- Human rights defenders
- Researchers
- Adjudicators
- Community advocates
- Organizations providing SRHR legal support
- Actors involved in case identification or legal strategy development
Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups Prioritized
The programme gives particular attention to people and communities whose SRHR rights are often not adequately protected.
Priority groups include:
- Women and girls
- Adolescents and young people
- Persons with disabilities
- LGBTIQ+ persons
- Sex workers
- People in rural communities
- People in underserved communities
- Groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination
What Applicants Should Demonstrate
Applicants should clearly explain how the training will strengthen their work.
Applications should demonstrate:
- Current engagement in SRHR litigation or advocacy
- Experience with legal support, adjudication, or case identification
- Relevance of the training to the applicant’s work
- Expected impact on institutional capacity
- Expected benefit for communities served
- Commitment to applying the skills after the training
- Connection to access to justice or accountability work
Key Concepts Explained
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights refer to rights related to bodily autonomy, reproductive decision-making, access to health services, protection from discrimination, and freedom from violence or coercion in sexual and reproductive matters.
Strategic Litigation
Strategic litigation uses carefully selected legal cases to create wider legal, policy, institutional, or social change beyond the individual case.
Accountability Mechanisms
Accountability mechanisms are legal, administrative, institutional, or human rights systems used to hold states, institutions, or actors responsible for rights violations.
Access to Justice
Access to justice means the ability of individuals and communities to seek and obtain fair legal remedies, protection, and enforcement of rights.
Adjudicatory Mechanisms
Adjudicatory mechanisms are courts, tribunals, commissions, or other bodies that decide legal disputes or human rights claims.
Remedies
Remedies are legal or practical actions ordered to address harm, such as compensation, policy reform, service access, protection measures, or implementation of rights-based decisions.
How the Training Works
The training is structured as a practical capacity-building programme.
It supports participants in moving from general awareness of SRHR standards to concrete legal action.
The programme will help participants understand how to build stronger cases, engage legal systems effectively, and support implementation after decisions are issued.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear application showing their experience, role, and expected use of the training.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the applicant is engaged in SRHR litigation, advocacy, legal support, research, adjudication, or case identification.
- Describe current work related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
- Explain the applicant’s connection to vulnerable or marginalized groups.
- Show how the training will improve litigation or advocacy capacity.
- Describe expected impact on the applicant’s organization or institution.
- Explain how communities will benefit from strengthened legal capacity.
- Highlight experience with national or regional mechanisms where relevant.
- Submit the application according to the Centre for Human Rights’ requirements.
Assessment Considerations
Applications may be considered based on relevance, experience, and potential impact.
Review may consider:
- Applicant’s role in SRHR-related work
- Experience in litigation or advocacy
- Engagement with vulnerable or marginalized groups
- Potential to apply the training in real cases
- Institutional or community impact
- Relevance to access to justice
- Capacity to contribute to accountability efforts
- Strength of motivation and expected outcomes
Expected Outcomes
The training is expected to strengthen legal and advocacy capacity across Africa.
Expected outcomes may include:
- Stronger SRHR litigation skills
- Better strategic case identification
- Improved legal strategies
- Greater use of national and regional mechanisms
- Improved accountability for SRHR violations
- Stronger protection for marginalized groups
- Better implementation of legal decisions
- Increased institutional capacity among participating organizations
- Improved access to justice for affected communities
Why It Matters
SRHR-related violations often affect people who already face legal, social, economic, or institutional barriers.
Without effective litigation and accountability, rights may remain theoretical rather than enforceable.
This training helps practitioners and advocates turn SRHR norms into practical legal strategies that can protect communities, challenge discrimination, and support justice across Africa.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly connect the applicant’s current work to SRHR litigation or accountability.
Applicants should focus on:
- Clear SRHR-related experience
- Practical involvement in litigation or legal support
- Strong connection to marginalized communities
- Specific skills they hope to strengthen
- Clear institutional benefit
- Clear community-level impact
- Plans to apply the training after participation
- Experience with national or regional mechanisms where relevant
Applicants should avoid vague applications that only express interest in SRHR without showing how the training will strengthen real legal or advocacy work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should carefully explain their relevance to the programme.
Common mistakes include:
- Not showing current SRHR-related work
- Providing weak links to litigation or legal advocacy
- Failing to explain expected community impact
- Not demonstrating institutional benefit
- Ignoring marginalized or vulnerable groups
- Providing vague motivation statements
- Not explaining how the training will be applied
- Treating the training as general awareness raising rather than practical litigation capacity building
FAQ
What is the Centre for Human Rights SRHR Litigation Skills Training Programme?
It is a training programme that strengthens practical litigation skills related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights across Africa.
Who can apply?
Legal practitioners, public interest litigators, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, human rights defenders, researchers, adjudicators, and community advocates may apply if they are engaged in SRHR-related work.
What does the training focus on?
The training focuses on SRHR advocacy, strategic litigation, accountability mechanisms, access to justice, national and regional adjudicatory systems, and implementation of legal decisions and remedies.
Which groups does the programme prioritize?
The programme gives particular attention to women and girls, adolescents and young people, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ persons, sex workers, rural and underserved communities, and others facing intersecting discrimination.
Is the training only about awareness raising?
No. The programme goes beyond awareness raising and focuses on practical litigation skills, legal strategy, case identification, and enforcement of remedies.
What should applicants demonstrate?
Applicants should show how the training will strengthen their institutional capacity, litigation work, and impact on the communities they serve.
Are spaces limited?
Yes. The programme has limited spaces available.
Conclusion
The Centre for Human Rights SRHR Litigation Skills Training Programme supports legal and advocacy actors working to strengthen access to justice, accountability, and rights protection across Africa. By focusing on practical litigation skills, strategic case development, and use of national and regional mechanisms, the programme helps participants move from awareness of SRHR standards to effective legal action.
Strong applications will demonstrate clear SRHR-related work, litigation or advocacy experience, commitment to marginalized communities, and a practical plan for using the training to strengthen institutional capacity and community impact.
For more information, visit Centre for Human Rights.