Season 5: Episode 4: Furaha Joy Sekai Saungweme
International human rights lawyer
Furaha Joy Sekai Saungweme
International human rights lawyer
How to change the world as an internationally trained lawyer?
Furaha Joy Sekai Saungweme is an international human rights lawyer and the founder of Africa End Sexual Harassment Initiative (AESHI). She serves on the Advisory Board Member of Berkeley University Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law (BCCE) and the Advisory Board Member of FemIdeas, University of Westminister, Decolonizing Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Higher Education.
Her book Sexual Harassment and the Law in Africa: Country and Regional Perspectives was recently published. Voice of America interviewed her on their show to discuss the book and share her expertise.
What’s her take on the skill sets or qualities aspiring international human rights lawyers should focus on building?
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Where did you grow up and why did you choose to study law in the United States?
I was born in Tanzania and raised in Zimbabwe, then I studied law in South Africa. I’ve always had a regional experience, which gave me exposure to different cultures, languages, and people from the African context.
I definitely wanted to expand my academic opportunities and develop myself further. Even though I had already been involved in academia, working with different universities in parts of Africa, I still felt there was a gap, both in terms of skills and international connections. I was very strategic about the types of universities I believed could advance my international career, and Georgetown was always at the center of my heart. I really wanted to study there and strengthen my international reach. They also had a very unique the Leadership & Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Program, unlike any other, and I was incredibly excited about that.
Could you tell us more about the current work that you do after you graduate from Georgetown?
After I graduated from Georgetown, I would say I’ve had several advantages and opportunities. A lot of what I’m doing now, and what I’ll be doing in the near future, is really based on everything I learned and the relationships I built while I was at Georgetown.
For example, most recently, the Berkeley Center for Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law asked me to be a co-director for their working group on gender justice and gender-based violence, along with another very accomplished woman from Italy. That’s a new project I’m really excited about, and we’re currently planning what it will look like in terms of gender justice issues.
I’ve also had a book published called Sexual Harassment and the Law in Africa: Country and Regional Perspectives, which has the unique distinction of being the first of its kind aimed at students and lawyers. Voice of America invited me on their show to discuss the book and sexual harassment in general. That opportunity came as sexual harassment allegations were gaining increasing visibility across the continent, including a case involving an employee from the Pan-African Parliament. She had a sexual harassment case against her immediate boss, won through the Administrative Tribunal, and was awarded damages. However, she expressed serious concerns for her safety due to retaliation. Ironically, my thesis was on sexual harassment in the Pan-African Parliament, so this really energized me to say we need to keep talking about sexual harassment on the continent, in national forums, and in international spaces, wherever we’re able to highlight these issues.
What inspired you to pursue international human rights law?
What inspired me the most was the concept of equality and justice. I always understood that human rights were fundamental, even from a young age. I was clear on what was fair and what wasn’t, and I asked a lot of questions. Early on, because I liked to talk and argue a lot, it was clear that I would probably go into law - specifically international human rights law. I saw it as a field that offered opportunities to be impactful on international forums, which may not always be available to a lawyer restricted to national law.
One of my most memorable experiences was being selected as a moot court debater for my university. That sparked my interest in international human rights law. It was incredible to go to the South African Constitutional Court, since I studied law in South Africa, and argue before esteemed judges at that level. Our case dealt with fundamental rights in international forums for marginalized communities, and it was really meaningful for me.
Observing the development of international law was also very exciting, especially being aware of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It came into effect around 2002, marking a significant step toward ending impunity for sexual violence and armed conflict. Being exposed to the international criminal lawyers involved in these cases was thrilling.
As I continued to develop my career, particularly in women’s rights, we hosted our first conference on sexual harassment and the law in Africa. One of our keynote speakers was Professor Catherine MacKinnon, whom I had admired for a long time. She had been a key figure in the development and litigation of sexual harassment cases in the U.S. Just imagine - knowing of her from a distance, reading her books, and then having her as a keynote speaker at our conference in 2022. That was really exciting for me and very memorable.
For new lawyers and law students who wants to pursue international human rights law, what skill sets or qualities they should focus on building?
Let’s see. Willing to be confident. I say being willing to be confident because you may not always feel confident on the inside. But confidence is an absolute must and confidence resonates with how you interact with people, and how you articulate issues. It's very, very important.
At Georgetown, even though I was already involved internationally in the legal field, I believe my writing, speaking, and presentation skills were greatly enhanced through everything I undertook. For anyone wanting to get into international law, I would say, first of all, have a strong foundational understanding of international law and the key conventions. Then, develop strong writing skills, and be able to distinguish between national and international laws. Building confidence in your abilities is also essential.
Could you talk about the development international law that excite you and concerns you the most?
The developments in international law that I find most intriguing are actually something I’m not directly involved with, but they really highlight the importance of being an international lawyer and understanding how international human rights intersect with other areas. I would say the issues around climate change. There have been some recent submissions brought before the International Court of Justice related to climate change, where developing countries are saying, "We are being negatively impacted by climate change." We’re waiting for an advisory opinion from the ICJ, and it’s a process that different actors can engage with. There will be opportunities to participate in the public hearings, likely sometime in December. The challenge before international courts concerning climate change is really exciting. Under international law, smaller voices - so-called smaller or developing countries - have been given a platform to demand equality, and climate change is a prime example of that.
As for where I think I’ll be most impactful in the future, while I was studying at Georgetown, I had the opportunity to intern at the International Monetary Fund. That experience reinforced my interest in researching the economic impact and consequences of sexual violence and armed conflict, as well as the economic consequences of sexual harassment. I want to approach these issues not just through a gender-based discrimination lens but also through the lens of socioeconomic and economic rights. This is something I really want to pursue and develop further through in-depth research.
I’m hopeful I’ll be a stronger voice in that area, especially with the platform the Berkeley Center has given me as co-director of their working group on gender justice, gender-based violence, and harassment. I plan to host different webinars around the intersection of economic consequences, gender justice, and sexual harassment.
Is there any advice you would like to share with the next generation of internationally trained lawyers?
I would say it's really important to Continue to nurture your relationships. Be a part of different international networks because whenever you interact with other lawyers, international lawyers, it's such a great opportunity to learn and to grow and even though I am someone who is very focused on the Africa region, I find that my work still also is interesting to people from other regions, other jurisdictions and we can all learn from each other. That’s very exciting. So, keeping an open mind and maintaining those international connections is key—sending regular emails and checking in on your fellow international lawyers is very important. And, of course, never be too busy to read. Immerse yourself in international law and judgments to stay on top of the game.
