Set Them Free Initiative for Africa (SIFA) is a politically and religiously independent human rights organisation. The SIFA Human Rights Office partners with and support human rights defenders who work in some of the Africa’s most repressive communities. Through advocacy, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, litigation, and public campaigns, we advance people’s rights in Africa.
We work as a part of a global movement of human rights defenders and partner with those at risk. Through legal means and public advocacy, we hold states, individuals and non-state actors accountable for human rights violations. We advocate for the norms and values of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant human rights standards, as we encourage people to use these rights to promote democratic societies.
We hold individuals, governments and those in power accountable, and demands accountability when citizen’s human rights are violated. We do this ourselves, or together with local human rights defenders. We evaluate laws and proposed legislation, as well as how authorities implement these. We bring individuals and those in power to court when human rights are violated by engaging in cases at national and international courts, committees, and tribunals.
We advocate for human rights of citizens directly with governments and decision-makers, and through public campaigns. We work together with local human rights defenders and other international human rights organisations to maximise our impact. We shine a spotlight on important issues through the media, seminars, and in public reports. In repressive countries, we provide independent information through alternative media sources and encourage discussion and debate.
