Human Rights NGOs in East Africa: Political and Normative Tensions (Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights)

Human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are by definition not part of the state. Rather, they are an element of civil society, the strands of the fabric of organized life in countries, and crucial to the prospect of political democracy. Civil society is a very recent phenomenon in East African nations, where authoritarian regimes have prevailed and human rights watchdogs have had a critical role to play. While the state remains one of the major challenges to human rights efforts in the countries of the region, other problems that are internal to the human rights movement are also of a serious nature, and they are many: What are the social bases of the human rights enterprise in transitional societies? What mandate can human rights NGOs claim, and in whose name do they operate? Human Rights NGOs in East Africa critically explores the anatomy of the human rights movement in the East African region, examining its origins, challenges, and emergent themes in the context of political transitions. In particular, the book seeks to understand the political and normative challenges that face this young but vibrant civil society in the vortex of globalization. The book brings together the most celebrated human rights thinkers in East Africa, enriched by contributions from their colleagues in South Africa and the United States. To date, very little has been written about the struggles and accomplishments of civil society in the nations of East Africa. This book will fill that gap and prove to be an invaluable tool for understanding and teaching about human rights in this complex and vital part of the world.

Human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are by definition not part of the state. Rather, they are an element of civil society, the strands of the fabric of organized life in countries, and crucial to the prospect of political democracy. Civil society is a very recent phenomenon in East African nations, where authoritarian regimes have prevailed and human rights watchdogs have had a critical role to play. While the state remains one of the major challenges to human rights efforts in the countries of the region, other problems that are internal to the human rights movement are also of a serious nature, and they are many: What are the social bases of the human rights enterprise in transitional societies? What mandate can human rights NGOs claim, and in whose name do they operate?

Human Rights NGOs in East Africa critically explores the anatomy of the human rights movement in the East African region, examining its origins, challenges, and emergent themes in the context of political transitions. In particular, the book seeks to understand the political and normative challenges that face this young but vibrant civil society in the vortex of globalization. The book brings together the most celebrated human rights thinkers in East Africa, enriched by contributions from their colleagues in South Africa and the United States.

To date, very little has been written about the struggles and accomplishments of civil society in the nations of East Africa. This book will fill that gap and prove to be an invaluable tool for understanding and teaching about human rights in this complex and vital part of the world.

Human Rights Ngos In East Africa : Defining The Challenges / Makau Mutua -- To Whom, For What, And About What? The Legitimacy Of Human Rights Ngos In Kenya / Betty K. Murungi -- Law, Sexuality, And Politics In Uganda : Challenges For Women's Human Rights Ngos / Sylvia Tamale -- Ngo Struggles For Economic, Social, And Cultural Rights In Utake : A Ugandan Perspective / Joe Oloka-onyango -- Feminist Masculinity : Advocacy For Gender Equality And Equity / Willy Mutunga -- Women's Advocacy : Engendering And Reconstituting The Kenyan State / Jacinta K. Muteshi -- Donors And Human Rights Ngos In East Africa : Challenges And Opportunities / Connie Ngondi-houghton -- Contradictions In Neoliberalism : Donors, Human Rights Ngos, And Governance In Kenya / Karuti Kanyinga -- State And Civil Society Relations : Constructing Human Rights Groups For Social Change / Livingstone Sewanyana -- Governance And Democracy In Kenya : Challenges For Human Rights Ngos / J. Wanjiku Miano -- The African Women's Development And Communication Network : Pan-african Organizing In Human Rights / L. Muthoni Wanyeki -- Social Transformation In Uganda : A Study Of Grassroots Ngos / Dani W. Nabudere -- The Death Penalty In East Africa : Law And Transnational Advocacy / Margaret A. Burnham -- Democracy Organizations In Political Transitions : Idasa And The New South Africa / Shaila Gupta And Alycia Kellman -- Conclusion : Coming Of Age : Ngos And State Accountability In East Africa / Chris Maina Peter. Edited By Makau Mutua. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [319]-365) And Index. Critically explores the anatomy of the human rights movement in East Africa, examining its origins, challenges, and emergent themes in the context of political transitions in the region. In particular, the book seeks to understand the political and normative challenges that face this young but vibrant civil society in the vortex of globalization.