Africa

The respondent was charged with two counts of sexual harassment of female coworkers and with the verbal abuse of another female coworker. His employer (the “company”) found that he had violated the company’s policies and fired him. The respondent brought a claim for wrongful termination to the Office of the Labour Commissioner, and the dispute was referred to arbitration. The arbitrator found in favor of the respondent and ordered the company to reinstate him and pay him N$102,000 in lost wages. The company appealed the decision to the courts.

The Local Authorities Act establishes local authority councils within local government and defines their powers, duties and functions. The Act provides that the slate of candidates from any given political party up for election in a municipal, village or town council election must contain at least three female persons where the council consists of 10 or fewer members and at least five female persons where a council consists of 11 or more members, in an attempt to increase the presence of women in decision making positions. 

The Local Government (Amendment) Act of 2004 amends the Local Government Act of 1997. It maintains Lesotho’s quota system and mandates that 30% of the total number of seats in municipal, urban, and community councils be reserved for women.

Law No. 059/2023 of December 4, 2023 amending Law No. 68/2018 of August 30, 2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, Rwanda, entered into force on December 5, 2023

Law No. 21/05/2016 of 20 May 2016 Relating to Human Reproductive Health, Rwanda (entered into force on 6 June 2016)

Law No. 51/2007 of 20 September 2007 on the Mission, Organization, and Functioning of the Gender Monitoring Office in Rwanda

Law No. 51/2018 of 13 August 2018 Relating to the Prevention, Suppression, and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons and Exploitation of Others, Rwanda

Law no. 59/2008 of September 10, 2008 on the Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence

Law No. 68/2018 of 30 August 2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, Rwanda, entered into force on 27 September 2018, as amended by Law No. 059/2023 of 4 December 2023

This law criminalizes child labor, exploitation, and trafficking. Exploitation includes, but is not limited to, all forms of slavery and servitude, forced labor, the use of children in armed conflicts and for organ trafficking, child prostitution and pornography of any kind, the use of children in other illicit activities, or any other activity that could put a child’s health, safety, and morality at risk.