By Percy Christopher Mpindi

A keen reflection upon my tenure as the pioneer ambassador of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) draws me to summarize my experience in three words: people, places, and possibilities. The ISHR has exposed me to a community of highly reputable people who have not spared an ounce of energy in their attempts to share valuable lessons and love with me. With the ambassador’s program, the organization has spearheaded efforts that expand the grassroots reach to hitherto neglected and ignored places. With as many young people designated and trained as ambassadors, the organization will boast of an organic community of representatives. In so doing, this program and other efforts undertaken by the ISHR have the praiseworthy effect of exposing young people to the possibilities in their lives and communities.

Without these concerted efforts, we risk neglecting communities—and especially young people—on the dangerous shore of pessimism. With grave human rights violations and abuses—oftentimes sanctioned by the state and its agencies—many young people can be susceptible to the incurable loss of hope in established institutions and systems. If history is a place to depend on, we have observed that this faith-turned-to-despair will often lead to the regrettable path of violent extremism. Premised on this, a case for the adoption and promotion of interventions can be made. The ambassador’s program, therefore, represents the ingenious, timely, and intentional steps being undertaken by the ISHR. Through this platform that the organization has offered me, we were able to conceptualize and organize a campus event on human rights at the School of Law, Makerere University.

The round table dialogue took place on the 20th day of June 2023 coinciding with the World Refugee Day. This day reminds us of the immense challenges faced by people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge, often encountering various legal and human rights barriers. We sought to bring together young minds passionate about promoting and protecting human rights to empower them to actively contribute to the ongoing fight against legal and human rights barriers in our society. By providing a platform for strategic engagement and collaboration through the ambassador’s office, we aimed to equip them with the necessary tools like advocacy, knowledge, and networks to overcome the obstacles that impede progress in the realm of human rights.

The event, which attracted 20 participants, proved to be an instant success with the excellent moderation of Mr. Adrian Kalule, a final-year student of law and seasoned student leader at Makerere University. The discussion stirred rich themes which ranged from the role of youths in activism; inequality; gender-based violence; and human rights-related topics. Given the diverse membership of the participants, the discussion took a deep and multifaceted direction toward driving sustainable change within their communities and the country at large. The venue of the event also had a profound boost to the day’s themes. Being hosted at the School of Law, Makerere University—an institution that continues to make an indelible mark on the observance of human rights in Uganda. Beyond nurturing some of the leading legal practitioners in Uganda and East Africa at large, the school, to many remains one of the few spaces in the academy where bold and critical conversations on the state of human rights in Uganda can still be held. The campus event further brought to light points for reflection to all, including the unmistakable intersectionality of human rights.

This event also promotes the participatory parity that remains crucial for the attainment of social justice. Fraser defines social justice as a concept that requires the organization of social arrangements that make it possible for everyone to participate equally in society. It is our hope that this and more fruits emanating from the ISHR ambassadors’ program will keep fostering this age-old ideal that in many ways informs the strategic vision of the ISHR itself. In taking these conversations to the grassroots level, we contribute to wider human rights efforts. After all, it has been said that if we want to solve the world’s biggest problems, we need to make the knowledge about them open to all. To that, I now venture to add, ‘with particular focus on strategic youth participation.’