FEMNET | A Night time of Meals, Enjoyable, and Human Rights Conversations – Dinner with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, H.E. Kajsa Ollongren

Brian Kithinji – EU Youth Sounding Board, Policy Action Initiative

Rarely do you get the chance to be invited to an Ambassador’s residence and luxuriate in a memorable culinary expertise. But are you aware what’s even rarer? When the dinner desk brings collectively ambassadors, senior diplomats, and civil society leaders for significant conversations about human rights. On February 11th, I used to be lucky to expertise precisely that.

To say the celebrities aligned could be an understatement – they honestly did. I had the chance to take part in an off-the-cuff dinner dialogue with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, H.E. Kajsa Ollongren, as she concluded her official go to in Kenya. The night gathering was hosted on the Residence of the Netherlands, bringing collectively diplomats, youth representatives, and civil society actors in a relaxed however considerate session.

Both H.E. Henriette Geiger, Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya, and H.E. Henk Jan Bakker, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya, had been current, and alongside a dozen civil society leaders, we engaged in strong discussions on democracy, human rights, and youth engagement in governance.

I had the privilege of representing the EU Youth Sounding Board on this assembly, becoming a member of representatives from the Netherlands Youth Advisory Committee and different main civil society organizations.

The night provided us a singular alternative not solely to change views with senior diplomats but in addition to mirror on how youth voices can meaningfully contribute to human rights and democratic governance in Kenya.

Unlike formal coverage conferences with their protocols, the dinner created a extra open and reflective ambiance the place all of us might communicate candidly about progress and protracted challenges in advancing human rights and democracy in Kenya.

Throughout the dialog, a recurring theme emerged on the hole between coverage and observe. Our communities proceed to expertise police brutality, abductions, goon violence and exclusion from governance processes regardless of the structure guaranteeing freedoms and dignity. The effectiveness of those legal guidelines finally is dependent upon how they’re applied and skilled by residents.

In my remarks, I mirrored on the significance of making certain that youth views are built-in into conversations about human rights and democratic governance. Drawing from my expertise within the YSB, I emphasised the significance of significant youth engagement in policymaking and the worth of together with various voices in implementation. Anything for us, with out us, is in opposition to us.