I seek dignity for women

BETTY MURUNGI, 50, is a lawyer and human rights advocate. She has considerable experience in transitional justice and women’s human rights is the founding director of Urgent Action Fund-Africa.  She spoke to NJOKI CHEGE

I joined the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) in 2009 where I served briefly as its vice chairperson. My tenure was regrettably short lived at the commission.

I could not reconcile my principles and understanding of what an effective, optimal truth commission should be, with the reality of what it was in April 2010 when I resigned. I honour and respect my colleagues who stayed on.

After it completes its work, there will be time and space to speak about my experiences and what might have been. For the time being, I look forward to reading the report and engaging with its recommendations.

Prior to my appointment at TJRC, I co-founded the Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF) in 2001 with three friends, Ariane Brunet (Canadian), Julie Shaw (US) and Margaret Shinck (US).

Urgent Action Fund is a grant-making organisation that pioneered the rapid response grant model that provides funds to women’s rights groups in armed conflict or crisis situations. My work with UAF-Africa and its partners remains an important learning point in my life. I directed the fund until mid-2009.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

I studied law at the University of Nairobi between 1981 and 1984. Political repression of the one party state was at its height and student activism made for major upheavals in our lives.  In 1982, a nasty crackdown on academic freedom saw many of our lecturers detained, including Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga.

After admission to the bar in late 1985, I worked in two commercial law firms and a banking institution in Nairobi before beginning practice in my own name, which allowed me freedom to grow my interest in human rights law and practice.

At this time, I became involved in the governance of Fida-Kenya as a board member. I had joined Fida at its inception in 1985 when I was still a student at the Kenya School of Law.

Fida created many opportunities for its members to learn and expand their knowledge and activism. It was during the tenure of the late Grace Githu and Nancy Baraza that Fida broke into the international scene as serious women rights advocates.

TURNING POINT

In the mid 1990s, I got involved in the international women’s human rights movement to seek accountability for crimes committed against women during the genocide in Rwanda.

Under the aegis of the Coalition for Women’s Human Rights in Conflict Situations based in Montreal Canada, an international coalition of lawyers, scholars and activists led by Ariane Brunet was formed to demand investigations and prosecution of gender crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and at the Special Court in Sierra Leone.

We continue to monitor transitional justice processes and their responses to women to this day. Together and with others, we later got involved in the advocacy for integrating gender perspectives into the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court  (ICC).

I went on to chair the executive committee of the New York based Women’s Caucus for Gender Justice, a women’s rights lobby involved in the advocacy for an effective and independent ICC during the preparatory commission meetings in New York and in Rome at the diplomatic conference in 1998.

 I stay occupied working on transitional justice projects and initiatives, both locally and internationally. Currently I serve on the five-member board of directors of the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims representing the Africa region.

 I also serve on The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation. I have had the honour and privilege to interact with victims of crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction. It has been a humbling experience.

Proud to be a feminist

I publicly identify myself as an African feminist. I am part of the powerful African Feminist Forum, a collective of African women who recognise that advocating for women’s rights and equality is a deeply political process that requires ideological and political strategies to succeed.

We seek to dismantle structures that subordinate and oppress women and restore dignity and respect for women as equal citizens. We seek fair systems of governance that do not privilege one group over another.  Our movement draws inspiration from our feminist ancestors like Mekatilili wa Menza and Queen Nzinga.

INSPIRATION

During my life’s journey, many people have inspired me. Family, teachers, pastors, colleagues and friends have had a powerful impact on my choices.

I am inspired by the lives and actions of ordinary women whom I met during my years at UAF-Africa ordinary women responding to crisis, disease or impoverishment wrought by conflict. How these women manage to pull through, hold things together, adopt children, live without griping about their condition inspired me and continues to inspire my work.

My younger sister Rose is a source of much joy, love and inspiration for me. My spouse James Orengo inspires me by his life example of courage and service; my children by their charm and love, my mother by her independent and entrepreneurial spirit; my eight siblings by their love and support. I am inspired by simple acts of people going about their daily lives that make a difference in the lives of others.

While acknowledging human fallibility I try to live by biblical teachings and certain agreements with myself best explained by Don Miguel Ruiz in his book The Four Agreements.

They include being impeccable with my word, setting and keeping high standards for myself, and not taking anything personally. I try to do my best. As I matured, I found the Bible’s lessons illuminating.