Grassroots Social Movements: A New Narrative on Human Rights in Africa?

Abstract

Recent geopolitical developments worldwide have led to a paradigm shift in both the context and strategies of doing human rights work in Africa. Grassroots social movements from Algeria to Zimbabwe are increasingly allowing citizens to take center stage and in some cases to circumvent traditional actors in the promotion and protection of human rights, both from the bottom up, and as a conversation space through which citizens realize their own power to make a difference. This article investigates the extent to which grassroots efforts –which are mostly intertwined with other issues such as governance, anti–corruption, and politics– could significantly resonate at the broadest possible level, shaping resilient futures and empowering communities to assert their rights. This article aims to shine new light on the interfacing and intersectionality of grassroots social movements and the human rights discourse in Africa as a potential new frontier for safeguarding and entrenchment of human rights.