Location

Togo

Stage

Implementation

Website Link

cdfdh.com

Thematic Focus

Building Community Resilience

The Problem

Covid-19 has made citizens more susceptible to the violation and abuse of their human rights. This is especially the case with vulnerable groups (women and children). Violence against women tends to increase in situations such as epidemics, as stated by the WHO in April 2020. But due to the pandemic restrictions, it has been impossible for human rights defenders to continue monitoring activities and provide aid to victims.

The Solution

XONAM (which translates to ‘help me’, in the local language) is a digital solution for the physical restrictions experienced during the pandemic. It's a mobile application that helps victims report cases of human rights violations and abuses. Since its launch, XONAM has enabled at least 150 people in Togo to report human rights violations and abuses, while assisting about 50 people in obtaining legal assistance. XONAM is also a tool that aids human rights defenders in their data collection and monitoring efforts.

Impact

By providing support and legal assistance to those suffering from human rights violations, XONAM participates in the strengthening of the rule of law and ensures access to justice for all. XONAM enables people take take action against different types of human rights violations, including violence against women, which constitutes a significant number of cases reported through the application since 2020. Thus, XONAM contributes to the promotion of gender equality and right to health.

SDGs