The fight is legal: Ephraim Ogwu wants Africa CDWD to learn the importance of legal advocacy
This is the third in a three-part interview series with Ephraim Ogwu. Read part one and part two here.
Ephraim Ogwu's journey as an advocate for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) in Africa has been deeply informed by the lessons learned from other African communities facing similar struggles. “Intersectionality in advocacy is crucial,” he emphasizes. Ogwu points out that marginalized women often face a double burden of gender and descent-based discrimination. Learning from communities across Africa, he has come to understand that vulnerable groups within the Osu community, such as women, face compounded discrimination. “Addressing these specific needs is vital to make the broader struggle more inclusive,” Ogwu says. He believes that tackling multiple layers of discrimination—whether based on gender, age, or disability—is essential in ensuring comprehensive advocacy.
Another critical lesson has been the importance of legal advocacy, something Ogwu has seen firsthand in other marginalized African communities. “From the Haratine in Mauritania to the Tuareg in Mali, legal advocacy has been a powerful tool in challenging entrenched systems of discrimination.” He points out that the Haratine community's fight for constitutional recognition and citizenship rights has been a key lesson. “International human rights frameworks are essential, especially when national governments are slow to act,” he asserts. The use of global human rights mechanisms like the United Nations and regional bodies such as the African Union (AU) has been pivotal in holding governments accountable for their failure to address discrimination.
For Ogwu, economic empowerment stands out as a critical path to overcoming exclusion. “Economic self-reliance not only improves material conditions but fosters dignity and independence,” he explains. Drawing inspiration from apprenticeship and cooperative systems in communities like the Haratine, Ogwu has learned how vocational training, access to land, credit, and resources are crucial for CDWD to break the cycle of poverty. “Initiatives that focus on education and vocational skills create a foundation for progress, allowing marginalized individuals to rise above their circumstances.”
Ogwu also emphasizes the power of collective advocacy, citing how the Haratine community has mobilized civil society and international solidarity movements. “There is strength in collective action,” he says. Through protests, advocacy, and the involvement of NGOs, marginalized communities in Africa have been able to elevate their causes to a global stage. “Building networks with other marginalized communities helps amplify our voices,” Ogwu explains. The impact of these collaborations has been profound, bringing attention to the issue of CDWD not just within Africa, but across the globe.
Despite these strides, the challenges facing CDWD in Africa remain formidable and distinct compared to those in other parts of the world. Ogwu attributes much of this to the lingering effects of colonialism. “The colonial legacy reinforced or exacerbated existing social hierarchies,” he notes. European powers often imposed racial and social stratifications that deepened divisions within African societies, particularly among the Osu, the Haratine, and the Tuareg. “Post-independence, we are left with the additional challenge of dismantling both indigenous social structures and the colonial legacy that institutionalized them.”
One of the most significant challenges, Ogwu explains, is the lack of legal recognition and protection. “In many African countries, CDWD are not officially recognized as marginalized groups. This legal invisibility leaves them vulnerable to unchallenged discrimination.” He contrasts this with South Asia, where Dalits have some formal legal protections, and Europe, where the Roma are constitutionally recognized. “In Africa, most CDWD are not addressed in legal frameworks, and this is a huge gap that we need to fill.”
The economic plight of CDWD in Africa is another area where the continent's unique context plays a role. “Economic exclusion is common among CDWD globally, but in Africa, it's compounded by broader underdevelopment,” Ogwu explains. The lack of infrastructure, education, and access to resources deepens the cycle of poverty for communities like the Osu in Nigeria and the Haratine in Mauritania. “It's a harder climb out of poverty here, with fewer opportunities and government schemes to provide a safety net.”
Furthermore, the struggles of CDWD in Africa often go unnoticed by the global community. “There's limited awareness about the specific forms of caste-like discrimination that exist in Africa,” Ogwu observes. He compares this to the extensive international attention given to Dalit rights in South Asia and Roma rights in Europe. “African CDWD face an uphill battle for visibility and support from international bodies, and that isolation hampers our efforts for progress.”
Despite these challenges, there are inspiring success stories. Ogwu highlights the case of the Haratine community in Mauritania, where persistent advocacy led to the criminalization of slavery in 2007. “It was a major legislative victory,” he says. While the enforcement of anti-slavery laws remains inconsistent, the passage of these laws has allowed for the prosecution of slave owners and the establishment of specialized courts to handle slavery-related cases. “The government declaring slavery a crime against humanity in 2015 was another key gain,” Ogwu adds, emphasizing how important legal victories can be in addressing deep-rooted social discrimination.
Looking ahead, Ogwu is convinced that global platforms are crucial to addressing the rights of CDWD in Africa. “Global platforms amplify our voices and push for policy changes that we desperately need,” he asserts. Bringing the experiences of African CDWD to the forefront of international forums creates solidarity and coordination across regions. “We need a global coalition that unites CDWD across the world,” Ogwu says, pointing to how communities in South Asia, Europe, and Latin America have successfully mobilized global networks.
Climate change, Ogwu notes, has further compounded the challenges faced by CDWD in Africa. “The intersection of environmental degradation and social exclusion is a double blow,” he explains. In regions like the Sahel, desertification and drought threaten livelihoods, particularly for communities reliant on agriculture and livestock. The Osu communities in Nigeria, Ogwu adds, are vulnerable to soil and gully erosion, exacerbated by climate change, which frequently destroys their homes and farmlands. “The lack of resilience and access to resources leaves these communities especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” he laments, pointing out that little has been done to integrate CDWD into climate adaptation strategies.
Looking forward, Ogwu and the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) have set several key priorities to ensure CDWD are recognized and protected. “We need a United Nations Declaration on CDWD,” Ogwu asserts, explaining how such a declaration would be a game-changer, establishing a global framework for recognizing descent-based discrimination. “We also need stronger regional legal frameworks,” he adds, emphasizing the importance of working with bodies like the African Union and pushing for national anti-discrimination laws across Africa.
Intersectional advocacy is another priority for Ogwu and the GFoD. “We need to address the unique challenges faced by women, youth, and marginalized ethnic groups within CDWD,” Ogwu says. He is determined to link CDWD advocacy with broader human rights efforts, focusing on ensuring access to education, healthcare, and housing. “It's about tackling inequality in all its forms and ensuring CDWD are part of the solution,” he concludes.