Driven by a deep commitment to justice and a comprehensive vision for gender equality, Furaha has dedicated her career to addressing the systemic roots of harassment and violence, building pathways for accountability, and amplifying the voices of those often left unheard. As AESHI’s Regional Coordinator, Furaha leads efforts to push for robust laws and policies that prevent and address harassment and violence, working towards the development of a regional model law addressing sexual harassment that strengthens protections and accountability in Southern African countries. After earning her LL.M. and specialized certificate in International Human Rights Law from Georgetown this past May, Furaha has become the Co-Director of the Working Group on Gender Justice and Sexual Harassment at Berkeley Law’s Center on Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law (BCCE), where she has also been an Advisory Board member of the Center and Co-Editor in Chief of the BCCE E-Journal.

Freedom from Sexual Harassment: A Human Right

Since her childhood, Furaha has been driven by a deep commitment to justice and an unwavering belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Growing up in Zimbabwe, she was acutely aware of her country’s history of colonial subjugation, a narrative that her mother often reinforced through conversations about apartheid, segregation, and the systemic oppression endured by Black people under colonial rule. As Furaha delved deeper into history, she came to understand how colonialism warped Africa’s varied gender dynamics, deliberately entrenching systems that positioned women as subordinate to men. For Furaha, this realization highlighted a painful continuity: “Patriarchy is the common thread of both colonial and post-colonial times.” This understanding has been pivotal in shaping her advocacy for gender justice and her commitment to challenging systemic inequality.

One way this patriarchal system perpetuates gender inequality in Africa is manifest in the pervasiveness of sexual harassment. Furaha firmly believes that sexual harassment is a profound human rights violation, one that that undermines the dignity, privacy, and personal security of its victims. Though she recognizes the challenges of forging new pathways to justice in a realm that is still relatively uncharted in the region, Furaha is motivated by her conviction that the fight against sexual harassment is integral to achieving gender equality and addressing systemic power imbalances. For her, this fight is not just about justice for individuals—it’s about transforming the systemic structures that sustain inequality.

Advocating for sexual harassment as a critical human rights issue often means challenging entrenched power structures, especially when doing so requires addressing its intersectional nature. Furaha stresses that women’s rights are not separate from broader human rights concerns. On the contrary, they are deeply intertwined. Workplace equality, gender justice, and socio-economic empowerment all go hand in hand. She highlights how the challenges faced by individuals in contexts of war or other human rights abuses are often magnified and uniquely experienced by women. To address this reality effectively, Furaha argues, requires a gendered, intersectional approach that ensures women are not overlooked or marginalized in the broader fight for justice. With this framework in mind, Furaha continues her fight “for a better Africa that rewards integrity and ethical conduct in leadership, and for actionable agendas that recognize how gender equality leads to better development outcomes.”

Shaping the Dialogue on Sexual Harassment in Africa

As a key leader of AESHI, Furaha drives a transformative law reform and social movement project dedicated to fostering regional dialogue and critically assessing national laws on sexual harassment across Africa. Through collaboration with a diverse coalition of civil society organizations, Furaha works to build awareness, push for policy change, and amplify the voices of those impacted by sexual harassment. In 2024, AESHI launched a new report and initiative addressing workplace sexual harassment in sub-Saharan Africa, which Furaha hopes will be “a catalyst towards a regional protocol on sexual harassment” for the continent.

Furaha is also the lead editor of Sexual Harassment and the Law in Africa: Country and Regional Perspectives, a groundbreaking book that delves into the complex landscape of sexual violence and harassment across the African continent. This book is the first of its kind to present comprehensive research on sexual harassment in Africa from legal, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives, with a particular emphasis on the intersectional nature of workplace harassment. It sheds light on how laws, cultural norms, and gendered power structures shape the lived experiences of African women. The book echoes Furaha’s emphasis on the need to establish best practices that are relevant to the African context, taking into account both local realities and lessons drawn from international developments. Through her work on this book, Furaha hopes to provide “a critical resource for understanding the importance of establishing robust sexual harassment laws in Africa,” a cause she continues to champion through her work with AESHI.

Transformative Learning at Georgetown

As the 2023-2024 Fellow of Georgetown Law’s esteemed Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) program, Furaha made the most of her time on campus. She served as the LL.M. Advisor for the Georgetown Journal on International Law, co-hosted Season 5 of the D.C. Bar Communities Podcast, Let’s Brief It, and developed her thesis, “Sexual Harassment in the Pan African Parliament,” under the mentorship of Professor Jill Morrison, Director of the LAWA program. These experiences not only showcased her dedication to advancing human rights but also introduced her to professors, mentors, and key figures in her field who shared meaningful professional guidance and insight, and whose connections opened doors to advance her career as a human rights advocate.

Throughout her Georgetown experience, Furaha says she found support in dedicated professors, an expansive professional network, and influential figures who recognized the importance of her work. These connections provided invaluable guidance, as well as access to career opportunities that have been instrumental in advancing her mission. Reflecting on these relationships, Furaha emphasizes their transformative role in helping her move closer to her goal of driving systemic change for women’s rights across Africa.

Follow What Drives You

For Furaha, the most fulfilling aspect of her work is her unwavering commitment to an issue that fuels her passion and motivates her every day to continue to fight for change. “It’s crucial to engage with causes light you up, that make you come alive,” she explains. “When you’re deeply connected to an issue, it shows—your energy and enthusiasm become contagious, and you want others to feel that too.” Beyond this deep passion for her work, Furaha finds immense value in the moments when she sees the tangible impact of her efforts. What truly resonates with her is the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and foster a sense of community—particularly through mentoring others and being mentored herself.

For Furaha, this exchange of knowledge and support has been integral to where she is in her career today. She encourages students to take full advantage of Georgetown’s unparalleled education and programming, and the access it provides to some of the best human rights advocates in the field. “Engage with your professors, attend events—even when your schedule feels overwhelming,” she advises. For her, however, the greatest value ultimately lies in building meaningful connections with peers and mentors—connections that can open doors to transformative opportunities and help amplify one’s impact in the fight for justice.

Joy with Community

Furaha finds comfort in spending time with her community, be it with coworkers, friends, or family. For her, enjoying the company of others is key to maintaining balance.

Written by Cameron Mulrooney, edited by Michelle Liu