Report on Training of Dhobi Women Human Rights Monitors- 13.03.2024

Introduction

The Dhobi Women Network, in collaboration with the Mathare Social Justice Centre, organized a Human Rights Monitor Training to empower domestic workers by equipping them with essential knowledge about their rights, giving them the necessary tools to report workplace exploitation, and providing them with a trusted support network. As part of the Training, selected participants will be trained as Dhobi Women Human Rights Monitors, serving as key contact persons for domestic workers facing injustices. This specialized training addresses the widespread exploitation, violence, and discrimination that domestic workers in Eastleigh and Mathare experience daily. By fostering awareness and advocacy skills, the program cultivates a strong, united network of domestic workers who stand in solidarity, support one another, and collectively defend their peers against workplace injustices.

Understanding their rights is crucial for domestic workers to protect themselves from exploitation. Kenya’s legal framework provides robust protections for workers, anchored in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which guarantees every individual the right to human dignity. The Constitution mandates fair labor practices, equitable wages, and safe working conditions, affirming the right of every worker to be treated with respect. However, despite these legal safeguards, domestic workers—often marginalized—continue to face severe exploitation. By equipping them with legal knowledge and practical tools, the training empowers them to challenge abuse, discrimination, and unjust labor practices effectively.

Background of the Dhobi Women Network

The Dhobi Women Network is a collective of domestic workers from Mathare who have united to address the severe challenges they face in their workplaces. Many have experienced several human rights violations, including sexual violence, physical assault, and unpaid labor—some have even lost their lives. Recognizing the urgent need for change, they came together to advocate for fair labor practices, equitable wages, and dignified working conditions.

At its core, the Dhobi Women Network serves as a platform for empowerment and advocacy, providing domestic workers with access to resources, legal support, and solidarity. By tackling issues such as unjust wages, power imbalances, and workplace exploitation, the Network aims to elevate the status of domestic work and foster a supportive community committed to workers’ rights.

Beyond advocacy, the network actively promotes economic empowerment through initiatives like table banking – a community-based savings and lending system that provides financial stability to domestic workers, many of whom lack access to formal banking services. By saving and borrowing collectively, members can strengthen their financial resilience and reduce their economic vulnerability. Additionally, the network has rebuilt community land in Eastleigh, transforming it into a community green space where members have planted trees and vegetables. This space serves as a hub for Dhobi women to connect, share experiences, and support one another. Looking ahead, they plan to establish a nursery and expand vegetable farming as an additional income source, helping them become less dependent on employers, where they often face exploitation.

(The Dhobi Women Network at the official launch of their Network to support and empower domestic workers.)

Objectives of the Training

The Dhobi Women Human Rights Monitor Training is designed to empower domestic workers by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their rights and support their peers facing exploitation. The program aims to train selected participants as Human Rights Monitors, enabling them to identify and document cases of mistreatment, provide guidance to affected individuals, and advocate for systemic change.

A key goal of the training is to raise awareness of gender-based violence (GBV) and highlight the importance of proper documentation and reporting. Participants also gain essential knowledge of human and labor rights, empowering them to recognize and challenge abusive practices in their workplaces. Additionally, the program includes psychosocial support, providing strategies to help domestic workers cope with trauma and assist others in similar situations.

Beyond individual empowerment, the training fosters network building by encouraging collaboration and solidarity among domestic workers. By strengthening their collective voice, participants contribute to a sustainable support system that promotes fair and dignified working conditions for all domestic workers in the community.

Training Program & Activities

Held at the Mathare Social Justice Center on 13 March 2024, the day-long training engaged participants through a blend of theoretical and practical sessions. Facilitated by MSJC staff, local experts, and members of the society, the program highlighted the following;

Rights Education: Lectures on constitutional protections, the Employment Act (2007), and Gender Based Violence laws, highlighting rights to unjust wages and safe conditions.
Documentation Workshops: Hands-on exercises using a standardized reporting form, practicing how to log incidents (e.g., a verbal threat at 9 AM on 10 March) and preserve evidence like text messages or witness accounts.
Harassment Typology: Group discussions on;
- Verbal harassment (e.g., “You’re worthless,” shouted by an employer).
- Physical harassment (e.g., slapping during a dispute over wages).
- Sexual harassment (e.g., unwanted touching reported by a majority of participants).
- Discriminatory practices (e.g., lower pay for women from certain ethnic groups).
- Psychological harassment (e.g., threats by employers and accusations).

Psychosocial Support: Role-playing to practice trauma-coping techniques, such as peer counseling, with guidance from a trained counselor.
Networking Session: A closing circle where participants shared contacts and pledged mutual support, forming the Dhobi Monitors Collective.

The training’s participatory design, rooted in MSJC’s methodology, ensured that participants’ stories, like one woman’s account of unpaid overtime spanning six months, shaped the content.

(Sadyia and Sella, the Programme coordiantors of the Dhobi Women Network Introducing the Nework and opening the first Training Session.) (Wangeshi, one of the Trainers, teaching about Gender-Based Violence.)

(Vincent, lawyer at MSJC and member of the Legal Empowerment Network, introducing the Reporting form to participants.)

(Trainers of the Human Rights Monitor Training and the Program Coordinators of the Dhobi Women Network closing the session.)

Development of the Self-Help Reporting Template

A key outcome of the meeting was the co-development of a self-help reporting template, designed to empower individuals to document rights violations clearly and systematically. Created collaboratively by participants and facilitators, it includes:

Incident Details: Fields for date, time, location, and description (e.g., “Employer withheld KES 2,000 on 5 March 2024”).
Evidence Log: Space to list supporting materials (e.g., a photo of a bruise, a neighbor’s statement).
Legal Linkage: Instructions to submit copies to the Legal Empowerment Network (LEN), a pro bono coalition of lawyers.
Training Focus: Emphasis on legality (e.g., recordings permissible only with consent under Kenyan law) and consistency.
Providing training on proper completion of the reporting form, with an emphasis on leaving a trail of evidence such as messages, recordings (where legally permissible), witness statements, and documented patterns of harassment.

The reporting template not only facilitates the creation of robust evidence for legal redress but also enhances collaboration with the Legal Empowerment Network, which is prepared to offer guidance and assistance based on the submitted reports. Training on the proper completion of this template stressed the importance of leaving an evidentiary trail, ranging from messages to recordings and witness statements, that can be pivotal in legal proceedings.

Key Outcomes & Impact

The training has resulted in significant outcomes.

Enhanced Knowledge and Awareness: Participants gained a clearer understanding of their rights and the necessary steps to document and report workplace abuses.
Empowerment through Documentation: The reporting template enables domestic workers to compile robust evidence, thereby facilitating legal support and advocacy.
Strengthened Support Networks: The initiative has reinforced solidarity among domestic workers, promoting collective action.
Improved Collaboration: The linkage between domestic workers and the Legal Empowerment Network ensures that cases of exploitation receive prompt and effective legal assistance.

Vision of the Network & Next Steps

Looking ahead, the Dhobi Women Network is planning to expand its Human Rights Monitor Trainings. As a first step, seven of the 35 women who attended the initial session have been selected for a specialized training program.

This program will begin with informal meetings in the park, where our Head of Program, Sella, and Sadiya will engage with them about their work, introduce them to key aspects of human rights monitoring, and familiarize them with local police stations. Following this introduction, the network will hold weekly training sessions covering essential topics, such as a detailed guide on how to report cases effectively. The trained monitors are expected to serve as frontline advocates within their communities, actively supporting domestic workers facing exploitation. They will form a dedicated working group to address and prevent workplace injustices more effectively. Additionally, they will play a key role in refining and implementing the self-help reporting template, ensuring it remains responsive to the evolving needs of domestic workers.

As many domestic workers have reached out to the Dhobi Women Network requesting to join future sessions, the network is planning to implement six more training sessions. These sessions will educate more domestic workers on human rights and select new Human Rights Monitors from the participants, further strengthening the Monitor Network and the Dhobi Women Network. Expanding outreach efforts will also be a priority, allowing the network to reach more domestic workers, strengthen support structures, and enhance the overall impact of their advocacy.
Furthermore, to strengthen the Dhobi Women Network, members are planning to come together for the next community event on April 25th.

(Participants of the Human Rights Monitor Training following the class discussion.)

Conclusion

The Human Rights Monitor Training on 13^th March 2024 marks a pivotal step in the Dhobi Women Network’s fight for justice. By equipping 35 domestic workers with the skills to become Human Rights Defenders, it directly challenges the exploitation that has long plagued Mathare and Eastleigh. The self-help reporting template and strategic partnerships provide practical accountability tools, while the Monitors’ collective strength drives lasting change. Future Human Rights Monitor Trainings will further strengthen this network, paving the way for the establishment of a dedicated Human Rights Monitor Network within the Dhobi Women Network. This work exemplifies MSJC’s ethos: empowering communities to demand dignity, equity, and workplace safety.