Thérèse DONU, TOGO

“Even today, few women who are victims of physical and moral violence and torture can properly access justice”

About Thérèse

Ms. Thérèse Donu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Law and a Master’s Degree in Environmental, International, and Comparative Law. As a lawyer at the Togo Bar, Thérèse has extensive experience in advocating for women’s rights and the rights of individuals identifying as LGBT. Having witnessed cases of abuse and unjust accusations during police custody and detention while growing up, Thérèse has developed a lifelong passion for safeguarding human rights.

The Challenge

Same-sex relations are illegal in Togo, leading to widespread discrimination against LGBT individuals at all levels of society. Furthermore, both LGBT persons and women are at high risk of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse within the criminal justice system. Thérèse is committed to combating gender inequality and discrimination based on sexual orientation within this system. Specifically, she focuses on assisting two particularly vulnerable groups: sex workers and LGBT individuals who face discrimination based on their profession or sexual orientation.

The Innovation: “Justice For All”

The “Justice For All” project aimed to ensure that all citizens are treated equally before the law by educating the public about their rights and training justice actors and civil society representatives. During the project, 43 individuals participated in legal awareness seminars focused on equal access to justice; most were previously unaware of their rights. Additionally, an associated legal awareness radio campaign reached approximately 3,000 individuals. The project also organized volunteers to identify cases of torture at the earliest stages of legal proceedings and provided pro bono legal representation to 25 victims from the target groups.