A lawyer with a heart for human rights

From rural Namibia to global human rights advocate
Fillemon Shikomba is eager to be part of the new generation of lawyers who reform the justice system and educate Namibians about their rights.
Phillipus Josef
  • 3 Months Ago
Fillemon Shikomba is a Namibian lawyer whose passion for law is driven by a desire to fight for what is right and to make the world a better place. He is currently based in the United States.

"Law is something that speaks to my heart, but it is also an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, especially the most marginalised," he said.

Shikomba holds a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from Tambov State University in Russia and a master’s degree from Hofstra University in the USA.

His path to becoming a lawyer was not easy. "I started off as a business administration student at the University of Namibia because the Unam law school only accommodated a limited number of students per year back then," he said.

Despite his initial frustrations, his hunger to succeed led him to seize an opportunity to study in Russia. "Studying abroad was hard," he said, reflecting on the financial struggles and sacrifices he made.

There were days when he went to bed hungry because he could not afford food. These experiences have shaped his character and his commitment to his dreams, he said.

"While studying for my master's, I couldn't afford a single textbook, so I had to wait for my roommate to go to bed to borrow his textbooks and study overnight."



Helping vulnerable people

Shikomba, specialising in human rights law, emphasised the importance of this field.

"I chose human rights law because it directly involves helping the most vulnerable people," he said.

He has witnessed various human rights violations and believes that those in positions of power should do more to address these issues.

Growing up in rural Namibia, he has seen progress in the country's justice system but believes more work is needed.

"Namibia is still unlearning dark cultural practices from the past that undermine basic human rights," he noted.

He is eager to be part of the new generation of lawyers who reform the justice system and educate the population.

Currently, Shikomba works as a regional advisor for Human Rights Watch, the largest human rights non-profit in the world.

His role involves legal research, attending human rights conferences at the United Nations headquarters, and meeting delegates from different countries.



Fun side

"On a normal day, I undertake human rights research, work on comparative analysis, and provide legal advice on human rights issues," he explained.

Outside of his professional life, Shikomba loves travelling and exploring new countries.

"The more you travel, the more curious you become," he said.

He also enjoys learning new languages and is fluent in Russian, Swahili, English and Oshiwambo, with French classes currently underway. A fan of classic legal movies, his favourites include 'Philadelphia', 'Legally Blonde', 'A Time to Kill' and 'Erin Brockovich'.