You may have heard about the recent demonstrations by Liberian Refugee Women at the Buduburam camp. Well, so had we. It was really hard to understand what the issues were as there was a lot of sensational stories in the press so AWDF in association with the Network for Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) decided to pay a visit to refugee women at the camp to hear first hand the issues for ourselves.
Our visit to the camp attracted over a thousand women to an open forum we held in a church hall. The church hall was overflowing and several more women were sitting in doorways trying to hear what was going on and to participate. Our mission as women's right's organisations was simple, to show solidarity with Liberian Refugee Women and to find out from them directly what their concerns were.
To say we were welcomed with open hands was an understatement. 'Finally you are here' said the women at the camp. We explained that as women's right's organisations we were concerned when we heard about women demonstrating at the camp and many of them being put in detention. We explained that we had come to show our solidarity and to listen to the concerns of the women. We were keen to explain that we had no silver bullet remedies but will continue to play a role as advocates with the statutory bodies.
As always when you give women the opportunity to participate in forums about key issues that impact on their lives you get a detailed picture. The issues affecting Liberian refugee women are complex and multi-facteted. One of the key issues that arose time and time again was that of transportation. Some refugees have been in Ghana for 18 years and have naturally amassed a sizeable amount of belongings in that time. (Just think of the new posessions you acquire when you even go on holiday?) The challenging bit is that the refugees have been informed that they will be flown to Liberia and will only be allowed 30 kilos of luggage.
AWDF and NETRIGHT have made a committment to Liberian refugee women that we will advocate on their behalf with statutory partners including the UNHCR and the Ghana Refugee Board. We will also continue our discussions with women at the Buduburam camp.
Our visit ended with a donation of food items and clothing to women at the camp.
-Nana
Program Officer - Fundraising & Communications
Our visit to the camp attracted over a thousand women to an open forum we held in a church hall. The church hall was overflowing and several more women were sitting in doorways trying to hear what was going on and to participate. Our mission as women's right's organisations was simple, to show solidarity with Liberian Refugee Women and to find out from them directly what their concerns were.
To say we were welcomed with open hands was an understatement. 'Finally you are here' said the women at the camp. We explained that as women's right's organisations we were concerned when we heard about women demonstrating at the camp and many of them being put in detention. We explained that we had come to show our solidarity and to listen to the concerns of the women. We were keen to explain that we had no silver bullet remedies but will continue to play a role as advocates with the statutory bodies.
As always when you give women the opportunity to participate in forums about key issues that impact on their lives you get a detailed picture. The issues affecting Liberian refugee women are complex and multi-facteted. One of the key issues that arose time and time again was that of transportation. Some refugees have been in Ghana for 18 years and have naturally amassed a sizeable amount of belongings in that time. (Just think of the new posessions you acquire when you even go on holiday?) The challenging bit is that the refugees have been informed that they will be flown to Liberia and will only be allowed 30 kilos of luggage.
AWDF and NETRIGHT have made a committment to Liberian refugee women that we will advocate on their behalf with statutory partners including the UNHCR and the Ghana Refugee Board. We will also continue our discussions with women at the Buduburam camp.
Our visit ended with a donation of food items and clothing to women at the camp.
-Nana
Program Officer - Fundraising & Communications
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