Grantee Highlight: GAMCOTRAP celebrates ex-circumcisers

Over the years, The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children - GAMCOTRAP has been engaged in consistent grassroots activism and social mobilisation through training and sensitization activities to raise consciousness of men and women on the Effects of FGM on the reproductive health rights of women and girl-children. The organization has worked closely with the communities through an empowerment process to be able to bring about change. As a result of the series of activities, the organisation has been able to register immense success leading to the first Public Declaration was made by 18 Circumcisers and 63 Communities to protect their children from FGM, on the 5th May 2007.

Sustained advocacy engaging the duty bearers at the community level has resulted to yet another success story. GAMCOTRAP will be marking the 2nd Dropping of the Knife event through a Public Declaration by 60 Circumcisers and 351 Communities in the Upper and Central River Regions of the Gambia.

As part of this land mark achievement, GAMCOTRAP will be organizing a great celebration to honour the ex-circumcisers and their communities on the 5th December 2009 at the Basse Stadium in the Upper River Region commencing at 9.00am. The Public Declaration has very strong support and commitment from their traditional rulers and Council of Elders as well as the Local Government Structures across the regions.

The activity will be presided over by Her Excellency, Doctor Isatou Njie-Saidy the Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs. Also Secretaries of States and local and international dignitaries and young people will be in attendance.

World Sight Day: Gender and Eye Care

October 8 was world sight day and I am wondering how many of us heard about it and for those of us who heard about it, what kind of consideration we gave to it. The second Thursday in October every year has been set aside globally for awareness creation on blindness, visual impairment and the rehabilitation of the visually impaired. This year the theme for World Sight Day 2009 was “Gender and Eye Health – equal access to care”. The theme sought to highlight the fact that globally two-thirds of the people who are blind are women and girls.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally about 180 million people are visually impaired, of whom 45 million are blind with nearly two-thirds of people affected by vision loss being females. 80% of all cases of blindness could have been avoided with 20% being preventable and 60% being treatable.

Visual impairment is most prevalent in women and men 50 years and older. The majority of eye conditions for this age group, such as cataract, can be easily treated. However, women who form the majority of people with visual impairment do not benefit from this treatment as a result of inequal access to eye health care. In many places men have twice the access to eye care as women due to a number of reasons including accessibility in terms of cost and distance as well as lack of the power to take decisions affecting their own lives. However equal access to eye care for women and men could greatly reduce cases of visual impairment especially in developing countries.

It is ironic that in many parts of the world women do not have equal access to eye care despite the critical role they play in health care including eye health care. Women work as ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, community workers, etc. Again at home it is usually women who carry the burden of care for family members who have lost their sight. In recognition of the role of women in eye care, the World Health Organization has pointed out the need to acknowledge the role of women in the prevention of blindness and visual impairment.

The causes of avoidable blindness are frequently associated with poverty and lack of access to quality eye care services. Avoidable blindness is more common amongst the poorest of the poor, women and marginalized populations. Data shows that 90% of the world's blind people live in developing countries and that people who live in the developing world are 5 to 10 times more likely to go blind than people who live in highly industrialized countries. Poverty therefore is a critical contributory factor to blindness.

Vision health could be maintained through improved access to health care, including regular, comprehensive dilated eye exams, which would facilitate early detection and treatment of eye diseases. Weight reduction is also a good strategy to prevent eye disease since obesity is a risk factor for diabetic eye disease.

It is therefore pertinent for women to take their health care into their own hands and seek regular medical care for all diseases that affect their lives especially their eyes. We all have a right to see this beautiful world.


Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager
AWDF

GENDER BUDGETING AS A TOOL FOR POVERTY REDUCTION: CONCEPTS, PRACTICES AND CAPACITY IMPLICATIONS BY THE AFRICAN CAPACITY BUILDING FOUNDATION. (ACBF)

A Review
By
Rose Mensah-Kutin (PhD)

1.0 Introduction
• NETRIGHT and interest in gender budgeting. 3-year capacity building initiative to benefit members.
• Awareness of a number of publications on the subject. Example: those under the South African initiative
• Pleasant surprise that a new addition had been produced.
• Congratulate the ACBF and all involved in the process and also to AWDF for hosting the launch, given its own leadership and commitment to gender equality promotion in the context of Africa.

2.0 Features of the book
• Published by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), a renowned capacity building institution
• 187 pages, colourful, accessible language, handy.
• How to go about it
• Six sections: overview, Gender budgeting experiences analysed (3chapters); Comparative analysis across African regions; Conclusions and recommendations.
• Relevance and the modesty with which this is articulated

3.0 Key Issues In the book
3.1 Useful learning points from the model cases presented
• How it was done, challenges encountered, opportunities, successes etc
• Women’s active involvement as critical

3.2 Diverse nature of the experiences presented
• No one model is best
• Australian experience: first attempt and its implications. Shows the dangers of an initiative that is located only inside government
• South African model: Example of comprehensive research coverage of all sectors and all levels of government. It demonstrates an alliance between parliament and NGOs
• Ugandan model: A country where there are opportunities for an early participation in the budget process of non governmental- actors. It also shows the role of the World Bank and IMF in the process

• Rwanda Model
• Government political commitment to tackle gender inequality.
• One of the things Ban Ki-Moon, the UN boss first commended during his visit to that country in March was the country's attainment of gender parity at all levels.
• national consultations on gender responsive budgeting hosted by the line Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and that of Gender and Family Promotion.
• During the consultations, findings quoted from a study conducted by United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in some districts of Rwanda, indicate that there is an acute shortage of gender expertise necessary for gender analysis, planning and budgeting.
• This is basically one of the reasons these consultations were held, to emphasize the need to consider gender budgeting while considering the overall budgeting process.
• Rwanda, despite the fact that it has received a positive nod as one of the first sub-Saharan African countries to have attained one of the 3rd Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is at a shortfall when auditing the effectiveness of aid in advancing gender equality and women empowerment.

3.3 Methodological approaches
• Providing institutions with mechanisms to address gender inequities in development.
• Limits of the methodology: secondary data which is acknowledged by the study itself. So possibility for this to be addressed next time round.

3.4 Women demonstrating leadership in a male-dominated space:
• 80 countries have so far done it
• Women’s contribution to knowledge creation enhanced.
• Demystification of budgets/economics

3.5 Demanding accountability from governments on their commitments to gender equality.
• Locating this effort within the context of international instruments such as CEDAW. 192 countries of the UN, 185 ratified CEDAW. 90 are parties to CEDAW’s optional protocol; 51 of 53 African states have ratified CEDAW, 24 signed the optional protocol: International Bill of rights for women.
• Other instruments: AU Constitutive Act

3.6 Information on gender equality is provided
• International processes
• Civil society efforts
• What is happening on gender issues in case study countries

4.0 Relevance of the Book
• Politics : sharing of available resources
• Accountability issues
• Commitment to gender equality
• Role of civil society
• A way to do it and possible consequences and impacts
• “public budgets are not mere economic tools, but summarize policies in monetary terms and express political priorities.”

5.0 Limitations/Challenges:
• Gender budget in the context of neo-liberal economic development (no critique of economic policy frameworks: problematic)
• How do we ensure gender budgeting leads to poverty reduction?
• Financial crisis: two-sided argument
• Amount of work involved and complexity of the budgeting process itself and yet its relevance and therefore how it can form part of overall struggles of women
• What about the issue of reforming the budget process and budgeting itself?
• Methodology of secondary data and its limits. However the book itself acknowledges these limitations so in a way creates possibilities of overcoming them next time round.
• Concerns about limits of gender mainstreaming
• Extent of influence in decision-making processes
• No country in West Africa? Nigeria and Senegal have some processes.
• Nigeria
• There is work in progress in Nigeria on gendered budget analysis at the national and local levels.
• Women in Nigeria see the current political climate as an opportunity to follow up on the three important reviews concerning gender equality: the 10-year reviews of the Beijing World Conference on Women, the International Conference on Population and Development, and the World Summit on Social Development.
• This has provided an opportunity for Nigerian women to appraise their government, not only in terms of creating an enabling environment for women to participate fully in governance, but also for demanding gender equality policies for economic and social development.
• This is expected to contribute to defining a new and just political agenda, incorporating elements of government transparency and accountability in socio-economic policies, expenditure and social impact.
• Senegal
• Senegal government is supportive of women’s participation at decision-making levels, and women's representation in strategic ministerial positions has increased.
• However, despite growing trends towards participatory democracy, women’s contribution in the economy continues to be undermined and women’s work in the care economy remains invisible in national accounts and budget mechanisms.
• Given the emphasis on promoting an enabling environment for private businesses, it is crucial to monitor the implication of such policy shifts on the allocation of national budgets.
• Ghana
• Some efforts by Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC): Four Ministries.
• NETRIGHT

6.0 Lessons:
• Best impact when led by governments and driven by civil society.
• Initiatives that involve only government or only civil society may not be effective. Combination is more likely to succeed.
• One off training events or seminars not an answer
• Should be institutionalised within the budgetary system and the budgeting process in the preparation of the budget and while through the outcome and performance budget so it is self sustaining, effective and mandatory.
• Importance of research and relevant research to provide needed base and facts to inform policy changes and support advocacy
• Donor driven initiatives not sustainable and don’t have required results. So need for political will and commitment to gender budgeting for it to be an effective tool to reach the goal of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

7.0 Way Forward:
• Women engaging economics
• What is happening in our own country?
• More Comparative analysis needed
• Primary data and analysis
• Critique of the framework and assumptions used
• Impact assessment studies over time.
• Measures of development: need to include those by civil society e.g. Social Watch.
• An important contribution to the store of knowledge on the subject of gender budgets: that it can be done.

SOAWR Annual Review and Agenda-Setting Workshop

Theme: “Spreading our Wings: A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Women’s Rights”
5-7 October 2009, Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

COMMUNIQUÉ

We, the undersigned members of the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR), a pan African Coalition of organisations working for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights in Africa: Having assembled in Nairobi, Kenya from 5th-7th October, in the spirit of partnership as SOAWR Coalition members, with representation from the African Union Commission (AUC), and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM);

Recalling the African Union (AU) member states’ commitments in the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) in 2004 to achieve ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) and usher in an era of domesticating and implementing the Protocol as well as other national, regional and international instruments on gender equality by all States Parties;

Reaffirming that implementation of the Protocol is imperative to the realisation and enjoyment of women’s rights and the achievement of Africa’s development goals and aspirations;

Concerned that despite the significance of this Protocol in the development process of Africa, as of October 2009 twenty-six (26) member states have not ratified the Protocol, including five (5) member sates that have not even signed on to the Protocol;

Further concerned by the democratic and economic recession in Africa characterized by: enactment of laws that curtail citizens, civil society and media freedoms; adoption and implementation of discriminatory laws such as indecent dressing laws; high levels of unemployment; food insecurity; and discrimination and attacks against sexual minorities; which individually and collectively affect the implementation of the Protocol and the advancement of women’s rights in the region;

Gravely concerned about the threat to lives of human rights defenders and infringements of freedoms of association that impact the promotion, realisation and enjoyment of human rights and women’s rights in some AU member states;

Considering the great opportunity presented by the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020) that will be formally launched in June/ July 2010 to facilitate the full and accelerated implementation of the Protocol and achievement of agreed gender equality targets at different levels;

Acknowledging that the full and accelerated implementation of the Protocol can only be achieved by using a Multi-Sectoral Approach which ensures that all organs of the African Union and governments as well as civil society actors and the private sector work together to promote the realisation of the rights guaranteed in the Protocol;

Hereby recommend as follows:

Recommendations to the African Union Commission

1. Commit resources in its annual budget for each of its Commissions to support the provision of expertise to support member states in the realisation of their commitment to adopt and utilise the Protocol at national levels using the mandates of the various government sectors e.g. health, rural development, etc;
2. Ensure that mechanisms are in place to urge member states that have not ratified the Protocol to take the opportunity to do so before the launch of the African Women’s Decade;
3. Lend support to member states who have difficulties in reporting on implementation of the SDGEA commitments;
4. Strengthen the office of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to report consistently on the status of implementation of the Protocol and make recommendations for further actions.

Recommendations to State Parties to the Protocol

1. Adopt measures that build the state’s capacity to domesticate, implement, and monitor the implementation of the Protocol;
2. Adopt a multi-sectoral approach as the framework to implement, monitor and evaluate implementation of the Protocol by aligning the linkages between gender equality and each sector of government and ensuring the necessary budgetary allocations,
3. Take all necessary actions to ensure that the provisions of the Protocol are mainstreamed in all national policy decisions, legislation, development plans, programmes and activities in all spheres of life and meet the reporting requirements as agreed upon under the SDGEA on progress in this regard;
4. Hold consultations widely with civil society organisations working on women’s rights issues, women’s groups, citizens’ groups and other strategic stakeholders when developing plans for implementation and review;
5. Repeal all existing laws that are discriminatory against women and ensure the protection of the rights of all women and their human dignity in accordance with the Protocol and other international human rights instruments like the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which has been acceded to by 51 countries in Africa;
6. Actively support the creation at the United Nations Human Rights Council of a new special mechanism that would focus on women’s equality before the law and thereby assist in the removal of all laws that discriminate against women.

Recommendations to Civil Society

1. Take the opportunity of the African Women’s Decade to advocate for the universal ratification of the Protocol by member states and demand for increased and sustained budgetary allocation for women’s empowerment issues as part of the regional and national development programs and agenda;
2. Strengthen partnerships with member states to facilitate comprehensive adoption of a multi-sectoral approach in implementing the Protocol;
3. Utilize the African Women’s Decade to mobilise African women at all levels in advocating for the implementation of the Protocol as well as to celebrate women who have significantly contributed to the promotion of women’s rights in Africa;
4. Actively advocate for the creation at the United Nations Human Rights Council of a new special mechanism that would focus on women’s equality before the law and thereby assist in the removal of all laws that discriminate against women.

Recommendations to the United Nations and other Development Partners

1. Allocate resources to support the successful implementation of activities for the African Women’s Decade and for adoption of a multi-sectoral approach in implementing the Protocol and other key human rights instruments which promote and protect women’s human rights and freedom in Africa;
2. With reference to the UN Resolution No. 1888 of September 30, 2009 demanding that all parties to armed conflicts take immediate action to protect civilians, including women and children, from all forces of violence, we urge the UN Secretary General to expedite action and appoint a special representative to provide coherent and strategic leadership to address sexual violence in armed conflict situations as recommended in the Resolution.

Adopted on the 7th of October 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya
[Original Text in English]

Signatories:
Alliance for Africa
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS)
Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA)
Cellule de Coordination sur les Pratiques Traditionnelle Affectant la Santé des Femmes et des Enfants (CPTAFE)
BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights
Centre for Justice Studies and Innovations (CJSI)
Coalition on Violence against Women in Kenya (COVAW)
Eastern Africa Sub-regional Support Initiative (EASSI)
Equality Now-Africa Regional Office
FAHAMU
FAMEDEV-Inter-African Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development
FEMNET - African Women’s Development and Communication Network
Girl Child Network
Federation of Women Lawyers of Kenya (FIDA-Kenya)
Forum Muhler
Inter-African Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices (IAC)
Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS)
Legal and Human Rights Centre in Tanzania (LHRC)
Oxfam GB
People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA)
Sister Namibia
Strategic Initiative for the Horn of Africa (SIHA)
Tomorrow’s Child Initiative (TCI)
Uganda Women's Network (UWONET)
Women of Liberia Peace Network (WOLPNET)
Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF)
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)

Blog Action Day: Climate Change and Women

I could not agree more with Arun Agrawal in his paper on the Social Dimensions of Climate Change, prepared for the Social Development Department, The World Bank, Washington DC, March 5-6, 2008 in which he stated “Climate change will be pivotal in redefining development in the twenty-first century. How nations, societies, communities, and households respond to the impacts of climate changes and variability to which the world has already been committed will in many instances determine their prospects for growth, equity, and sustainability”.

People’s (poor) response to emergencies and situations in general vary and this is more so when it is around issues of poverty and livelihoods. In Africa for example, it is a daily struggle for women and girls to address food security and livelihood issues. Women largely depend on natural resources such as land and water bodies for their survival and they have adopted different coping strategies and utilized varied networking systems to survive on these resources (which are depleting at a fast rate) and yet they have little or no control over these resources.

Today, the world is confronted by another huge challenge; the impacts of climate change and unfortunately this is not receiving the attention it deserves. The international community has failed to seriously and fully address the causes and consequences of climate change, which now poses a major threat to lives and livelihoods of people living in poverty, the majority of whom are women. It is indeed incredible and unacceptable to see, hear and read daily about the damage of climate change.

Climate change is environmental change, which is also driven by humans – it is fundamentally a human problem. The impacts of climate change are expected to seriously (and disproportionately) affect the livelihoods, health, and educational opportunities of people living in poverty. Those with special burdens and/or vulnerabilities such as women, ethnic minorities, and people living with HIV/AIDS are feeling yet another pressure in global warming – one that is fundamentally unjust.

It is time for institutions, governments and individuals and indeed each and every one of us to collectively and individually work at addressing or reducing the impact of climate change on people living in poverty who mostly have not contributed to the problem.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the 1992 UN Summit for Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. This agreement established the “Conference of the Parties” (COP) and the “UNFCC Secretariat” as the institutional frameworks to support an international process to promote and develop relevant strategies on climate change negotiations to ensure that participating countries commit to a universal objective of reducing emissions .Similar to other international processes however, these discussions have not sufficiently articulated the gender issue as critical for mitigating climate change. This is inspite of the increasing visibility of women’s agency in critical arenas at all levels and sectors of society. Even though some gender analyses have been done, especially around Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs), the tendency has been to focus exclusively on women in developing countries . A huge gap therefore needs to be filled.

I will therefore like to recommend the following;

• A paradigm shift in the conception of economic growth and development for Africa. Dependence on western models should be transformed into context specific analysis of the real needs of different groups of women and men that builds on local knowledge and resources to promote the wellbeing and security of women and men. .

• Women’s experience and knowledge of climate change processes is critical. Their different relationships with men on natural resource issues must be acknowledged, harnessed and utilised in mitigation and adaptation measures. As well, their specific vulnerabilities must be well articulated so that appropriate responses and interventions can be made to enhance their well-being. In this regard, women’s own coping strategies in times of crises should be identified as sources of strength that could serve the basis for evolving innovative policies to strengthen their security in areas such as food, water, health, land capital and technology.

• The UN has mandated countries to promote gender equality and women’s rights in all processes of development. It is therefore important for the women’s movement in Africa to take full responsibility and ownership of the gender and climate change discourse to ensure the full implementation of UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol (KP) measures take women’s specific concerns into account. This requires that greater knowledge and awareness is crated around gender and climate change issues at all levels.

• While more work needs to be done around gender and climate change in industrialized countries, it is equally important to deepen analyses around gender equality issues and climate change in developing countries, especially Africa. This will create greater understanding about its implications for human security and promote alliance building for articulating critical priorities for women in local national, regional and international decision-making.

Nafi Chinery
Capacity Building Officer
AWDF

P.S: This post is AWDF's contribution to Blog Action Day's focus on Climate Change

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Have you had your breast checked lately Sisters, especially the old “schoolers?” In fact this call is also to you “new and middle schoolers” as well. No Sister is exempt from this call.

The Month of October has been designated Breast cancer awareness month through out the world to create awareness around breast cancer, a devastating but treatable cancer that can be managed if detected early and the catch phrase is if detected early.

Many Sisters and some men have lost their lives, with its attendant economic and social consequences, to this disease that with modern medicine and technology can be managed. No sister should die or even suffer needlessly from breast cancer. A simple breast examination which can be done by one’s self can save a breast and even a life. If you have not mastered the art of examining your breast you can always ask your doctor or any medical personnel for that matter to conduct a breast examination for you. Sisters over 40 years are however encouraged to have a mammography screening once a year in addition to the regular breast examinations.
Many sisters fear the loss of their breasts and therefore would rather not examine their breast which can lead to the detection of a lump or other unusual changes that could give an indication of the need for a more thorough examination of the breast by a health professional. That is to say, many sisters would rather be in denial. But in this case what you do not know can kill you and fast too.

My mother lost her life to breast cancer, a battle she lost so early simply because the disease was detected too late, simply because she was not examining her breast regularly that is if she ever did, simply because awareness was not so pervasive.
Do we Sisters have to go through this same fate in this day and age when there is information explosion, when public health practitioners and activists are for ever reminding us to examine our breast regularly? Please do the right thing, go get a breast examination now and remember to regularly if possible monthly at least examine your breast.

It is very important that we imbibe the fact that regular breast examination will likely lead to early detection of any abnormalities of the breast and therefore can increase the chance of saving the breast and a life. Laziness, procrastination, “I don’t carism”, seeing oneself as being exempt, looking at breast cancer as being far fetched or a disease for a particular category of people can result in late detection of breast cancer. Therefore all hands on deck sisters, tout it as loud as you can, tell all the sisters who will listen, convince those who will not listen to examine their breasts regularly and let us save not only a breast but a life as well.

Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager

GRACE USHANG’S DEATH AND THE INDECENT DRESSING BILL

Grace Ushang was a young Nigerian woman who had every right to expect a bright future. Now she is dead merely because she was female. On the day that Nigeria celebrated its 49th Independence Anniversary on 1 October 2009, NEXT Newspaper reported that Ms. Ushang from Obudu in Cross River State, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Maiduguri, Borno State, was raped to death by some men still at large, who, according to the story, “took offence because she was wearing her Khaki trousers – the official uniform of the youth corpers.”

The cavalier brutality of this morbid tale of criminal vigilante action is compounded by the official response to it. The Director-General of the NYSC reportedly travelled to Maiduguri ostensibly to discuss this crime with the State’s law enforcement authorities. Rather than denounce this for the crime that it is and reassure our young graduates on national service that their wellbeing preoccupies the highest levels of decision making, the Director-General merely advised Youth Corpers to “take their personal security seriously because whatever we provided is not enough. They must learn to be security-conscious.” Pray, how?

The compounded crimes that killed Grace Ushang painfully return our attention to the pervasiveness of violence against women in Nigeria and the growing resort to vigilante action to police vague notions of feminine propriety and decency.

In 2008, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Senate’s Committee on Women, Senator Ufot Ekaette introduced a bill in the Senate to prohibit so called “indecent dressing”. At the public hearing on the Bill in July 2008, there was a consensus that its provisions portended great danger for the safety and security of Nigerian women. The Bill proposes to grant intolerably dangerous powers of arrest and invasion of the most intimate privacies of the woman’s body imaginable to both police officers and ordinary citizens to undertake vigilante action against women they merely perceive to be “indecently dressed”.

Senator Ekaette’s Bill covers any female above 14 years wearing a dress that exposes “her breast, laps, belly and waist… and any part of her body from two inches below her shoulders downwards to the knee” (such as the much-admired Fulani milk maid). Also liable to become a criminal if this Bill were to become law is any person dressed in “transparent” fabric (such as Lace) as well as men who expose any part of their bodies between the waist and the knee (such as men relieving themselves by the roadside). All these people and more would presumably attract arrest from zealous policemen. If this Bill becomes law, there will not be enough prisons or mortuaries in Nigeria for its victims. It will licence vigilante violence against women, leading to fatalities like the fate that befell Grace Ushang.

Grace Ushang’s story demonstrates the fallacy of the justifications for laws like the Senator Ekaette’s Indecent Dressing Bill. Those who wish to commit crimes of sexual violence need no excuse. They must be treated like the predators they are. If a woman, like Grace Ushang, dressed in regulation clothing prescribed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria is considered to be so indecently dressed as to be put to death by the most vile acts of violence imaginable, how do we guarantee the safety and security of Nigerian women in the uniformed services, such as the Armed Forces, Police, Prisons Service, and Immigration?

The killing of Grace Ushang is part of a pattern of violence against women that deserves urgent attention across borders in this year of the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In some countries of Sahelian and East Africa and the Middle East, women who survive rape get put to death for allegedly bringing dis-honour to their families. Or are charged with zina (adultery) as they “have made love”; as any form of sexual intercourse consensual or non consensual, can be translated to mean “love making”.

Only recently in Sudan, Lubna Hussein, a former employee of the United Nations, along with 12 other Sudanese women, were charged with the offence of dressing indecently for wearing trousers. Sudanese law prohibits ‘dressing indecently’ in public. Absurd? Yes, certainly, by Nigerian standards, where no person bats an eyelid at the sight of women in jeans, or in offices, clad in trouser suits – or so we thought until Grace Ushang was raped to death. Sudan’s laws, however, criminalise a woman’s dressing, prescribing lashing and an unlimited fine for any woman ‘in public’ dressed like a ‘man’.

Lubna resigned her employment at the UN, which would have granted her immunity from trial, to compel the courts to take a stand on an issue she feels (quite rightly) should be a matter of public concern, because they impact directly on her human dignity, freedom of choice and privacy. By her action, Lubna placed Sudanese ‘justice’ in the global spotlight and should, hopefully, trigger change in policy and law in that country.

We may not yet have a law that determines what a woman (or man) can wear but there can be no tolerance of the growing tendency towards vigilante enforcement of notions of indecency. Sudan and Nigeria have similar lawmakers it seems. Surely, someone sat down and determined for Sudan, in his opinion, what is permissible as a woman’s choice of dress, and garnered Parliamentary support for his personal belief that wearing trousers was an abomination that should be penalized. In the same manner, some persons in the Nigerian Senate are unilaterally and arbitrarily attempting to decide for Nigerians what should be the acceptable form or mode of ‘dressing’ for women. No account has been taken of the diversity and the culture in both countries, or even of the fact that in African rural settings, women routinely expose much more, without giving a thought to it being ‘indecent’. Nor has there been any reckoning of the effect that this will have on the safety of women.

As Sudan struggles with the implications of its indecent dressing laws, and its courts struggle to find ways around it, Nigeria’s own lawmakers appear bent on imposing these retrograde and potentially explosive laws over here. While they are looking for ways to move forward, our legislators seem determined to throw us back into the past.

Our lawmakers should focus on passing measures that promote human dignity, preclude discrimination, and guarantee human wellbeing. Instead of a law on indecent dressing, they can accord priority to enacting a law to protect all Nigerian women from the wanton violence and ensure that all perpetrators of such violence are brought to justice. As a first step, the Senate should vote down the Indecent Dressing Bill and firmly close any further arguments on it. In its place, and in memory of Grace Ushang, we need a federal law on violence against women. That would be an appropriate way to commemorate the tragedy of her senseless killing.

By
Asma’u Joda & Iheoma Obibi

Asma’u Joda & Iheoma Obibi are on the Steering Committee of the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF)

DECLARATION

DECLARATION

Nous, membres du Réseau des Femmes Africaines Ministres et Parlementaires de Guinée (REFAMP-GUINEE), du Réseau des Femmes du Fleuve Mano pour la Paix (REFMAP) ainsi que plusieurs autres organisations féminines, constatons avec un profond regret et amertume l’escalade de violences survenues le lundi 28 septembre 2009 à Conakry.
Cette situation est d’autant plus déplorable qu’elle était malheureusement prévisible. C’est pourquoi, dès la rupture du dialogue entre le CNDD et les Forces Vives, nous avons entrepris des démarches auprès des protagonistes et de toutes les bonnes volontés afin de relancer ledit dialogue pour éviter l’affrontement qui a conduit à ce véritable bain de sang.
Ainsi, depuis le 15 Septembre 2009, nous avons pu rencontrer successivement :
- Le Président du Conseil chrétien de Guinée,
- Le Collège des Imams de la Grande Mosquée Fayçal ;
- Le Ministre Secrétaire Permanent du CNDD,
- Les Représentants des Forces Vives de la Nation,
- Les Quatre Coordinations Régionales réunies,
- Le Premier Ministre, Chef du Gouvernement,
- Le Ministre de la Justice, Garde des seaux, membre du CNDD
- Le Ministre de la Sécurité, 1er Vice-président du CNDD,
- Le Chef d’Etat Major Général adjoint des Armées,
- Les membres du Comité Civilo Militaire
- El Hadj Bouna Kéïta, opérateur économique, membre du CNDD.
Nous avons également pris contact avec le Groupe International de Contact local.
A tous, nous avons exprimé nos préoccupations quant à la rupture du dialogue tant au niveau national qu’avec la Communauté Internationale et ses conséquences imprévisibles aux plans politique, économique, social et sécuritaire.
Aujourd’hui plus qu’hier, nous croyons fermement que pour créer un climat de paix et de quiétude, l’urgence est à la reprise et au renforcement du dialogue entre les Forces Vives de la Nation d’une part et le CNDD et le Gouvernement, d’autre part.
A cet effet, NOUS FEMMES, signataires de la présente DECLARATION, rappelons aux différents protagonistes leurs responsabilités collectives et individuelles pour une gestion efficiente de la situation née des violences de la journée du 28 septembre 2009.
C’est pourquoi, nous en appelons à la conscience patriotique de Son Excellence Le Capitaine Moussa Daddis Camara, Président du CNDD, Chef de l’Etat et Commandant en Chef des Forces Armées, des membres du CNDD et du Gouvernement, des Forces Vives, et de tous les leaders d’opinion pour arrêter les violences physiques, verbales et comportementales dans notre pays pour une transition apaisée.
Pour nous, rien ne justifiera jamais les atrocités subies par les populations en général, par les jeunes et les femmes en particulier au stade du 28 septembre à Conakry.
Nous restons convaincues qu’à la violence et à la barbarie, il faut substituer la concertation, la retenue, la mesure et surtout le dialogue au niveau national et international, sans lequel rien de durable ne peut se construire dans un pays.
Nous restons également convaincues que la République de Guinée, 82ème Etat membre de l’ONU, membre fondateur de l’OUA, de la CEDEAO, de l’Union du Fleuve Mano, et de bien d’autres organisations aux idéaux desquels elle a tant contribué, ne peut rester en marge de la Communauté Internationale.
Nous femmes leaders, citoyennes, mères, épouses, sœurs et filles, présentons nos condoléances les plus émues au Peuple de Guinée et singulièrement aux familles qui ont perdu des êtres qui leur sont chers au cours de cette triste journée du 28 septembre 2009.
Que Dieu accorde son Paradis à nos regrettés disparus.
Nous témoignons, par la même occasion, notre compassion aux personnes blessées et leur souhaitons un prompt rétablissement.
Que Dieu le Tout Puissant, le Clément et le très Miséricordieux accorde au Peuple de Guinée Sa paix et Sa Grâce. Amen


Conakry, le 29 septembre 2009

Ont signé :




Réseau des Femmes Africaines Ministres et Parlementaire de Guinée(REFAMP)
Réseau des Femmes de Fleuve Mano pour la Paix (REFMAP)
Femmes Droit et Développement en Afrique (WILDAF-FADAAF)
CLUB DES FEMMES D’ACTION
Association Guinéenne des Femmes Leaders (AGUIFEL)
Association des Professionnelles Africaines de la Communication (APAC)
Coordination des ONG Féminines de Guinée (COFEG)
Association pour le Rayonnement de l’Islam en Guinée (AFRIG)
Cellule de Coordination sur les Pratiques traditionnelles Affectant les femmes et des Enfants (CPTAFE)
Réseau National des Communicateurs traditionnels (RENACOT)
Fédération Guinéenne des Réseaux de Femmes pour la Paix et le Développement (FEGUIREF-PD)
Initiative des Jeunes Africaines pour le Leadership (IJAL)
Coallition Nationale de Guinée pour les Droits et la Citoyenneté des Femmes (CONAG-DCF)
Association des Sages Femmes de Guinée (ASFEGUI)
Association Pour le Soutien au Développement des Activités de Population (ASDAP)
Association des Femmes Leaders pour la Parité en Guinée (AFELPAG)
Renaissance Africaine Pour la Femme de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (RAFAO)
Association des Femmes Entrepreneurs de Guinée (AFEG)
Association des Femmes de Guinée pour la Lutte contre les Maladies sexuellement transmissibles/SIDA (ASFEGMASSI)
Groupement des Femmes d’Affaires de Guinée (GFAG)
Femmes d'Afrique -Women of Africa For Resources & Intercultural Community Advancement (WAFRICA GUINEE)
Appui aux Femmes du Secteur Informel (AFESI)
Association des Femmes Juristes de Guinée (AFJG)

PRESS RELEASE FOR ACBF BOOK LAUNCH

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

2 October 2009

BOOK LAUNCH: “GENDER BUDGETING AS A TOOL FOR POVERTY REDUCTION”

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in collaboration with the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to announce the launch of a research book “Gender Budgeting As A Tool For Poverty Reduction” - Concepts, Practices & Capacity Implications.

The publication marks an important chapter in the African Capacity Building Foundation’s contribution to the discourse and funding initiatives on gender budgeting. The book not only identifies areas of possible capacity development in support of the development processes on the Continent, it also highlights capacity weaknesses in gender budgeting that need to be addressed by different stakeholders, in order to raise the standard of accountability and transparency in budgetary processes. Drawing on the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) framework, the publication further highlights national and sectoral gender budgeting experiences in three African countries – South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda – to showcase best-practice models for other African countries.

Findings from “Gender Budgeting As A Tool For Poverty Reduction - Concepts, Practices & Capacity Implications” indicate that:

“Budgets are not gender neutral. They affect women and men in different ways, reflecting the uneven distribution of power within society as economic disparities, different living conditions, and ascribed social roles. Despite being signatories to the major international agreements that call for gender equality, most African countries have fallen short of their promises as their gender initiatives are facing a host of challenges relating to policy implementation, program design, management and tracking, and capacity building issues.”

ENDS




About ACBF
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is an independent, capacity-building institution established on February 9, 1991 through the collaborative efforts of three multilateral institutions -the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African governments and bilateral donors. ACBF has 48 full members comprising three sponsoring Agencies (AfDB, UNDP and the World Bank), the IMF and 44 African and non-African countries, namely, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Djibouti, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, India, Ireland, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, The Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Rwanda, Sao Tomé & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ACBF’s mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for poverty reduction in Africa.

About AWDF
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation, which supports local, national and regional organizations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. AWDF through institutional capacity building and program development seeks to build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women’s movement.
The vision of AWDF is for African women to live in a world in which there is social justice, equality and respect for women’s human rights. To this end, our mission is to mobilize financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.

Press Enquiries
Nana Sekyiamah – Programme Officer (Fundraising & Communications)
Thelma Owusu-Boakye – Programme Assistant (Fundraising & Communications)
African Women’s Development Fund
Plot 78, Ambassadorial Enclave, East Legon, Accra
Tel: + 233 21 521257
Fax: +233 21 521257
Email: nana@awdf.org or thelma@awdf.org
Website: www.awdf.org


Rutendo Kambarami
Communications Officer
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Tel: +263-4-700208/790398/9
Fax: +263-4-702915, 792894
E-mail: r.kambarami@acbf-pact.org
Website: www.acbf-pact.org

AWDF profiled on Ghana's Radio Universe 105.7

I had a fun time yesterday on Radio Universe being interviewed by hostess Justina Agozie Yesutar with her all woman production team - Bara Yunus Khadija and Asah Daniella. The programme is appropriately dubbed "Yaa Asantewaa" (after the famous Ashanti Queen Mother who led the Ashanti's in battle against the British in 1900.

I was impressed (but not suprised) with the dynamism, professionalism and enthusiasm of the Yaa Asantewaa Team. Yesterday's programme was an organisational profile of AWDF and is part of a series highlighting women's rights organisations in Ghana


(Nana with hostess Justina)


(Nana with hostess Justina and Producer Bara)


(AWDF's Programme Officer for Fundraising & Communications, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah)

The Senegalese Feminist Forum: A Perspective

Women in Senegal are in general confined to traditional roles. They are married at a young age; half of them live in polygynous unions and are subjects to multiple childbirths. According to genderindex.org, “Up to 20% of girls undergo Female Genital Mutilation. Most women in Senegal have no educational opportunities. Only 23 percent of females over 15 years of age are literate, while the rates for males over age 15 are 43 percent.”

Additionally, discrimination against women is pervasive, especially in rural areas. The Government frequently does not enforce anti-discrimination laws.
It is against this context that the Senegalese feminist forum was held between 7th-9th August 2009. The meeting brought together 30 women from different back grounds including community based women’s representatives, women’s human rights activists, writers, film makers, lecturers and women from the development sector.

The objectives of the Forum were:

• To create an effective feminist movement in Senegal as well as a safe and autonomous space for feminist organizing.
• To discuss critical issues affecting the women’s movement in Senegal.
• To develop strategies to promote feminist leadership in women‘s organizations in Senegal and to look into how best the charter of feminist principles can be domesticated by women’s organizations in Senegal.

The Forum was held because there is a need to strengthen the feminist movement in Senegal, create feminist spaces and to put the feminist movement of the country on a solid ground. Feminists in Senegal want the women’s movement to be dynamic, the forum was to help strategize to include the youth in the feminist struggle as the leadership believes, the youth are the future and they should take up the work of fighting for women’s rights. In spite of constant struggle, Senegalese women are still oppressed by patriarchy. Patriarchy can be defined as a social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line; broadly : control by men of a disproportionately large share of power or simply a family, community, or society based on this system or governed by men. In Senegal, patriarchy cuts across every sector of life; socially, economically and culturally. Women in Senegal are raised in a society that sees the male as the head and only occupant of a leadership position, women are taught to revere their male counter parts and always put them first. With this kind of outlook gaining access to strategic positions in the country becomes difficult. According to www. afrol.com “Senegalese law stipulates that women and men should have equal access to bank loans, but in reality women often struggle to obtain loans.” In Senegal, women are seen as second class citizens. “Senegalese law grants equal property ownership rights to men and women. Women are legally entitled to access to land, but tradition makes it impossible for them to inherit land. Similarly, women may be in a financial position to have access to property other than land, but their husbands can restrict their ability to exercise this right.”

Senegalese women are demanding and claiming their rights, organizations like Groupe de Recherche sur les Femmes et les Lois au Senegal(GREFELS )and Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD) are leading the way by supporting to increase the autonomy of women and linking them with feminist and progressive groups, to build a powerful African women's movement linking human rights to the theory and practice of development and to bring forth African Women's contribution to sustainable and democratic development. The Senegalese feminist Forum sought to re-echo the voices of these women. During the meeting challenges of the feminist movement in Senegal was bought to the fore. A key challenge is the issue of religious fundamentalism. The religious system of Senegal hinders women from being bold enough to express them selves and their views.

Another challenge that came up during the meeting was the inability of people or women to affirm that they are feminist. Women identifying them selves as feminists is a challenge in Senegal, according to Marjorie Mbilinyi, board member of Tanzania Gender Networking Programme “feminist are fine with the feminist struggle as long as there is no struggle” these women do not want to own their identity as feminist, they do not own the challenges, threats, difficulty and opportunity that goes along with owning an identity as a feminist.

In solidarity, the AWDF funded the forum with a grant of US$20,000. The AWDF made a presentation on the charter of feminist principles. The charter serves as an accountability mechanism for feminist organizing on the continent and is a tool for peer review amongst African feminist organizations.

The general belief behind the African Feminist Forum is to create an autonomous space for feminists with no, ”ifs”, “buts” and “however”. The Senegalese feminist forum provided a safe space for feminists in Senegal to dream and do things differently by creating an autonomous space for Senegalese feminist, to domesticate the charter of principles in Senegal, to have a body of knowledge reflecting feminist agency that can be shared with feminist s around the region.

Thelma Owusu-Boakye (Programme Assistant, Fundraising & Communications)
with Rissi Assani-Alabi (Programme Officer, Francophone Programme Officer)

Feminist Songs at the CEO Forum in Kampala, Uganda

My mother was a kitchen girl, kitchen girl...
My father was a garden boy, garden boy...
That’s why I’m a feminist, feminist...
That’s why I’m a feminist, feminist...

(Song sung by Siphiwe Hlope, Executive Director of Swaziland Positive Living (SWAPOL) at the CEO Forum in Kampala, Uganda)

The women are coming, around the corner
The women are coming, around the corner
Bisi is coming, around the corner
Usu is coming, around the corner

(Song sung by Siphiwe Hlope, Executive Director of Swaziland Positive Living (SWAPOL) at the CEO Forum in Kampala, Uganda)

"Gender Norms, Domestic Violence and Women's Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS" - a study report by the Gender Centre, Ghana

On Wednesday the 9th of September, my colleagues Roselynn, Beatrice and I attended the Launch of a Research Report on “Gender Norms, Domestic Violence and Women’s Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS”. This Research Report was commissioned by one of our grantee partners, the Gender Studies & Human Rights Documentation Centre based in Ghana.

The lead researcher on the project Betty Akumatey gave a comprehensive overview of the research findings which indicated that the following gender norms increase women’s vulnerability to infection with the HIV/AIDS virus:

• Lack of Sexual Knowledge
• Acceptance of Male Promiscuity within the Confines of Marriage
• Polygyny
• Sex as a Woman’s Marital Obligation
• Infertility as a Woman’s Problem
• Choice of Marital Partner
• Widow Inheritance

In my opinion her research findings clearly demonstrated the way Gender norms in Ghana impact on women’s increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Ms Akumatey stressed how concepts such as “men can’t eat the same soup every day” (women are the soup in this context) contributed to a tolerance of male promiscuity which is a factor in the Ghanaian woman’s increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

Dr Sylvia Anie Akwetey who launched the report challenged the audience in their thinking on HIV/AIDS, “How would you act towards me if I had HIV/AIDS?”
During the very lively discussion that followed the launch of the report a woman disclosed her HIV positive status to the audience and requested that more efforts be made to educate “our mothers in the Muslim community” about HIV/AIDS. Rukhiya stated that she had been kicked out of her home since she became HIV positive and since then had been unable to return home. A request was also made by a member of the audience that such important information be translated into local Ghanaian languages.

All in all, the report is an important study that should enable advocates to lobby policy makers to consider the interface of gender and HIV/AIDS. It was highly reassuring to hear Dr Sylvia Anie Akwetey who works with the Ghana Aids Commission declare that this study will feed into the next strategic plans of the organisation.

Book Review: This Child Will be Great - An Autobiography by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

At the last Women’s Funding Network’s annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, I saw a book for sale that I could not resist purchasing for AWDF’s Resource Centre. The book was the autobiography of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, “This Child Will Be Great”. Although I bought the book in April it was only this month that I got round to reading the book and what a great read it has been.

Prior to reading the book all I knew about the Liberian President was that:

• She had been successful in becoming Africa’s first democratically elected woman President
• The African women’s movement had been elated when she ascended the presidency,
• She co-convened the International Colloquium on Women’s Leadership which I attended in Liberia and I also had the pleasure of handing her a copy of AWDF’s newly published “Compendium of Key Human Rights Documents for African Women”
• My very unscientific poll of drivers in Liberia (I would ask drivers whilst riding in vehicles what they thought of the President and of the International Colloquium) showed she had a high popularity rating
• Recently Liberia’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission has said she could not stand for political office for a number of years once her current term ends.

It was against this background that I read her autobiography. I really had no particular expectations but by the end of the book I thought “Wow, this is one inspirational, transformational leader”. I feel sad that she will not be able to run for a second term as Liberia’s President. Her passion for her country shone through and I believe during her current term she has put Liberia on the right part to development.

As a feminist I am also thrilled that President Ellen recognises the role women played in getting her elected and is committed to advancing the rights of women. In her inaugural speech she said:

“It is therefore not suprising that during the period of our elections, Liberian women were galvanized – and demonstrated unmatched passion, enthusiasm and support for my candidacy. They stood with me; they defended me; they prayed for me. The same can be said for the women throughout Africa. I want to here and now, gratefully acknowledge the powerful voice of women of all walks of life whose votes significantly contributed to my victory.
My Administration shall thus endeavour to give Liberian women prominence in all affairs of our country. My Administration shall empower Liberian women in all areas of our national life. We will support and increase the writ of laws that restore their dignities and deal drastically with crimes that dehumanize them. We will enforce without fear or favor the law against rape recently passed by the National Transitional Legislature. We shall encourage families to educate all children, particularly the girl child. We shall also try to provide economic programs that enable Liberian women to assume their proper place in our economic revitalization process.”

This Child Will Be Great is published by HarperCollins Publishers

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: LESBIAN MOVEMENTS: RUPTURES & ALLIANCES

Lesbians have always been present in various civil society movements, with gay men’s organizations, in feminist groups, as well as in the artistic sphere and in the fight for decolonization and independence of their country. In recent decades lesbians have been present in the fight for equal rights for women of colour, aborigen women, and more broadly with feminist movements.

The present publication, in English, is a collection of experiences from individuals worldwide involved in lesbian movements, civil society and human rights organizations. Credit was given to those lesbians* in many parts of the world who have led the way and those who are actively involved in fighting for the wellbeing and recognition of their rights.

Some of the positive examples illustrate that “history can be changed” and that some lesbian groups have managed to mainstream their concerns with those of other movements. Some have fought against apartheid and are denouncing racism, others are working towards building peace in their regions, some others are joining different discriminated and vulnerable groups. Lesbians have shown more solidarity than other groups and the recognition of this fact must follow.
Lesbians apply a revolutionary way of thinking that can be beneficial to all actors within our society fighting for equal rights and justice.

Sharing experiences and knowledge is a way to develop skills and being aware of those achievements is the first step towards empowerment and pride.
The report has a positive imprint and is aimed at strengthening the future of the lesbian movement rather than lingering on victimization.

This publication will also leave a lot of questions open such as: “What is feminism?”, “Are lesbian concerns more closely related to women issues or to gay issues?”. Here and there you will find an answer that may be contradicted a few pages later by an opposite experience. This is probably the indication of the diversity and complexity of lesbians’ movements.

This piece of work will hopefully raise your curiosity to learn more and be inspired about these different but closely related movements. It can also be used as a training tool to empower young, lesbian feminists within the LGBT movement and to raise awareness of mainstream organizations on the importance at dealing with lesbian rights.

Please do not hesitate to disseminate the publication, post it on your website and, above all, use it to get inspired and empowered in all your actions.

“Lesbians are everywhere” and we can be very proud of it.

Patricia Curzi
Women’s Project Coordinator
ILGA

The term “lesbian” refers to any person who identifies herself as a lesbian, bisexual, butch, femme, androgyn, dyke, trans, queer or does not wish to be identified at all.

Hard copies can be ordered upon payment of mailing costs. Please order or send your suggestions and comments at women@ilga.org.

View the publication
http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileID=1269&FileCategory=1&ZoneID=7

HAPPY 43rd INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

Dear Friends,

Today, September 8 is the International Literacy Day. The 43rd to be celebrated since it was initiated by UNESCO in 1965. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. According to UNESCO, Some 776 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. After this distressing statistics shouldn’t we count ourselves lucky to be among the privileged few that have acquired this fantastic skill? Back in secondary school, literature my best subject and oh, how I used to look forward to Mr. Hardy’s class. Mr. Hardy will come into class and give the students who were not ‘offering’ literature, popularly called the ‘illiterates’ one second to ‘disappear from view’ or else ‘face the hard consequences’. Mr. Hardy’s presence alone was enough to get my ‘illiterate’ classmates scampering for the nearest exit, be it a window or a door, at the risk receiving a hard knock on the head. Their offence being the ‘darkness’ refusing to leave when the ‘light’ came in!

Back then we would read volumes and volumes of the written word, yet we never seemed to get enough of it. As I was reminiscing this morning on the International Literacy day, I had to ask myself questions like ‘what happened to that passion for reading? When was the last time I read a book from cover to cover? How many women would have welcomed the opportunity I got, which I have been taking for granted? The last question that jolted me up from bed was ‘IF I CAN READ AND DON’T READ THEN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND PEOPLE WHO CANNOT READ?

Literacy goes beyond just the ability to read and write. Reports have clearly shown a connection between illiteracy and countries in severe poverty, and between illiteracy and prejudice against women. There is something you can do to make a difference in the life of a child today and you really do not have to invest millions. Something as little as helping buy a child’s school uniform or books once in a while will go a long way. Using the literacy skills you have acquired will also help. Remember, if you don’t use it, you will lose it.

I had been informed that once upon a time at AWDF there was this club called a Book Club which is now comatose. As a tribute to the ILD perhaps we should revive it. Good thing the resource centre is in the process of restocking. Last week we added 26 volumes to what we already have and more are coming soon from CODESRIA. I would like to propose that we use the staff skills building meeting in October to re-activate the Club. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

Roselynn Musa

In Solidarity: Statement by South African feminists - Caster Semenya and Gender Discrimination – the ‘elephant in the room’

We write in response to the controversy surrounding the 800 m women’s world running champion, Caster Semenya and the flurry of articles surrounding this sad saga.

Some of those championing Caster’s cause accuse those wanting to sex-test Caster of imperialism and racism (as well as sexism). Others plead for the us to wait before ‘reaching a verdict' arguing that the realities of sex testing are enormously complex
Firstly to address the issue of terminology, over which there seems to be confusion. Gender is the dominant society’s views on how women and men should look, behave, what roles they should play in society, how they should perform and frequently what rewards they receive – hence gender inequity. This has usually led to lower status and discrimination against girls/women but has increasingly been seen as limiting the options and potentially harming boys/men too. Gender is not a politically correct term for sex. Sex testing would be just that – establishing whether a person is biologically female or male. So gender testing is not the term that should be used this case, but sex testing.

Secondly, to tackle the science issue, as this tends to obscure the real issue of gender stereotyping and discrimination so evident in this case. Professor Tim Noakes, an international sports science expert says the issue of ‘unfair advantage’ which is the only thing that should be at play here as it is in the case of drug use,is simple to establish. He states that the issue that needs to be clarified here is whether the person concerned is a man masquerading as a woman or not. This could be established by a simple physical examination ‘handled within the usual constraints of the doctor/patient domain – not in the public domain” (Cape Argus, ‘Why the world should leave Caster alone’ Fri Aug 21, 2009:21), as has happened in the harmful manner in which the IAAF has handled this.
As for the rest, he says as there is great variation. All other possible tests including chromosome testing is indeterminate and so that should be left well alone. The calls for more to be done in dealing with this issue and await judgment are therefore erroneous and cloud the issue in a shroud of inappropriate so-called scientific enquiry.

The third issue relates to what lies at the heart of the matter, social norms. While issues of racism and imperialism have and will continue to apply in various circumstances and have a sensitive history in terms of women’s bodies particular in Africa, focusing on these issues in the current context obscures the much neglected ‘elephant in the room’ - gender discrimination. Comments within the press and on talk shows are unwittingly guilty of this same problem in placing ‘blame’ at Athletics South Africa or her coach’s door. (article in sportsscientists.com and editorial in Mail and Guardian ‘Racing to conclusions’, August 21-27 2009:20). They argue that the authorities should have pre-empted this situation, given her prior experiences (at the hands of the teachers, members of the public and previous authorities). ‘Pre-empting the situation’ would fall prey to the exactly these same prejudices – pandering to what people perceive to be 'normal' for girls or women. This is akin to what might have happened during the apartheid era where actions may have tried to stave off racism by negotiating black people’s entry into racially reserved sporting or cultural events before the time. Many white girls who do not ‘look’ as society expects will tell similar humiliating stories of being stopped from entering female public toilets or being questioned as to whether they male or female. At the core of this issue are ideas about gender how girls/women and boys/men ‘look’ and ‘behave’ and perform (in this case perhaps a young woman winning by 2 seconds ahead of the field is not seen as 'normal').

This is what has been so hard to address locally in South Africa, despite our progressive constitution, due to deeply held dominant ideas about what is ‘female’ and ‘male’. It is these ideas and actions that promote gender discrimination. This leads to men, who in societies’ terms do not look ‘masculine enough’, being called ‘sissies’ and women who look not ‘feminine enough’ being labelled ‘butch’. In our own society, this has led to violent attacks on some women and in our own and other countries to violent attacks on some boys/men. This is what we need to clearly point as underlying this case and name it for what it is. Framing the discrimination as racism or imperialism without reference to gender discrimination as the main issue risks reinforcing gender stereotypes.

Societies have a long way to go in terms of changing the dominant ideas on how women and men should ‘look’ and behave and perform and in some cases, dress – and allow for variations in ‘looks’ and roles to be underpinned by what people would like to be and do, rather than societies’ current dominant expectations. There are many excellent organisations in our own country and abroad that have worked with women and men on this issues, but as it is all to obvious from this and other cases, much work is still needed for these choices and this freedom to take root in the broader society as a whole.

Caster should not be having to deal with a world controversy over her win. She should be unreservedly basking in the glory of her and our incredible victory. No doubt she has experienced this humiliation and discrimination at other levels before and has become somewhat hardened to its effect, but we wish her, her friends and her family strength in dealing with this blatant gender discrimination. As Caster Semenya and our other gold medal winner, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, return tomorrow – congratulations on your amazing wins and Caster, you have our full support. For the rest, to Caster's detractors or apologists, hang your heads in shame for not ‘naming’ the issue for what it is and for perpetuating gender stereotypes and discrimination in her individual case and in society as a whole.'
As we once again approach the 16 days of activism against violence against women, let us bear these issues in mind and not mouth platitudes in our struggle against gender inequity and discrimination.


Diane Cooper – Director, Women’s Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Leslie London, Director, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Nomfundo Eland , Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Women’s Rights Campaign
Larissa Klazinga and Rhodes Gender Action Project
Lisa Vetten, Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre to End Violence Against Women
Nomfundo Eland,TAC Women’s Rights Campaign

Shirley Walters, University of Western Cape, South Africa
Lillian Artz, Director, Gender, Health and Justice Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Glenn de Swardt, Health4Men
Jane Harries, Associate Director, Women's Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Jennifer Moodley, Women's Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Sheila Meintjes, Political Studies Department, Wits University
Ilse Ahrends, the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children
Phumi Mtetwa,the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Marion Stevens, Health Systems Trust
Sipho Mthathi, Human Rights Watch South Africa.
Deborah Byrne, Foundation for Human Rights (FHR)
Sumaya Mall, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Ntobeko Nywagi, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Sheila Cishe, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Chelsea Morroni, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Phyllis Orner, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Regina Mlobeli, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Mary Jansen (KIWIA) Khoe San Indigenous Women in Action
Angelica Pino, Gender-based Violence Programme, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Shireen Hassim, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

Linda Cooper, Centre for Higher Education and Development, University of Cape Town
Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Inst. of African Studies and Head, Centre for Gender Studies & Advocacy, University of Ghana, Legon
Cathy Mathews, Medical Research Council
Fareeda Jadwat,African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town
Ilse Ahrends, Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children, South Africa
Di McIntyre, NRF chair, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town
Andrea Rother, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, University of Cape Town
Carol Thomas, thewomanspace
Johanna Kehler, Director, AIDS Legal Network, South Africa
Carrie Shelver, People Opposing Women Abuse, South Africa
Gabi Jiyane, the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Balise Mahlangu, the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Ayanda Rapita, the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project

Gertrude Fester,Feminist Forum/ Women's and Gender Studies,University of Western Cape
Naeemah Abrahams, Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa
Angelica Pino, Gender-based Violence Programme, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, South Africa
Pamela Scully, Women's Studies and African Studies, Emory University & Deputy Editor, Women's History Review
Mary Jansen (KIWIA) Khoe San Indigenous Women in Action
Melissa Steyn, Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Gabi Jiyane,the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Marion Heap, Health and Human Rights, School of Public Health and Family Medicine,University of Cape Town
Balise Mahlanguthe, Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Bernadette Bredekamp, Division of Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Ayanda Rapita, the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Larissa Klazinga and Rhodes Gender Action Project
Laura Pollecutt, South Africa
Sokari Ekine,London
Natasha Primo
Alex Kent
Annemarie Hendrikz
Jon Weinberg, Cape Town
EvaHunt, South Africa
Shirley Gunn, Cape Town
Susan Holland-Muter, South Africa

Tara Weinberg, Cape Town
Lavona George, South Africa
Gille de vlieg, South Africa
Michael Weinberg, Cape Town
Anne Schuster, South Africa
Jenny Radloff, South Africa
Kathy Watters, Cape Town
Sakina Mohamed, South Africa
Nicolene McLean, Gender Action Project
Carla Tsampiras, Rhodes History Dept
Corinne Knowles, GENACT
Alan Kirkaldy, NTESU
Thava Govender, Human Development Consulting Agency,KZN, South Africa
Richard Matzopoulos, Medical Research Council and UCT Public Health
Bernedette Muthien, Engender
Sally Gross,Intersex South Africa
Surplus People Project, South Africa
Sharon Stanton, S.L Stanton Attorneys
Tessa Lewin, Communications Manager, Pathways of Women's Empowerment, Institute of Development Studies, UK
Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development

In Solidarity: Statement in Support of Mary Robinson, Presidential Medal of Honor Awardee

The African Women's Development Fund(AWDF)supports the nomination of former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson for the [United States of America's]Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mary Robinson has been a longtime friend and supporter of the African Women's Development Fund. She has constantly supported the rights of women and marginalised groups. She indeed deserves the honour of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Today we join with numerous women’s rights and human rights organizations around the world to salute Mary Robinson’s accomplishments and to celebrate her Presidential Medal of Freedom Award.

We commend the Obama Administration for awarding the US Medal of Freedom to former Irish President and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Mary Robinson. For many years now, Mary has been a strong and unwavering supporter of the slogan made famous at the 1995 Beijing UN Conference for Women: “Women’s rights are Human rights.”

Both as President of Ireland, and later as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she served as a witness to human rights abuses around the world and brought dignity and integrity to the office and her dealings with all states and peoples. As High Commissioner, Mary used her office to full effect, demonstrating to people around the world that a UN official can and should exemplify courage and compassion.

Mary Robinson has long been a champion of the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people, particularly those whose voices are often marginalized – women and children. As a lawyer in her native Ireland, she brought landmark cases before the courts including legal actions that led to the removal of discrimination against children born out of wedlock, and the achievement of equal pay and opportunity for women in the workplace.

We deplore the tactics of personal attacks, character assassination and misinformation launched by a variety of groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Anti-Defamation League; suggesting that she is not worthy of this medal.

Mary continues her human rights work today in her capacity as a member of the Elders group, along with Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, as well as her leadership of the Realizing Rights Initiative. A recent Newsweek article states, “Obviously, she has been an indomitable defender of freedom across the globe.” In her numerous activities and leadership roles, Mary Robinson has been and remains a true agent of social change and is richly deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Yours truly,

Global Fund for Women
Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
V-Day
Breakthrough: Building Human Rights Culture
Pat Mitchell, Executive Director, Paley Center for Media
Hon. Linda Tarr-Whelan, Former Ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Geraldine Laybourne, CEO, Oxygen Media
Naomi Klein, Author
Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO, Acumen Fund
Mary Ann Stein, President, Moriah Fund
Institute for Women's Leadership
Hibaq Osman, Fund for Peace
Holly Near, Singer
Karama/Arab Women's Fund
INFORM
MS Foundation
Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP)
World Organisation Against Torture
Nirnaya
Jessica B. Nkuuhe, Urgent Action Fund – Africa
Lynn Freedman Professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Chris Grumm, Women’s Funding Network
Lydia Alpízar Durán, AWID
Ritu Sharma, Co-Founder and President, Women Thrive
Nancy Rubin, Former Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission
Emilienne de León, Semillas
Hoda Elsadda, Chair, Women and Memory Forum
Zainab Salbi, Women for Women International
Eve Ensler
Donna Korones
Deanne Stone
Anne Bailey
Cathy Cade
African Women's Development Fund(AWDF)

Did Obama say anything we did not already know?

I thought I had heard all about the Obama speech (I have said on several occasions that he did not say anything I did not know) until recently when I heard two well educated and learned professionals discussing some of the ills in our society. They spoke specifically about:

• Corruption in the public sector
• The slow economy since the change of government in Ghana ( which took place in January)
• The sudden fall of the cedi against the dollar and
• President Obama’s recent statement calling on Africans to take responsibility for themselves – which in turn will garner further support from America.

This statement by President Obama was hailed as the solution to the numerous issues confronting us as a nation.

I have heard several people allude to Obama’s speech, making reference to this one statement and made it seem as if “Prophet Obama” has spoken and this is it. I was most impressed with the choice of Ghana for the visit and happy that President Obama came to Ghana but the truth is he did not say anything I did not know and I did not expect him to. Did Africans not know they have to take responsibility for themselves? In each and every ethnic African tribe there is a saying or proverb that alludes to this. So why are we applauding Obama for repeating what we know? Or for some it is the wisest saying in their time? I find so many people including my two learned friends hail this as “the speech” of our time. I have also seen so many think we were insulted on our own land and yet applauded the insults.

For most of us President Obama did not say anything we did not know. He only echoed and emphasized what we know, what we have said amongst ourselves and in our own small ways are implementing in a bid to enable us achieve greater heights. Several individuals and tons of Ghanaians are daily engaged in taking responsibility for themselves in a bid to create a better place and an enabling environment for themselves and for others to thrive. These are genuine hard working people with no political leverage. However as a nation the state and government hardly offers an enabling environment to buffer the efforts of individuals. We are daily confronted with painful bureaucratic and slow institutions which includes negative attitudes and poor ethics displayed in the workplace – this we encounter both at the public and private levels.

Perhaps one major statement which I think Obama should have demanded as a condition for USA support is the statement that “Africa does not need strong men but strong institutions”. Yes we need strong institutions to enforce law and order. We need strong institutions to implement policies, to check corruption and to enforce good practices in order to move our country forward. As for the issue of strong men we are all witnesses of how they have failed us and have led us to our present predicament as a nation. Maybe having strong women would make a difference. Let us consider this and work towards bringing on board strong women as we build strong institutions. I am certain we will see a difference.

Grantee Spotlight: Rural Women's Movement in Swaziland

An email update sent to Nafi Chinery, AWDF’s Capacity Building Officer: Feedback from Rural Women’s Movement (RWM), an AWDF grantee in Swaziland on their experiences at the recent International Resource Mobilisation Workshop (IWRM) held in Bangalore, India. AWDF supported RWM and 4 other grantees to attend the IWRM.

Dear Nafi,

On behalf of RWM I wish to thank AWDF for its support.

My being part of the 9th IWRM in Bangalore was an eye opener for me. I have always been too scared to ask for financial assistance. Since I initiated RWM in 1998 I have been getting like 30% of my salary because asking for money for me has always been difficult. Even working on a budget has been difficult it has always felt like we are asking for too much. But after participating in the 9th IWRM I feel confident enough to ask for financial assistance without feeling like we are a burden.

My expectations were met and I had an opportunity to meet with fundraisers who have been in this field for a long time. All the sessions were relevant for me. But of course there were some that did not really meet my expectations. The sessions that I really liked were the sessions that were tackling issues about how to raise funds in the time of this recession. Those covered topics that prompted me to start looking for local support and not depend on international financial support. It also prompted me to look into making financial requests to Business sector. As the RWM we have not looked into the sector and have not tapped on the local resources. So the sessions were great in opening these potential opportunities for RWM.
The lesson I learned was that it is important for organizations to create space to reflect on our work and share our experiences. It was very informative for me to learn from other people’s experiences. Sitting and listening to presenters sharing their experiences was inspiring.

Some of the stories were painful like the one where a local man (I have forgotten )his name was talking about starting a sanitary towel organization, in communities where women had no material to use as sanitary towels and were using sand. But because of his passion he raised funds and mobilized resources for the program and the program is now making 6,000 sanitary towels a day and women have not have to suffer using sand which is cold in winter and very hot in summer. In his presentation he says after raising awareness about the plight of women in his area funders poured financial support in such a way that he had to ask them to channel money to other organizations because it was too much money for his organization. The lesson I learned on his presentation is that it is good for one to follow ones heart and try something that has never been tried before. And that if a proposal is clear and it responds to the communities needs and aspirations it is not a challenge to get financial support for the program/project.

I also learned that in most situations it helps to make a request for what [the] organization needs and not the money. Like in the issue of a presentation on sanitary towels the fundraiser was not asking for money to buy the sanitary towels but he was asking for pieces of materials so those who had unused pieces [of] material donated material/fabrics and those who did not have fabric/material donated money. When writing a proposal I have always been asking for money. I learned that it’s a great idea to ask for a computer rather than asking for money to buy a computer because the funder might know someone out there who might be desperate to give away computers and not money. Also I learned that the funding communities do not have time to read lengthy proposals its good to prepare a short proposal and it must be clear and to the point.

The challenge was that there was a lot going on, very good sessions happening at the same time. I think the program was a bit too tight there was no time to connect with other participants and engage on the issues coming out of the sessions and learn from one another’s experiences.

If the resources allow it would be good to keep a bit of time for reflection and for the participants to connect and share ideas, even just for half an hour a day. The participants are a very good resource in events like the IWRM; they have a lot to share with other people and to learn from other people. The sessions did not create much of that space because of time constraints.

The idea about having this kind of event in India was great. I think India has a lot to teach other developing countries about how they dealt with their own development challenges. From the experience I learned at 9th IWRM, after listening to my report RWM has started looking at resources within RWM. The RWM Committee is suggesting to the members that members should contribute about $1-50 per year. We are also working on a strategy on how we are going to approach the business sector and individuals who are sympathetic to RWM work.

I feel honoured to have been part of the IWRM event and would like to thank AWDF for making this opportunity available to RWM. It would be very good for me to learn from other participants experiences, how they found the IWRM and how it has changed their approach in their respective organizations. We did not have time to connect this might be a space for us to share our experiences.

Sizani Ngubane, Rural Women’s Movement

In Solidarity: African Women and Human Rights Organisations across Africa

Women across Africa are appalled by the decision to try a Sudanese woman journalist Lubna Ahmed Hussein and two others for violating the public dress code. African women and human rights organizations urged the court to dismiss the charges and abolish this repressive law against women. “The charges are clearly an abuse of women’s human rights and violate Sudanese women’s full enjoyment of international conventions, most
notably, the African Union’s Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa,” says Faiza Mohamed, Director of Equality Now which is part of the Pan African coalition Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition. The coalition has 33 members working in 25 African countries for the ratification and implementation of the Protocol.


According to the press reports, thirteen women were arrested by police in a restaurant in Khartoum, Sudan, and charged with violating the public dress code under article 152 (Indecent and Immoral Acts) of the 1991 Penal Code on 10 July 2009.10 women have already been flogged. The arrests took place when the public order police stormed the restaurant and arrested women diners dressed in trousers, which they regarded as ‘indecent’.
Tuesday 4th August is the date set for the court hearing.

Women’s organizations have already started to petition the Government of Sudan to repeal discriminatory laws against women, which are embedded in Sudanese legislation. A few hours after its release, the petition was attracting signatures from across Africa and elsewhere in the world.

The petition is signed by Sudanese women’s organizations and states that the actions by the public order police and Courts of Sudan contradict the declared government commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
(CPA) signed on 9 January 2005 and the National Interim Constitution and uphold the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - which Sudan acceded in 1986- which prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment such as flogging and protects women's rights to be free from discrimination based on sex.

Additionally, as Sudan continues to seek Africa’s support to set aside the warrant of arrest from the International
Criminal Court, the charges brought against these women completely undermine the spirit of the AU Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, signed by Sudan on 30 June 2008. The Protocol emphasizes that women’s right must be respected and that existing discriminatory laws and practice should be reformed in order to promote and protect the rights of women. “The call by women’s organisations that the Government of Sudan must cease the use of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments, guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with the National Interim Constitution and regional and international human rights standards must not only be heard but must be heeded to immediately” said Ms. Mohamed

SOAWR calls on African women to continuously write to the Sudanese authorities, regional and continental intergovernmental bodies at the highest level should the courts act contrary to the Interim Constitution and regional human rights standards and convict Lubna Ahmed Hussein and two others


End
The petition available online at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/end-repressive-laws-targeting-women-insudan
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