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