Tuesday, July 13, 2010

FEMNET Bilingual E-Bulletin - June 2010

FEMNET’S BILINGUAL E-BULLETIN – JUNE 2010

IN THIS ISSUE

	01. Your Voice
	02. Regional Briefs
	03. International Briefs
	04. Vacancies
	05. Call for Action
	06. Calendar of Events
	07. Awards
	08. Fellowship/Scholarship Opportunities
	09. Call for Papers/Submissions
	10. Resources

MONTHLY QUOTE

§ § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § §

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.
In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.

~ Maya Angelo ~

01. Your Voice

Beyond Beijing +15: Strategies for the African Women’s Decade

By Sheila Mulli

The year 2010 marks the onset of the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020) as declared by African Heads of States and Governments at the 12th Ordinary Assembly of the African Union held in February 2009. The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) believes that the Beijing +15 Review, due to its consultative and participatory processes by state and non-state actors, will serve as an apt baseline for the African Women’s Decade and will be a critical launching pad for the Decade.

FEMNET aims to convene several sub-regional workshops to disseminate and discuss the findings of the official and NGO Beijing +15 reports, and develop strategies and action-plans on the African Women’s Decade at national and sub-regional levels to ensure that both state and non-state actors act together to make the Decade make a difference in women’s lives. The first such meeting took place in May in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), targeting the Central Africa sub-region.

The second meeting, “2010 Post-CSW Debriefing & Strategizing Meeting for East and Horn of Africa”, will take place on June 23^rd -25^th in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The meeting will be convened in close collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children in Tanzania, UNIFEM and the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), one of the leading women’s organizations in Tanzania and the organization who took the lead in producing a shadow report on Beijing +15 for Tanzania. A team comprised of FEMNET, TGNP and UNIFEM will coordinate preparations for the Workshops.

This even will draw participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan, from national women’s networks particularly those that were involved with reviewing the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), national gender machineries, members of FEMNET, UNIFEM country offices and relevant organizations working on issues of maternal health, violence against women and girls and peace and security. Additionally, representative from the East African Community, IGAD, East Africa Legislative Assembly and the African Union Commission Gender Directorate will be invited.

The objectives of the Post-CSW Workshop for East Africa include;

Disseminate and discuss the outcomes of the Beijing+15 review at national and regional level;
Popularize the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020) as an opportunity for States to deliver on their various commitments to women’s rights and empowerment;
Agree on national and sub-regional priorities, strategies and action-plans for the first three years of the African Women’s Decade, addressing areas identified in Beijing +15 reports;
Strengthen FEMNET’s linkages with women’s rights organizations in the sub- region;
Explore new opportunities for networking and movement building in order to support the work of the gender and women’s machineries to deliver on their mandate.

The three day workshop will utilize a participatory workshop model that facilitates experiential-based reflection and learning as well as working group discussions and strategy building. By the end of the meeting, the participants will have developed strategies and draft action plans for national and sub-regional priorities for the African Women’s Decade and agreed on mechanism for follow-up and mobilizing greater support return to their respective countries. For further information on the sub-regional meetings, please send an email to advocacy@femnet.or.ke

Sheila Mulli is the Advocacy and Communication Intern at FEMNET

02. Regional Briefs

SOUTH AFRICA: Labour Market Shuts Out Women

South Africa’s long running problem of structural unemployment affects African women in particular. While there are no current composite statistics showing unemployment by race and gender, official data published two years ago indicated that by September 2007, the rate of unemployment among black African women was 31 percent, while for those classified as coloreds, Indians and whites, it was respectively 21 per cent, 11 per cent, and 4.5 per cent. This means that for every one white woman without a job in South Africa, there were at least seven unemployed black African women. For information, visithttp://womennewsnetwork.net/breaking-news-portal/

MAURITIUS: Women sidelined in the 2010 general elections

Official results of Mauritius's most recent elections released on 6 May 2010 shows a 0.5% decrease in women's representation in parliament, sliding from 17.1% to 16.6%. Unless this situation is corrected with the best loser system, Mauritius will follow the trend of gender losses in two Southern African countries that had elections in 2009, Botswana and Namibia. According to a report done by Gender Links during a workshop held on 24 April 2010, participants predicted a minor increase of 2%, up to 19%. This worrying trend of sliding backwards in gender representation is particularly ironic since most Southern African countries (except Mauritius and Botswana), are signatories to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development, signed in August 2008, which includes provisions for 50% women in decision-making. For more information, visit http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article/women-sidelined-in-the-2010-general-elections-2010-05-08

LIBERIA: Even with peace, Liberia’s women struggle

Four years after voters in Liberia, battered by decades of dictatorship, economic ruin and civil war, elected a no-nonsense former banker and UN official, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as their president, the country is making slow progress towards recovery. But there is still a long way to go. Thousands of UN peacekeepers and police remain in the country to provide security and train a new army and police force. Poverty and unemployment are high among youth and the country’s 100,000 demobilized former fighters, fuelling concerns about stability. Government facilities and services, including health, education and administration, were largely destroyed in the fighting. Average income, while rising, is among the lowest in the world: In 2009, the typical Liberian struggled to live on the equivalent of just US$0.38 per day, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates. For more information, visithttp://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol24no1/liberia.html

03. International Briefs

FRANCE - Parliament Resolution Basis for Veil Ban

French lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution asserting that face-covering Muslim veils are contrary to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity on which France is founded. The non-binding resolution, passed 434 to 0 (zero), lays the groundwork for a planned law forbidding face-covering veils in public, including in the streets. One lawmaker compared women who fully cover themselves to "phantoms" and "walking coffins." The bill calling for a global ban on such garments goes before parliament in July. A draft text is to be reviewed by the Cabinet on May 19. A similar veil ban is in the works in neighboring Belgium. Tuesday's resolution, sponsored by President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative party, had been widely expected to win approval in the National Assembly with rival Socialists backing it despite concerns about the wording of an eventual law. Lawmakers in the 577-seat house who opposed the resolution abstained. For more information, visit

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/

ALeqM5hK82ydQcO5FBaL5caQTmftPnyNLwD9FKQVE00

ARGENTINA: "Women in Focus" at Film Festival

The First International Women and Film Festival for Gender Equity drew enthusiastic audiences this month in the Argentine capital, where movies from nearly 40 countries were screened. The festival, titled "Mujeres en foco" (Women in Focus), was held May 5-10 at six venues in Buenos Aires that served as movie theatres or debating halls. There was also a retrospective, and a seminar on screenwriting, directing and producing. The idea was to call on filmmakers to submit films that address women's issues related to health, migration, cultural practices, violence, inequality, political participation, sexual diversity and family life. For more information, visit

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51404

04. Vacancies

Senior Operations Manager, Ghana

ACDI/VOCA

Deadline: July 6, 2010

ACDI/VOCA, an economic development organization that fosters broad-based economic growth, raises living standards and creates vibrant communities is currently seeking a long-term Senior Operations Manager to support its programs in Ghana with potential for growth to support programs in West Africa. ACDI/VOCA has multiple projects in Ghana focusing on creating conditions favorable for the emergence and rapid expansion of a competitive, commercially viable agriculture sector. This is a full-time position available immediately. The position will be based in Accra with frequent travel to ACDI/VOCA field offices. For more information, visit:

http://www.cytiva.com/av/apply.asp?av?av1340?lisaacs?11

Program Manager I – MYAP Agriculture

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Deadline: 30^th June, 2010

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) -Burundi is implementing a three-year project known as Title II Multi-Year Assistance Program (MYAP) with funding from USAID/Food for Peace. This program supports agricultural development, agro-enterprise, health and nutrition, water-sanitation and resiliency planning activities in three food insecure watersheds in northern Burundi from 2008-2011. The MYAP Agriculture Manager will lead the successful implementation of the agriculture activities of the MYAP, ensuring technical program quality, achievement of targets, and adherence to timetables. At the same time, he/she will provide technical input and advice to assure cohesion and complementarities with other related existing or planned projects. This position will involve frequent travel to implementation sites. For more information, visit

http://www.crs.org/about/careers/

05. Call to Action

Nominations of African Women for the position of Under Secretary General

The UN Secretary General has called for Member States to nominate candidates for the position of Under Secretary General (USG) for the new gender entity. Additionally, FEMNET calls on African women’s organizations to contact your Ministries of Gender and Women’s Affairs. Urge them to nominate well-qualified African women leaders who meet the GEAR criteria, and who have a vision for and commitment to meet gender equality goals and secure women’s human rights. If you know of such a woman, we urge you to propose her nomination to your Ministry of Gender and Women’s Affairs. For more information, send an email to adovacy@femnet.or.ke

06. Calendar of Events

2010 Post-CSW Debriefing & Strategizing Meeting for East and Horn of Africa

June 23^rd- 25^th 2010

Following up on the remarkable participation by African women in the processes of the Beijing +15 review, and considering the critical opportunity of the African Women’s Decade, FEMNET aims to convene several sub-regional workshops to disseminate and discuss the findings of the official and NGO Beijing +15 reports, and develop strategies and action-plans on the African Women’s Decade at national and sub-regional levels to ensure that both state and non-state actors act together to make the Decade make a difference in women’s lives. The second of such meeting will take place on June 23^rd – 25^th, 2010, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan. For more information send an email to advocacy@femnet.or.ke.

07. Awards

GUARDIAN STUDENT MEDIA AWARDS 2010

Deadline: 2 JULY 2010

With categories ranging from publication of the year to digital journalist of the year to photographer of the year, to writer the year, there is an opportunity for every contributor to your publication/ station to win - so make sure you enter as many categories as possible. Winners will be awarded experience at the Guardian and NME. There is even an NME blogging internship on offer. The shortlist will be announced in Media Guardian in September. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in November. A full list of categories and details of how to enter can be found at www.guardian.co.uk/sma2010

08. Fellowship/Scholarship Opportunities

Rotary Peace Fellowship

Deadline: July 1, 2010

Rotary, one of the world’s largest humanitarian service organizations has partnered with seven leading universities around the globe to host the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. Each year, Rotary selects up to 60 Fellows to study peace and conflict resolution at universities around the world. Rotary is seeking non-Rotarian professionals interested in expanding their knowledge in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies and conflict resolution or a related field. For more information, visit

http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/EducationalPrograms/

RotaryCentersForInternationalStudies/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC)

Deadline: July 31, every year

The Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) with funds generously provided by the Sida, has instituted a fellowship programme for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a Ph.D., at centres of excellence in the South. The general purpose of the scheme is to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, and to promote their effective participation in the scientific and technological development of their countries. For more information, visit

http://www.sokomob.com/courses/view/fellowships-for-women-scientists-from-sub-saharan-africa-and-least-develope-2/

09. Call for Papers/Submissions

African Security Review 2010

Deadline: July 2, 2010

The African Security Review (ASR) is a multidisciplinary review journal that publishes articles on the spectrum of human security issues, including: security sector transformation; civil-military relations; crime, justice and corruption; small arms control; peace support initiatives; conflict management; and articles dealing with the interplay between economics, politics, society and culture and human security and stability. ASR hereby invites submissions of feature articles (4000 – 5000 words), country case studies (1500 – 2500 words), research essays (4000 – 5000 words), short commentaries (1500 – 2500 words) and book reviews (800 – 1000 words) for publication in the journal in 2010 (ASR is published four times per annum). For more information, visit

http://www.iss.co.za/pgcontent.php?UID=4224

10. Resources

Women Gains in the Proposed Constitution

As Kenya gears up for a referendum on the 2010 proposed constitution, GEM and AWC collaboratively compiled this document to give Kenyan women an opportunity to understand the issues that directly affect them in the proposed constitution. This document aims at making the contents of the draft accessible to as many women as possible by simplifying the language and explaining the implications of the provision that directly address gender equality. Overall, the audit reveals that by far this is a better document in terms of women rights than the current constitution. For more information, visit http://www.awcfs.org/new/resources/publications/books/760-women-gains-in-the-proposed-constitution

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ABSTRACT

I created this blog as a tool to raise awareness about domestic violence and other forms of violence against women/girls more especially early/forced marriages and the important role that the public can play to address its causes and consequences. I firmly believed that, we need to reduce or stop forced and early marriages from happening in the first place, and to provide help and support to girls who are victims.

The high prevalence of early and forced marriage in my community today results in profound physical, psychological and emotional consequences for affected girls and most often cuts off educational opportunity and chances of personal growth for them. It further results in premature pregnancy and childbearing and potential lifetime of domestic and sexual subservience over which these girls has no control. Factors for early and forced marriages in the community range from economic factors- such as poverty and economic survival to socio-cultural factors such as harmful traditional beliefs including ignorance by perpetuating families.

Despite the limited availability of research and official data on the phenomena, any young woman in my community, like myself, can share her personal story or that of someone they know. Many of us have suffered the same pressure, violation and agony- even for choosing to resist forced marriages. These phenomena is destroying the lives of too many girls and young women in our community and denying them opportunities and rights that they may never have back. It requires urgent and immediate action. My project is a small but an important step in this direction- to mobilize and sensitize parents, girls and the community on the negative implications of this practice, promote community dialogue and action on the issue. Through community outreach/ organizing, training and awareness/ empowerment programs, I seek to work with my community to help reduce the prevalence of early and forced marriages.

THE PROBLEM

Early marriage is a major issue in the community. Most parents force and arrange marriages for their children without their consent and due regard for their rights as human beings. According to Article 6a of the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Right on the Rights of Women in Africa states that, no marriage shall take place without the free and full consent of both parties. This in most cases leads to wife battering and other forms of domestic violence, uncompleted formal education and physical body damage.

Domestic violence remains one of the major consequences of early force and arranged marriages as these girls are caught unprepared and unwilling are hardly able please the men forced on them. For example, there was a couple around my neighborhood, prior to their marriage; they had never met each other even though they were cousins. They happen to be married due to the commitments made by their parents. Unfortunately, the couple never grows to like each other or even love each other. As I get to know them, I learned that both husband and wife were in serious relationships prior to their arranged marriage. They were not only separated from the relationships of their choice, but forced into a marriage they did not decide and with someone they did not choose.

Like many other victims of such practice, their lives have been horrible together. As a neighbor, I witnessed and have intervened in several of their episodes of their fights and violent encounters. They are only an example of the thousands of victims of this practice in the country.

Another key issue with forced and arranged early marriage is the fact that the children especially the girl child almost always has to stop the formal education to get married. Some of these girls are bright students always at the top of their class. But their potential is diminished in order to satisfy their parents’ desire of marrying them out. Only one percent (1%) of the husbands allows and support wives to finish their education and archive their goals.

Forced and arranged marriages do not only deprive them from education but also destroys their body and soul (physical and emotional harm). Because, many of this girls are young teenagers and cannot sustain a full time pregnancy, they consequently face some serious difficulties during pregnancy and child birth with serious long term implications for their physical health.

THE PROJECT

This project is designed as an immediate intervention and starting point for a permanent solution to the problem. It seeks to initiative public dialogue on the issues and engage the community in confronting and ending the practice. It will enable parents and more especially girls to learn and be more educated about the dangers and negative implications of early marriage in general to their lives. It will serve as forum where the community will learned and be empowered about the importance of educating their children and respect their rights.

GOALS

The project goal is to help reduce the number of early forced and arranged marriages in the community.

OBJECTIVES

1. 350- 500 community members will receive direct awareness training on the issue and transfer the knowledge gained to others in their community.

2. Identify and empower girls confronted with the predicament to make informed decision about the right time of marriage and at their own convenient time.

3. Reach out to and provide information to at least 60% of parents in the community about the dangers and negative implications of their impositions early on their children.

EXPECTED RESULT:

The result of this project will be the attitudinal change of the people in the community toward early forced and arranged marriages- an informed citizenry about the negative impacts of early and forced marriages, informed and empowered young .

National, Regional and International Human Rights

Instruments against Early/Forced Marriage

A range of national, regional and international human rights instruments lay down norms to be applied to marriage, covering issues of age, consent, equality within marriage, and the personal and property rights of women. These include:

Article 16 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states:

(1) Men And women of full age … have the right to marry and found a family. They are entitle to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending parties.

Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the 1964 Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for

Marriage and Registration of Marriages state:

(1) No marriage shall be legally entered Into without the full and free consent of both parties, such consent to be expressed by Them in person … as prescribed by law.

(2) States Parties to the present Convention shall … Specify a minimum age for marriage (“not less than 15 years” according to the nonbinding Recommendation accompanying this Convention). No marriage shall be legally entered into by any person under this age, except where a competent authority has granted a dispensation as to age, for serious reasons, in the interests of the intending spouses …

(3) All marriages shall be registered … by the competent authority.

Article 16.1 of the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women prescribes equally for men and women:

(a) The same right to enter into marriage;

(b) The same right freely to choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent; … Article 16.2 states: The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage.

Article XXI of the 1990 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child states: Child marriage and the betrothal of girls and boys shall be prohibited and effective action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify the minimum age of marriage to be eighteen years .

The 1997 Constitution of the Gambia states: “Men and women of full age and capacity shall have the right to marry and found family.” And that “Marriage shall be based on the free and full consent of the intended parties.

MISSION

To pave way for women and girls to make informed decisions on the right time of marriage and the appropriate choice of getting the right man at the convenient time.

VISION

A better community with active and effective female participation in making decisions on issues affecting their own lives.

comments are welcomed from all readers because sharing our ideas on the issue in hand will make a big difference in the future....TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Stop Violence Against Women !!!!