Gender Justice Barometer: Issue 32
Date: January 1, 1970
SHARE:
|
SOUTHERN AFRICA
GENDER JUSTICE BAROMETER Sixteen Days Special ISSUE 32:
JANUARY 2009 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
IN THIS ISSUE
SADC GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT PROTOCOL: * Regional: Governments urged to ratify SADC Gender Protocol
* Namibia: 50/50 round table campaign established
LEGISLATION
* South Africa: Interview Director of Agenda Feminist Media: Failure to translate women’s legal rights into action
* Malawi: Poor legislation exposes women to HIV
* Mauritius: Sceptical welcome for Equality law
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL * Africa: Hypocrisy on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity
* South Africa: More women’s voices on political change
* Swaziland: Fighting gender violence with financial freedom
* Swaziland: Girls trading food for sex rescued
SERVICES * South Africa: A real man does care
PUBLIC EDUCATION, TRAINING AND AWARENESS BUILDING
*Lesotho: Ministry of Gender to commission baseline study on GBV
* Namibia: Gender Ministry in bid to curb passion killings’
INTEGRATED APPROACHES & MONITORING AND EVALUATION
* Mozambique: Council of ministers approves action plan to end GBV
* DRC: Interview with two Congolese women’s rights activists
* Rwanda: Security organs meet local authorities over gender violence
PREVENTION OF GENDER VIOLENCE: WHAT WORKS?
* South Africa: Traditional leaders – Project Ndabezitha
|
SIXTEEN DAYS CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS
* Southern Africa: Highlights of 2008 Sixteen Days of Activism
* Global: Southern Africa making a mark at CSW 53rd session
* Africa: Rwanda praised for women’s emancipation
*Africa: Consensus statement on ending GBV in Africa
* Human Rights Watch criticises SA government
* Malawi: Electoral Commission K100,000 fee blow to women candidates
UPCOMING EVENTS
* The Great Debate on ‘Gender and Leadership’ – Look out on the following
days and locations:
– 9 Feb – Botswana and Zambia
– 12 Feb – Durban, RSA
– 19 Feb – Joburg, RSA
– 9th March – New York, USA
– 17th March – Joburg, RSA
* Media literacy training
* GMDC Advisory group meeting
* GEMSA meeting
* French writers training workshop for GL Opinion and Commentary Service
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
FEATURE
Southern Africa: Highlights of 2008 Sixteen Days of Activism
The Sixteen Days of Activism continues to provide a rallying point in the region and around the globe for activists to raise awareness on gender based violence. While the campaign has gained momentum and succeeded in raising awareness with many more sectors coming on board such as local government and private business companies, many critics are beginning to question its effectiveness. It is therefore important to find ways of measuring impact of the campaign and ensure that all key role players stretch from 16 Days campaign to 365 Days of action for sustainability.
In response, almost all countries in the Southern African region have adopted multi-sector 365 Day National Action Plans or year long national strategies to address gender based violence. The Sixteen Days campaign thus becomes a period of heightened awareness and a time to take stock of progress in implementing the plans and in particular commitments made by government and other role players to address gender violence. As happened in 2008, the campaign provides an opportunity to reflect on whether SADC countries will meet commitments set in the recently signed SADC Gender and Development Protocol wherein one of the key targets is for all member States to reduce by half current levels of gender based violence by 2015. 2008 campaign focus
Each year a global theme is announced around which events are organised. In 2008 the global theme focused on: Human Rights for Women = Human Rights for All; UDHR60 Campaign and was dedicated to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the human rights declaration and continuing to highlight important issues raised in the past years. In Southern Africa, GL, GEMSA secretariat and country chapters and over 26 partners contextualised this and their overaching theme was: Peace begins at home while the subtheme was Imagine a world free from gender violence and HIV and AIDS. This formed the basis of the campaign events.
What made 2008 campaign different
It is against this background that several Southern African organisations including Gender Links, Gender and Media Southern Africa Network (GEMSA) and their partners take stock of last year’s campaign. A range of Sixteen Days activities were carried and on reflection there are several pointers that made the 2008 campaign stand out:
Read more for an Overview of the campaign. > Emerging issues: Focus was placed on emerging issues such as: human trafficking in the light of the fast approaching Soccer 2010 World Cup which will make women more vulnerable; gender and taxi violence and gender and xenonophobia. Click here to read more
> Innovations: There were a few innovations where other forms of communication tools that can be used every day in the fight against gender violence as part of stretching 16 Days to 365. For example a 365 Day date calendar was distributed to partners and community members with the 16th of every month earmarked for everyone to stop and take stock of what they are doing to end gender based violence. In addition, an hour long CD Rom, Tjoon’in a mix of music, reports, interviews and testimonies from survivors of gender based violence was produced in order to promote peace in the taxi industry. 2000 CDs were handed over to the Ekurhuleni Taxi industry for distribution at a launch attended by over 300 people. Read more about Tjoon’in.
> Increased outputs and outreach: While GL and GEMSA also carried out their traditional activities such as ‘I’ stories (book series of first hand experiences of women who have experienced violence), cyber dialogues and Take back the night march there were more outputs and and an increased outreach. For the first time four country specific thematic ‘I’ stories were produced instead of one regional book. Participating countries were: Mauritius (HIV and AIDS), Namibia (focused on young girls experiences of GBV), South Africa (major focus was women from marginalised communities) and Swaziland (domestic violence).
Twelve cyber dialogues were organised compared to five the previous year. A total of 3 902 women and men from across 14 SADC countries participated in cyber dialogue related events. Out of these, 602 participated in online cyber chats. Of the 3,300 people who participated in the face to face discussions and related events which preceded each cyber dialogue, 818 were women, 430 were men while the sex of 2052 participants was not recorded. Click here to view cyber dialogues summaries
> Profiling the SADC Gender and Development Protocol within 16 Days: With the SADC Heads of States only having signed the SADC Gender and Development Protocol in August 2008, Sixteen Days was used to reflect on whether SADC countries would meet targets. Fact sheets were produced that highlighted key provisions on GBV as well as quick audit of where countries are at in meeting these targets.
> Multiple strategy for engaging with the media: The activities organised by GL, GEMSA and partners provided a platform for media practitioners, gender NGOs and ordinary citizens to critically engage with each other on GBV coverage. This included: A media seminar in partnership with the Gender and Media Diversity Centre on the topic: Is media part of the problem or the solution in addressing gender violence; launch of Media Action Plan HIV and AIDS policies developed by about 130 newsrooms with assistance from Gender Links; linking Media Literacy graduation of 23 course attendance with 16 Days – which saw them learn how to critically engage with the media and contribute to creating the media that they want.
Other outputs
> 1000 sets of thematic 10 fact sheets
> 51 articles comprising first hand accounts, expert, opinion and commentary pieces on gender violence published through the GL Opinion and Commentary Service Click here to view these.
> 1000 365 Day calendar produced and distributed, with the aim of stretching 16 Days of Activism to 365 Days of Action.
> Over 130 media houses in 11 SADC countries publicly launched MAP HIV and AIDS newsroom policies on World AIDS Day
Outcomes
> Empowerment of community women and men in the use of Information Technology (IT) through training – some people used computers for the first time during the campaign. > Better coordination of activities and information dissemination among partners including across boarders – this was made possible through improved funding. > Innovative use of IT for gender justice through cyber dialogues – online chatrooms linking people across boarders and from different walks of life to discuss gender violence. > The campaign provided space for the voice of those most affected to be heard under the banner Making every voice count through the ‘I’ stories. Read more about ‘I’ stories. >New partnerships were formed and where these existed, they were strengthened. GL and GEMSA collaborated with about about 26 partners during the campaign. > High visibility and uniqueness of the GL and GEMSA acitivities – for example the launch of the taxi violence CD and 365 Day calendar. Lessons learnt Overall the Sixteen Days of Activism 2008 campaign was a success but there were a few learning points to improve the campaign in the future:
> GL and GEMSA should plan for cyber dialogues earlier on in the year to improve logistics management
> The need to consider more breath that depth by reducing the number of cyber dialogues held so that there is more thorough engagement with issues.
> GL and GEMSA should consider preceding each dialogue with a half day workshop for participants.
> Internet connectivity was not reliable – there is therefore need to keep a database of places with good internet connectivity for all SADC countries through out the year.
> Some of the cyber dialogues poll questions were too complex.
Key recommendations
> More forward planning needed
> Maintain a database of places with good internet connectivity for all SADC countries throughout the year
> GL and GEMSA should work with local communities more beyond 16 Days in a bit to stretch 16 Days to 365 through cyber dialogues and ‘I’ stories for example.
Next steps: Now for the next 349 days
As we move into the new year, we need to ask ourselves what is that we are going to do differently to ensure that we accelarate the rate of reducing current levels of gender based violence. At the close of the 2008 campaign a 365 Day calendar was launched that seeks to stretch 16 Days to 365 Days where the 16th of every month becomes a day to stop and take stock. Click here to download GL 365 Day Calendar
Some networks have pledged to carry out a number of ongoing activitivies. For example Namibia will launch ‘I’ stories on the 16th of March and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has pledged to have mobile cyber dialogues through out the year – one per month, on the 16th in a selected ward.
We hope in the course of the year we will hear from you about activities you are under taking to address gender violence and as part of honouring the commitment to stretch 16 Days to 365.
Global: Southern Africa making a mark at CSW 53rd session
The Gender and Media Southern Africa Network whose major proportion of programme work is on care work, in partnership with GL, GMDC and UNIFEM will be participating in this year’s CSW meeting in New York which is scheduled for the 2-11 March 2009. The theme for this year’s CSW session is "The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS”. GEMSA and GL have planned several for CSW53.
> Daily newspaper
GEMSA will be taking a team there that will produce a daily newspaper at the conference
> Cyber dialogues Three cyber-dialogues will be held on the 4th, 6th and 9th of March 2009 which will link people at the CSW conference and the rest of the world. To log join the chat on the day click here.
> ‘Making Care Work Count’ Video Launch
As part of our campaign to support informal care workers, GEMSA would be hosting a ten minute video screening on care work, followed by a panel discussion. The video showcases the experiences of care workers in seven Southern African countries and provides a platform for these individuals to articulate the kind of government support and policy changes they need to carry out their work effectively and efficiently. In addition, we interviewed several regional experts and policy makers to shed light on the challenges of care work in Southern Africa. It concludes with a few “best practice” examples, in countries like Mozambique and Botswana, to illustrate the types of provisions governments can adopt to support informal care work in their countries.
Following the video launch, there will be a panel discussion about the current challenges facing care workers in Southern Africa and the government action required. The panel will include heads of organisations of care-workers such as Rose Thamae, the director of “Let us Grow” project based in Johannesburg. Drawing from their real-life experiences, they will help to generate meaningful discussion on the how governments and can formulate policies to address the lack of remuneration and sufficient social support for women caring for people living with AIDS. Click here for more information
> Gender and governance: A Southern African case study
The Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance, a network of 40 national and regional NGOs that campaigned for the adoption of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development, will present a case study on gender and governance in the Southern African region. Gender and governance will be a sub-theme of the CSW53.
Lead by Gender Links, the Alliance will screen two recent, related videos that have a strong synergy with the CSW53 sub-theme. These two videos are entitled Roadmap to Equality, a case study of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development adopted by Heads of State in August 2008 and At the Coalface: Gender and Governance in Southern Africa. The videos show how civil society organisations successfully lobbied for the adoption of a unique regional instrument with 28 concrete targets and timelines for the achievement of gender equality, and how this is being used to lobby for one of the targets: 50% representation of women in decision-making by 2015. The Protocol also contains key provisions on care work, the main theme of the CSW53. More on the Protocol can be found on the following web link: https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=265. The screenings will be followed by a discussion lead by panellists that include Matrine Bhuku-Chuula, the Regional Coordinator, Women in Law Southern Africa; Colleen Lowe Morna, the Executive Director, Gender Links; Magdeline Madibela, the Head of the SADC Gender Unit. There are also plans to include at least one Minister responsible for Gender from one of the SADC countries.
Africa: Rwanda praised for women’s emancipation
Rwanda was lauded for having achieved 50 percent of women in parliament, making it the first country in Africa to reach such a target. "Rwanda has demonstrated that with the right legal framework promoting participation of women, and political will, gender parity in parliament can be achieved," said Bience Gawanas, the AU commissioner for social affairs.
Rwanda was lauded for having achieved 50 percent of women in parliament, making it the first country in Africa to reach such a target. "Rwanda has demonstrated that with the right legal framework promoting participation of women, and political will, gender parity in parliament can be achieved," said Bience Gawanas, the AU commissioner for social affairs. The country’s constitution stipulates 30 percent women at every decision-making level. In addition, the electoral law also reserves 30 slots for women and there are resources to help women campaign for elections, according to Odette Nyiramilimo, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly and a former Rwandese member of parliament.
Africa: Consensus statement on ending gender violence in Africa
The Sixth African Development Forum took place in November 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the theme ‘From Commitment to Delivery’. Participants examined, amongst many things, the level of gender equality and violence against women and agreed on a Consensus statement and a Plan of Action. They noted that ‘the future of Africa would be secure when Africans enjoy full gender equality, and women are fully empowered and are free from all forms of violence’.
The following priotrity actions were agreed upon by participants of the Forum:
> An three-year Africa-Wide Campaign to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls (2009 – 2012)
> Financing for gender equality, women’s empowerment, ending violence against women and girls
> Reliable data on gender equality, women’s empowerment and violence against women and girls.
To read more about the outcomes of the 6th ADF please click here
To view daily online newspapers developed at the 6th ADF click here
Source: http://www.uneca.org/
Human Rights Watch criticizes SA government
The New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) heavily criticized the South African government in its latest World Report issued this month, saying that its commitment to addressing the barriers to the enjoyment of human rights is "inadequate".
It singled out SA as a global human rights offender saying that the country used its temporary seat on the UN Security Council to protect human rights offenders, notably Sudan and Zimbabwe. "Poverty, unemployment, gender-based and xenophobic violence, and crime remain significant barriers to the enjoyment of human rights; the government’s commitment to address them is inadequate," says HRW. The South African government was also slammed for their handling of domestic violence and rape cases and the xenophobic attack in May 2008. The report also indicated that there were growing levels of xenophobia in South Africa. Click here to read the full article Source: www.pretorianews.co.za
Malawi: Electoral Commission K100,000 fee blow to women candidates by Lowani Mtonga Malawi has a long way to go when it comes to reaching 50%. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union database, at 13% Malawi ranks 89th in the world when it comes to women’s representation in Parliament. Thus, the decision of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to hike the fee for parliamentary candidates from K 5,000 (about US$ 35) to K100,000 (US$ 705) comes as a great surprise. The increase has serious repercussions for women vying for political office in the forthcoming 19 May elections.
The low representation of women in decision making positions stems from a plethora of obstacles. Apart from lack of access to education, unsupportive and undemocratic party structures, inimical electoral systems, violence and intimidation, patriarchal and other harmful traditions that relegate women to the kitchen, lack of resources pose a serious challenge for women to engage in a meaningful political campaign and get elected. The MEC decision is not only retrogressive, but redundant. What is the justification for such a huge increase? Click here to read the full article
Source: GL Opinion and Commentary Service
SADC GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT PROTOCOL
Regional: Governments urged to ratify SADC Gender Protocol
SADC Secretariat and civil society organistions have urged SADC Member States to fast track the ratification process of the SADC Gender and Development Protocol. Thus far no country has deposited their instrument of ratification. However in many countries there are indications that there is movement, but "it’s a process". In most countries ratification requires cabinet or parliamentary approval.
Almost all SADC Heads of State signed the SADC Gender Protocol in August 2008. Madagascar and Mauritius signed later while Botswana and Malawi leaders are yet to accede to it. For the instrument to become binding Member States who signed have to ratify it. Without ratification we can not hold member states to account in terms of meeting commitments therein. Worse still there is only six years left before 2015, the year against which all targets are set, hence the need to accelarate the ratification process.
Heads of States who have not signed are also getting pressure from the gender sector to do so. In Botswana the Botswana Coalition of NGOs (BOCONGO) has sought a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, who has the portfolio responsibility for gender and women’s issues, in order to present the civil society position motivating for the signing of the Protocol. A position paper has been developed to present to the Minister. The feedback from the Malawi NGO Gender Coordination Network says that civil society was planning to approach the relevant authorities, through the national gender machinery, to follow up on the signing of the Protocol
Namibia: 50/50 round table campaign established
The 50/50 Roundtable campaign will soon be officially established in Namibia. According to GEMSA Coordinator Sarry Xoagus Eises said that this was meant to assist aspiring women to contest for the 2009 national general elections sharpen their campaign agenda and skills. Key drivers of the Round table campaign include the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus and Namibia civil society representatives from the SADC Protocol Alliance.
LEGISLATION
South Africa, Interview Nokuthula Magudulela, Executive Director of Agenda Feminist Media: Failure to translate women’s legal rights into action
Each year, for 16 days in December, the world’s focus shifts towards taking action against gender-based violence. Governments and civil society organisations raise awareness around women’s rights and lobby for gender equality. But activists lament that little action is taken throughout the rest of the year and women’s legal rights often fail to be implemented and put to action. Click here to read the rest of the inteview
Source: IPS Each year, for 16 days in December, the world’s focus shifts towards taking action against gender-based violence. Governments and civil society organisations raise awareness around women’s rights and lobby for gender equality. But activists lament that little action is taken throughout the rest of the year and women’s legal rights often fail to be implemented and put to action.
Malawi: Poor legislation exposes women to HIV
Women in Malawi continue to be exposed to the risk of HIV infection as the country does not have laws criminalizing social or cultural practices that negatively impinge their rights basing on their sex. A paper titled ‘Prohibition of Harmful Practices’ presented by commissioner Esnath Kalyati at a gender conference in Blantyre recently reveals that while the country has enacted legislations that protect the rights of women, a lot of women were facing the brunt of HIV and AIDS because the country still lacks special legislations that criminalizes practices that abuse women rights. Click here to read the rest of the article
Source: The Tribune SOCIAL, POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC PRACTICES
Africa: Hypocrisy on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
A counter statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, supported by 60 states including a multitude of African countries was read at the UN General Assembly in December arguing that ‘protection of sexual orientation could lead to the social normalisation and possibly the legalisation of deplorable acts such as paedophilia and incest’. It charged that the Statement was an attempt to create ‘new rights’ or ‘new standards’. Click here to read the full article
Women in Malawi continue to be exposed to the risk of HIV infection as the country does not have laws criminalizing social or cultural practices that negatively impinge their rights basing on their sex. A paper titled ‘Prohibition of Harmful Practices’ presented by commissioner Esnath Kalyati at a gender conference in Blantyre recently reveals that while the country has enacted legislations that protect the rights of women, a lot of women were facing the brunt of HIV and AIDS because the country still lacks special legislations that criminalizes practices that abuse women rights. Women in Malawi continue to be exposed to the risk of HIV infection as the country does not have laws criminalizing social or cultural practices that negatively impinge their rights basing on their sex. A paper titled ‘Prohibition of Harmful Practices’ presented by commissioner Esnath Kalyati at a gender conference in Blantyre recently reveals that while the country has enacted legislations that protect the rights of women, a lot of women were facing the brunt of HIV and AIDS because the country still lacks special legislations that criminalizes practices that abuse women rights. A counter statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, supported by 60 states including a multitude of African countries was read at the UN General Assembly in December arguing that ‘protection of sexual orientation could lead to the social normalisation and possibly the legalisation of deplorable acts such as paedophilia and incest’. It charged that the Statement was an attempt to create ‘new rights’ or ‘new standards’. Source: AllAfrica.com
Mauritius: Sceptical Welcome for Equality Law
By Nasseem Ackbarally Nobody shall suffer prejudice in his social life or his place of work because of his or her ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, political conviction or physical handicap. This is the challenge of Mauritius’s new Equal Opportunities Act (EOA). In Mauritius, the Constitution guarantees everybody’s rights. Yet, women, minorities and many other people suffer from discrimination in jobs, and other fields. This is done in such a way that they are difficult to be detected. Women are systematically marginalised in politics, in high-level jobs and also at the level of trade-unions. Access to hotels and the beaches lying at some prestigious tourist resorts is still effectively prohibited and local people are bullied by security guards while sitting on this part of public domain. Click here to read full article By Judith Mtsewu
As we enter 2009, it seems the year ahead will be full of change and challenges, not least in the political landscape. The worsening political situation in Zimbabwe, the emergence of a new political party ahead of upcoming elections in South Africa, and the first presidential elections in Angola since 1992 (and only the second since the country’s 1975 independence), are just a few examples of how politics shape the region we live in.
Though times and stereotypes are changing, both men and women often consider this political domain a male one, assuming that men should like and excelat politics, much the same way that they should like and excel at sports and technology, for instance. Yet, more and more women, especially young women, are developing more interest in politics, and making their opinions known. Click here for full article. Swaziland: Fighting gender violence with financial freedom When a Swazi women’s rights organisation noticed that many women continue to stay in violent relationships because they are financially dependent on their abusive partners, they knew something had to change. They started self-help groups that assist women in breaking away from gender-based violence (GBV) by gaining financial muscle.
Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) helps women to start up and run small businesses in and around the country’s commercial hub of Manzini. The organisation teaches them about bookkeeping, financial and business management, customer care and public speaking. As a result, about 500 women in 47 groups in and around Manzini, who used to be trapped in abusive relationships, have gained financial – and personal – independence. Click here for full article Swaziland: Girls trading food for sex rescued
The economic situation in Swaziland is leading some girls to trade their bodies for sex. The article highlights the issues of poverty and food insecurity in Swaziland. Whilst Swaziland is classed as a middle income country most of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of the Royal family.
The discovery of two brothels where underage girls worked for just food in a township in central Swaziland has triggered both shock and sympathy in a country struggling with chronic poverty and food insecurity. For years there have been anecdotal reports of desperate women, unable to find work at the Matsapha Industrial Estate where Swaziland’s few factories are clustered, exchanging sex for food to feed themselves or their children. But until a raid this weekend on two "hostels" in Mbhuleni township, across the highway from Mastapha, there had been no evidence of an organized brothel-based sex trade. Click here to read the full article
Source: All Africa SERVICES
South Africa: A real man does care
Whilst patriarchy remains the widely accepted social norm and gender roles are clearly divided into how men are supposed to act and how women have to behave, there is evidence to suggest that things are changing in South Africa. This article provides a case study of seven men who are working as home-based HIV care givers with the Siyakhanyisa HIV and AIDS support group in Qumbu, Eastern Cape.
The men decided to get actively involved in helping others after they learnt about gender stereotypes, understandings of manhood and fatherhood during workshops run by NGO Sonke Gender Justice earlier this year. They now care for people living with HIV, bathe the bedridden, counsel, educate about HIV prevention and transmission, facilitate access to anti-retroviral treatment, refer patients to social services and assist sick persons in writing their will.
They also encourage community members to test for HIV, distribute condoms and help disadvantaged school children with their homework and cook for them. To read full article click here Source: IRIN Plus News
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
Lesotho: Ministry of Gender to commission a baseline study on GBV
The Ministry of Gender in Lesotho has commissioned three studies on Gender based violence (GBV) prevalence in the country, institutional capacity for the prevention of GBV and institutional capacity for mainstreaming gender and this examines budget provisions and programmes for gender equality in public and private institutions. The GEMSA facilitator for Lesotho, Sophia Tlali is undertaking the gender mainstreaming study. Namibia: Gender Ministry in bid to curb passion killings
The Namibia Police reported 12 563 cases of violence against women in 2007 alone . In an effort to curb such cases Ministry will engage with women in workshops where communications skills on ‘ending a relationship’ will be discussed. The article also highlights some of the ministry’s activities carried out during 16 days including; radio and television programmes on GBV, rural women’s conference, two days validation workshop for gender assessment study in the education sector, gender training workshop for NGOs, information sharing for editors and journalists. To read full article click here
Source: New Era
INTEGRATED APPROACHES & BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS
Mozambique: Council of Ministers approves action plan to end gender based violence
The Council of Ministers approved the national action plan to end violence against women and children during Sixteen Days of Activism last year. The plan is a product of inputs from various sectors including government and civil society and has gone through a number of drafts. While activists welcome the approval, the challenge is in implementing all the commitments contained in the plan. According to GEMSA Facilitator Clementina Comate,priority will given to disseminating information in rural areas. View National Actio Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
DRC: Interview with two Congolese women’s rights activists
The long-running civil war in the Democratic of Congo has had an disproportionately negative impact on the women of the country yet very few women’s voices have been included in the negotiation for peace. Click here to read the interview that IPS conducted with Aimme Mwadi Kadi and Katana Gege Bukuru in Cape Town during the November 2008 conference of the Association of Women in Development
Rwanda: Security Organs meet local authorities over gender based violence
Local authorities from the provincial to village level have been advised to consider domestic violence as a security threat and a social economic menace which should be combated by all means. According to 2008 police statistics there were1650cases of defilement, while 403 cases of rape, 20 cases of women killed by men, and 76 cases of abortion were recorded, all were said to be linked to gender based violence. Members of the security services met with local province authorities and recommended, on a wider level, that communities should be adequately sensitized about gender based violence and other forms of abuses as well as their consequences. The Rwanda Defense Force as a result has established anti-gender based violence focal points in 41 cells in the northern province which will be the nucleus for the formation of anti-gender based violence clubs. Source: All Africa
PREVENTION OF GENDER VIOLENCE: WHAT WORKS?
South Africa: Traditional Leaders – Project Ndabezitha
In the next few editions we will feature a series of best practices of the prevention of gender based violence. These case studies were gathered during a mapping exercise of promising violence prevention models in South Africa. Gender Links was commissioned by the Inter Departmental Management Team of the South Africa Government under the leadership of the National Prosecuting Authority-Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit and UNICEF.
You are invited to submit case studies of ‘What is working in addressing gender based violence." Contributions should be sent to Loveness Jambaya Nyakujarah:mailto:justice@genderlinks.org.za
This month we feature an example of programmes which focus on traditional leaders.
Project Ndabezitha is a national project which been rolled out in all provinces in the rural areas. The project acknowledges the specific experiences of rural women and the role of traditional leaders in addressing gender violence in their communities. It began after a realisation that interventions to prevent or respond to gender violence are minimal in rural areas especially in terms of public awareness, training and victim-support service provision. Read more about the project
Please share your views and feedback, and anything you want included in the next issue of the newsletter with justice@genderlinks.org.za
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click Here To Unsubscribe
Connect with us
Comment on Gender Justice Barometer: Issue 32