SOAWR campaign update

Country Level Actions

Burundi
Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB) has been creating awareness on the rights of women amongst parliamentarians and government officials. CAFOB prepared a shadow report on CEDAW on behalf of civil society and presented the same in Geneva in January 2008.

During the International women’s day 8th March 2008, a discussion on the report was held in Bujumbura bringing together parliamentarians and members of civil society and government officials. They discussed the Protocol which Burundi is yet to ratify and made an appeal to the government to ratify it without further delay so as to afford women justice as denial of justice is considered as a form of violence against women.

During 4 to 8 March 2008, CAFOB organized a march to publicize the world charter on women for humanity. During this occasion women from the grassroots, and the Ministry of Gender and women’s organizations held discussions on the situation of women’s rights in Burundi. CAFOB reiterated that the ratification of the Protocol by Burundi could facilitate equitable access to succession for women and girls, reduce incidents of sexual violence and facilitate equitable access to justice and the resources in the country.

CAFOB has also been utilizing the radio to air a women’s program which highlights the situation of women’s rights in Burundi and discusses various international instruments including the Protocol.

Ethiopia
During a visit to the Head of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8th January 2007, Faiza Mohamed of Equality Now enquired about the status of the Protocol and when it was likely to be ratified by Ethiopia. Mr. Minelik Alemu informed her that the cabinet has approved it and that it was currently in front of the country’s parliament. It was not clear how long it would take for it to be endorsed by the house but the government is hopeful that it will be through fairly soon.

The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices (IAC) together with its National committees across Africa and affiliates outside Africa celebrated the International Day on Zero Tolerance to FGM on 6th February 2008. They held seminars, symposiums, rallies for women and youth, radio shows and dramas. IAC targeted the following countries for its activities: Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, The Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, Sudan, Switzerland, and Tanzania,. The objective of these celebrations was to draw attention to FGM and its harmful consequences and demonstrate how it violates the rights of women; inform the public about the provisions in international human rights instrument with a focus on the Protocol; and to persuade the groups to abandon the practice. The target population out of Africa was sensitized on the Protocol as a tool to end FGM. In Gambia and Liberia women who had been sensitized on their rights denounced the practice publicly and general awareness was raised.

In Ethiopia a symposium was held on 6th February in three regions which involved government officials, non-governmental organizations and religious leaders. This event was organized to secure the commitment of the government to combat FGM using the provisions of Article 5 of the Protocol to guide their actions.

IAC also organized a training workshop in Bolgatang, Ghana to train the media professionals on FGM and early marriages and the provisions of the Protocol on the rights of Women. During the workshop, 75 media persons including 5 district government officials were trained on FGM and human rights instruments including the Protocol.

IAC on 6th February carried out press briefings to increase the media support on the campaign to end FGM and draw the attention of African governments to their commitments under the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women. These conferences and press briefings were carried out on TV and radio as well as on print media and feature articles.

The Forum for Social Studies, an independent policy research centre based in Addis Ababa, in collaboration with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, has been organizing a series of lectures on the theme of "Good Governance and Democracy in Africa". The FSS invited Faiza Mohamed of Equality Now to present on the AU Protocol on Women's Rights at its February forum. Faiza started her presentation by responding to the question whether the African Women’s Rights Protocol fell within the theme of the series of lectures on good governance and democracy in Africa. She commented that if “good governance and democracy” mean ending oppression and promoting equal access to resources and empowerment of peoples’ to bring the best in all of us (men and women); then this Protocol contributes towards good governance and building democracy in Africa. She pointed out that the Protocol sets out standard norms for the continent to promote and provide protection to the human rights of women and girls. She then went on to share SOAWR’s experience is successfully campaigning for the Protocol to come into force in record time! For more information visit http://www.fssethiopia.org.et/

Kenya

The Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) developed a simplified fact sheet on the Protocol on the Rights of Women to be used as an educational tool for the ratification of the Protocol. They are targeting this with the new members of Parliament.

Liberia
During January 10th to March 20th 2008, the Women of Liberia Peace Network (WOLPNET) organized a radio program in Montserrado County to sensitize the public on the Protocol. They also organized two days consultative meeting with 25 organizations in the same county to disseminate and simplify the Protocol. The objective of the workshop was to popularize the Protocol in the context of women’s rights and ensure the implementation of its provisions by the government. This resulted in greater awareness of the protocol and as a result a coalition was formed by 15 organizations attending the meeting. WOLPNET has produced the first draft of the simplified version of the Protocol for dissemination.

On March 8th 2008, WOLPNET held a media event to celebrate International Women’s Day, where they discussed the Protocol and especially article 5 on eliminating FGM.

Nigeria
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights commemorated the international women’s day on 8th March 2008 by organizing sensitization for women about their rights. They held a discussion with media personnel on the relevance of the Protocol for women in Nigeria and pointed out that it was a document developed by Africans for African women. They also carried out a community sensitization program for rural women at the Badagry local government areas in Lagos State. The objective of this program was to mobilize women for effective involvement in realizing women’s human rights within their communities. The women were encouraged to realize their political participation and it also helped increase sensitization on the need for girl child education.

Sudan
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of African (SIHA) generated a second calendar (2008) disseminating messages that are drawn from different articles of the Protocol especially on elderly women, women in conflict situations, reducing military expenditure, ending violence against women, etc. SIHA also initiated a project to popularize the Protocol in Sudan and which also aims at securing its ratification.

Uganda
The Centre for Justice and Innovation (CSJI) is planning to convene a Protocol awareness meeting of the gender working group within Justice, Law and Order sector institutions to appraise the process of ratification and domestication of treaties into national law. The meeting is scheduled for the 14th -16th April 2008. The objective of the meeting will be to raise the awareness on the content of the Protocol and improve policy and legal framework for the effective ratification and domestication of international law into domestic law. The meeting will also make available information on regional processes related to the Protocol through documentation of comparative experiences.

Zambia
Through its Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund, Equality Now has been actively supporting since mid 2007 a civil case involving the rape of a 13-year-old girl by her teacher. The girl is seeking damages from the teacher, the school, the Ministry of Education and has enjoined the Attorney General in the suit as the government legal advisor. She is seeking a declaration from the court that girls have the right to be protected when under the care of a teacher. In his closing written brief her lawyer raised relevant provisions from the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Articles 4 and 12) to emphasize the state’s obligation to protect girls from sexual exploitation. Zambia has ratified the Protocol on 2nd May 2006 and officially deposited its instrument with the African Union Commission on 7 June 2006. A decision on the case is expected in April/May 2008. Equality Now is also in touch with the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the criminal case.

Zimbabwe
The Girl Child Network (GCN) held two workshops with stakeholders, policy makers and implementers, in two rural locations, Zaka and Mhondoro, on 18th and 22nd February 2008 respectively. The workshops focused on international and domestic laws that protect women and girls. The objective of these workshops were to increase awareness about the provisions of the AU Protocol on the rights of women as well as the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child as well as discuss the Domestic Violence Act. The workshop served to increase the knowledge on the AU Protocol and GCN conducted pre and post tests to evaluate the increase in knowledge gained as a result of the intervention. They observed that the average mark for the pre-test was 30% while the average result for the post test was 90% showing an increase in the knowledge acquired by the participants.

Regional Level Actions
On behalf of SOAWR, Equality Now received a response from the Tunisian Government in January 2008. In the letter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdelwaheb Abdallah, reiterated their commitment to ratify the Protocol and reaffirmed that the process of ratification is underway.

On behalf of SOAWR, the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) held the annual review meeting of SOAWR members during 23 to 25 January 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting brought together SOAWR members to discuss the past achievements and new opportunities for the years to follow. The objective of the meeting was to assess the impact of the SOAWR campaign; to reflect on the national and continental experiences; to agree on national and continental strategies for the next phase of the campaign; to provide space for members to interact, contribute ideas and come up with actionable recommendations for the campaign. Members identified four thematic areas for the campaign: sexual and reproductive rights and HIV/AIDS; Women and political participation, peace and conflict resolution; and violence against women. Members also adopted activities under these thematic areas which informed the development of the SOAWR strategy for 2008-2012. Members also joined hands with women from Kenya and issued a communiqué on the conflict situation in Kenya calling for an immediate end to the conflict and addressing human rights violations committed against women. The meeting also generated a second communiqué on the deliberation of the meeting. One of the points raised was directed at the African Union Commission whereby members raised concern about the denial of access to the African Union summit which they expressed was retrogressive for the human rights of women in Africa.

Fahamu, with the support of Equality Now, compiled relevant articles and produced the Special Issue of Pambazuka to commemorate the coming into force of the Protocol which was marked on 25th November 2007. The issue was produced and printed out by Oxfam GB for distribution at the African Union Summit and during the SOAWR public forum held in Addis Ababa. Thanks to the following who contributed articles and podcasts to the issue: Anne Amadi, Caroline Muthoni Muriithi, Delhpine Serumaga, Faiza Jama Mohamed, Manal Abdel Halim, Marren Akatsa-Bukachi, Morissanda Kouyate, Pamela Mhlanga, Solome Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe, and Usu Mallya.

During 6-8 February, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa convened a high level meeting on implementation of UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Faiza Mohamed of Equality Now attended and addressing the several countries present raised concern about the slow pace of ratification and implementation of the Protocol. She also individually followed with them and learned the following from some of the country representatives:
- Botswana – has started to discuss ratification of the Protocol; they reiterated that they have a good record in terms of promotion of the rights of women.
- Ivory Coast – the Parliament has already approved the instrument of ratification and they were optimistic that the president will ascent to the bill after which the African Union Commission (AUC) will be informed. However, to-date the AUC has not received it.
- Liberia – they are working on concluding the ratification process.
- Sierra Leone – the new government is committed to ratify the protocol and the process would be commenced soon.
- Uganda – There is strong opposition from certain quarters whose opinions the government values and they have been discussing how to go about the ratification without creating opposition from influential groups.

The Inter-African Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development (FAMEDEV) organized a sub-regional workshop on the high vulnerability of young women and girls towards HIV/AIDS and media reporting on these issues. The workshop, held in Lome (Togo) during 3-6 March, discussed how the Protocol could give solutions on health reporting especially on HIV/AIDS. The workshop was attended by 30 journalists from Togo and Benin and comprised of both men and women from private and public print and audiovisual media houses. The workshop analyzed the provisions of the Protocol and discussed what provisions could be utilized by journalists in their day to day reporting on gender issues. The workshop also aimed at getting the attention of the media on the African women’s rights Protocol campaign and created awareness among them. It had been noticed that only women journalists usually took interest in the implementation of the Protocol and in this regard the workshop drew the attention of both male and female journalists. After the workshop, FAMEDEV was invited for an interview broadcast by radio and TV where they discussed the importance of implementation of the Protocol by Togo and Benin. They also held two press conferences on the situation of the Protocol in West and Central Africa. Two magazines have since been released (in French) by the participants of the workshop as well as articles for print media. These magazines will be disseminated through out Togo and Benin. Copies of these materials can be obtained from FAMEDEV.

For the occasion of the international women’s day (8th March) Equality Now mobilized SOAWR members to write articles to be carried in a special issue of Pambazuka that Fahamu was carrying. Thanks to the following members who contributed to the special issue: Mary Wandia and Neelanjana Mukhia (Action Aid International), Linda Osarenren (Inter- African Committee), Betty Makoni (Girl Child Network), Roselyn Musa (FEMNET) and Una Thompson (WOLPNET).

The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) started recording the radio program drama under the Media for African Women’s Rights (MEWOR) project. During a working session held in Nairobi from 8th to 18th March, they produced six episodes of the radio drama program. The purpose of the production is to confront the challenges facing women especially in societies that are largely patriarchal and unfriendly towards women. The focus areas for the drama include domestic violence, women and HIV/AIDS, culture and religion and women’s rights, economic empowerment of women, and women in politics and decision making. The target audience for the drama will be women whose issues are addressed within the Protocol, men (to be sensitized about the protocol and women’s rights), stakeholders such as government officials, and certain aged groups. The dramas draw inspiration from the provisions of the Protocol. The radio programs, therefore, seek to raise awareness in Kenya and other African countries about the Protocol on the Rights of women, and also seek to empower through knowledge and encourage people to implement its ideals in their own lives.

Fahamu during this reporting period published more than 30 items online and also interviewed Ugandan members of SOAWR and carried three broadcasts on the use of sexual violence in Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Equality Now together with No Peace Without Justice (an Italian NGO) is conducting a comparative study on FGM related legislation in African Union member states. The study is looking into the enactment and implementation of specific legislative measures on FGM including an attempt to analyze various elements of national legislative measures that were enacted or being proposed. The study will include six detailed case studies bringing out the experiences of Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mali and Sierra Leone – a combination of countries that have and don’t have specific laws against FGM as well as a mix of countries that ratified and not ratified the Protocol. The study will also assess the impact of legislation as a preventive and protective instrument and as a tool for behaviour change, in the context of the rights of women in Africa; and will not be limited to looking into the retributive elements of criminal law.

Status of ratifications
No additional ratification was deposited during this quarter.

Status of signatures and ratification At March 2007 At March 2008
Total signatures 43 43
Total ratifications 20 23

PAST EVENTS

1. African Union Summit January 31st- 2nd February 2008, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The tenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during 31st January to 2nd February 2008. The theme of the summit was “Industrial Development for Africa”. Topical issues that were discussed during the Summit included: the adoption of the 2008 Budget; consideration of the reports of the Executive Council on the audit of the AUC and the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government; the report on the activities of the Peace and Security Council and the state of peace and security in Africa as well as the AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) report and the report of the Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee. Several decisions were made by the Summit. Of particular interest for the campaign are:

• The AU Commission was requested to include the “Promotion of Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development” on the Agenda of the 11th Ordinary Session in 2008; and to submit a progress report on the implementation of the AU’s commitments on children and progress towards achieving MDGs 4, 5 and 6 to the 12th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in 2009.

• AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa – member states to adopt the content of the SDGEA as the framework for the acceleration of implementation of the existing instruments and platform for gender equality at the national level, in order to maximize the implementation of the SDGEA and incorporate it in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports.

• The AU Commission was requested to continue to expand and promote the gender parity principle so far adopted by the Assembly to all the other organs of the African Union, including NEPAD program, to the Regional Economic Communities and encourage member states to adopt affirmative action at the national and local levels in collaboration with political parties and the national parliaments.

During the summit Mr. Jean Ping (Gabon Foreign Affairs Minister) was elected for a four-year mandate as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission. He will take over from the outgoing Chairperson, Professor Alpha Oumar Konaré, from the Republic of Mali, in late April 2008. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, a Kenyan, was elected as the Deputy Chairperson and he replaces Mr. Patrick Mazimhaka, from the Republic of Rwanda.

There were also some changes seen in other Commissioners. The following were elected:
o Peace and Security: Mr. Ramtane Lamamra (Algeria)
o Political Affairs: Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner (Gambia)
o Infrastructure and Energy: Mrs. Elham Mahmood Ahmed Ibrahim (Egypt)
o Social Affairs: Advocate. Bience Philomina Gawanas (Namibia)
o Human Resources, Science and Technology: Mr. Jean Pierre Onvehoun Ezin (Benin)
o Trade and Industry: Mrs. Elizabeth Tankeu (Cameroon)
o Economic Affairs: Dr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba (Malawi)

The appointment of a Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture was deferred as the East Africa region failed to nominate a woman candidate. The election was postponed to conform to the African Union rules in respect of regional and Gender balance. The post of Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture has therefore been reserved for a female candidate from the eastern region.

2. Public Forum: ‘Building an Accountable African Union: Perspectives from the Women and Youth Movements’ on 24th January 2008
The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) and AFROFLAG organized a joint public forum on 24th January during the AU Summit which brought together youth, university students, activists and academia. During the forum presentations were given by Ms. Kibre Dawit the president of Kisama University College who welcomed the participants. Ms. Litha Ogana Musyimi the African Union Commission, Women, Gender and Development Director who reiterated that the African Union was committed to ensuring gender equality and would continue to take steps to implement key policies. Ms. Meaza Ashenafi gave a presentation on the role of the African Union and women’s rights. Mr. Yirga Galew director of Afroflag dissussed the challenges that youth face in Africa and how they could lobby the African Union to adopt policies that impact positively on them. Lastly Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey gave an in-depth presentation on the structures within the African Union and how women could utilize the structures and the ongoing reform to advocate for the rights of women.

3. Conference on Economic Empowerment of African Women within the context of Integration, 17th – 19th March 2008, Lilongwe, Malawi
The objective of the conference was to revisit the status of action plans at global and continental level on the empowerment of African women; analyze the finding on the creation of a Trust Fund; analyze the funds at the African Union/ NEPAD/ ECA desk study on participation of women in the economy; propose mechanisms for creation and operation of the African women’s trust fund; examine the challenges that the African Union might face in implementing these decisions; share the experiences and lessons learnt from existing trust funds for women in Africa; objectively analyze the role of ICT’s in increasing access to financial resources. During the opening speech by the Minister for Women and Children Development, Hon. Anna Andrew Namathanga Kachikho reminded the participants of the obligations created under article 13 of the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women that states must take measures to ensure women have access to equal opportunity in work and career advancement and other economic opportunities.

Up coming Events
1. African Court Roundtable on Regional Human Rights Systems
The East Africa Law Society in partnership with the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice of the New York City Bar Association is hosting a roundtable conference in Arusha, Tanzania, from April 2 to 5, 2008, on the theme of a regional human rights system. Participant invited will include lawyers, academics and Civil Society representatives familiar with the African human rights system and the Inter-American human rights system, respectively. They are expected to share ideas about ways of accessing regional human rights systems and about strategies for using them to maximum effect. The roundtable offers an opportunity for "South-South" exchange of ideas which will be valuable particularly to African lawyers and NGOs that are preparing to bring cases before the newly established African Court on Human and Peoples Rights.

2. African Union Commission Workshop of Violence against Women in Conflict Situations: Lessons drawn from the Rwandan Genocide, 4-6 April, Addis Ababa
The African Union Commission’s Department of Political Affairs in collaboration with the Gender Directorate, the Swedish Embassy, UNIFEM, UNECA, and the Institute for Social Studies (ISS) will convene a seminar on violence against women in conflict situations with special emphasis on lessons drawn from the Rwandan Genocide. The meeting will take place at the AUC during 4-6 April and will bring together various stakeholders including survivals of the genocide and officials from governments and non-governmental organizations. For more information please visit www.african-union.org

3. African Union Consultative meeting on Gender Policy, 9th-11th April 2008, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the African Union Commission is organizing a Consultative Meeting on the AUC’s gender policy from the 9th to the 11th April 2008 at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As part of its institutional strengthening efforts, the AUC through its Women, Gender and Development Directorate has developed several strategic documents among which are the gender audit, a five-year strategic plan, and guidelines on reporting and implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, and a draft gender policy. The draft gender policy needs to take on board important principles related to women empowerment and to adequately address certain issues which are prerequisites to effective gender-mainstreaming. The purpose of the meeting is to review the draft policy and incorporate stakeholders' views into the new gender policy, which is due to be submitted to AU Ministers of Gender and Social Development meeting scheduled for end of May 2007, in preparation for its adoption in the July Summit. The meeting will be attended by AU Member States and AU Organs; African Regional Economic Communities; key international partners; senior officers of the African Union Commission; technical experts on gender and related issues; non-governmental organizations; and other stakeholders. Participation for the meeting is by invitation.

4. Forum on the participation on NGO’s in the 43rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 17th African Human Rights Book Fair 3rd-5th May 2008
The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) will be hosting the 17th African Human Rights Book Fair during the 43rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission to be held in Swaziland in May 2008. The event will enable NGO’s to network and initiate or renew the exchange of material and information as well as to publicize their activities. The objectives are to foster closer collaboration and cooperation among NGO’s and with the African Commission for promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.

All participants to the forum are expected to meet full cost of their participation, including a registration fee of $100 or its equivalent in South African Rand. Registration deadline is Friday, 18th April 2008.
For more information please contact the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights studies at [email][email protected]/ [email][email protected]/[email protected] or telephone +220-4462338/9

5. African Commission Session, 7 to 22 May 2008
The 43rd Session of the African Commission will be held in Ezulwini, in the Kingdom of Swaziland from 7th to 22nd May 2008. During this session, the African Commission will consider periodic reports from Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. Further the ACHPR will consider the outcomes of promotional missions that the Commissioners undertook to Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and Zambia. For more information on the agenda of the session, please visit http://www.achpr.org/english/_info/news_en.html

6. Research on the relevance of ICT’s on Civil Society participation in Advocacy for Policy making and shaping: Can the online come Offline
Karoline Kemp, a former intern with Fahamu and now a Masters student at the Institute for Social Studies in the Hague, Netherlands will be conducting her Master’s research on the above subject. She will be examining the impact that Pambazuka news has had on the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa as well as the African Union Monitor. She notes that the campaigns have relied on pambazuka news as a space for gathering grassroots activists, academics and even politicians in the work that invariably has an impact on calling on governments, organizations and communities to awareness, accountability and responsiveness. The objective for the research will be to determine the role of civil society participation in policy making and shaping; how civil society can utilize information and communication technologies to make social change; how effective the use of ICT’s can be in shaping and influencing policy; the use of ICT for social change etc.

Karoline will be calling on members to give their input towards the research which would also prove useful to SOAWR in the long run. Karoline can be reached at email address: [email][email protected]