SOAWR Quarterly Newsletter July to September 2012...Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development...

In collaboration with Inter-African

Network for Women, Media, Gender

and Development (FAMEDEV),

Equality Now organized a lawyers’

training on 30-31 July 2012 in Dakar,

Senegal, to promote the use of the

Protocol on the Rights of Women in

Africa. The training targeted lawyers

and women lawyer’s associations

from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape

SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ’S R IGHTS PUBLICATION

ENGLISH EDITION

UPCOMING EVENTS

∗ 53rd session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1-19 October. Reports from Togo and Equatorial Guinea, among others, will be consid-ered.

∗ International Day of Rural Women, 15 October

∗ African Union Conference of Minis-ters of Gender, November 2012

∗ Pan-African Parliament Women’s Conference with the theme “The Role of Parliamentarians in Promoting Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Africa”, Midrand, South Africa; 4-5 October

∗ 2nd Anniversary of Launch of the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020), 15 October

∗ 52nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire; 9-22 October

∗ International Conference on the Role of Security Organs in Ending Violence against Women and Girls, Bujum-bura, Burundi, 27-28 November

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

SOAWR CONGRATULATES

THE REPUBLICS OF CONGO

AND GUINEA !

1

SOAWR COMMENDS AUC ON

ELECTION 1

IN THE MEDIA 2

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ’S

RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

AND NETWORKS CONSULTA-

TION

2

CONSULTATION MEETING

ON AFRICAN TRANSITIONAL

JUSTICE POLICY

5

SOAWR MAPPING REPORT

OF AU PROTOCOL RELEASED 6

5TH UN ITE STEERING

COMMITTEE MEETING 9

RAISING HER VOICE 7-8

SOAWR MEMBERS PARTICI-

PATE IN AU SUMMIT IN JULY 3-4

KENYA ’S NGEC TAKES UP

MULTI-SECTORAL APPROACH 4

JULY –SEPTEMBER 2012

Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon,

Djibouti, Democratic Republic of

Congo, Gabon, Mali, Mauritania,

Senegal, and Togo. The training

was opened by the Minister for

Justice in Senegal, Madame Ami-

nata Toure, who encouraged law-

yers to take up women’s rights

instruments in litigating on behalf

of women to ensure that their

rights were well protected.

Lawyers were trained on using the

Protocol in cases brought before

national courts, and bringing com-

plaints of violations of the Proto-

col to regional mechanisms such

as the African Commission on

Soawr

congratulates

the republics of

congo and

guinea on their

ratification of

the protocol!

3rd lawyers’

training on

Using the

protocol in

litigation

SOAWR congratulates the

Republic of Congo and the

Republic of Guinea on their

ratification of the Protocol to

the African Charter on Human

and Peoples’ Rights on the

Rights of Women in Africa

(hereafter the Protocol). The

ratification by Congo and

Guinea on the 6th of August

and 17th of September 2012

respectively, brings the total

number of ratifications to 34

out of the 54 African Union

(AU) member states.

SOAWR welcomes Congo’s

and Guinea’s ratification of the

Protocol and acknowledges

this as a huge step that will

facilitate the realization of the

Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs). SOAWR fur-

ther calls upon the govern-

ments of Congo and Guinea to

ensure that the rights provided

in the Protocol are promoted

through domestication, imple-

mentation and awareness rais-

ing. Economic and social de-

velopment are dependent on

the successful promotion of

human rights for all and on the

implementation of programs

and interventions intended to

achieve gender equality and

social, economic and political

empowerment for women and

men.

Soawr commends

auc on election of

1st female chair-

person

ples of promoting gender equality

and respect for democratic princi-

ples, human rights, the rule of law

and good governance as provided

in the Constitutive Act of the AU.

This is a strong message that

should form the basis for similar

renewed action within the AU and

across Africa.

In this regard, SOAWR recom-

mends that the AU, its institutions

and member states effectively

strengthen their policies and pro-

grams at national and regional level

to ensure: (1) the implementation

of projects during the African

Women’s Decade 2010-2020 in-

creases participation of women in

governance, peace process and

upholds gender justice; (2) Africa’s

integration agenda supports eco-

nomic growth and social inclusion

for the most vulnerable, minorities

and indigenous groups in Africa;

and (3) long-lasting solutions are

effective in resolving conflicts and

widespread violence in conflict

situations and ensure peace and

justice for the peoples of Africa,

particularly in the Democratic Re-

public of Congo, Sudan, South

Sudan and Mali.

SOAWR commends the African

Union (AU) Heads of State and

Government on the successful elec-

tion of the first female African

Union Commission (AUC) Chair-

person, Dr. Nkosazana Clarice

Dlamini- Zuma.

The admirable way in which the

elections were conducted exhibited

the AU’s ability to apply its princi-

Dinah Musindarwezo (FEMNET Executive

Director) with Dr. Dlamini-Zuma

SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ’S R IGHTS COALITION NEWSLETTER

The Africa CSO Meeting on Development

Effectiveness was held in Nairobi, Kenya, on

12 to 13 July 2012, bringing together experts

in development effectiveness including

heads and representatives of civil society

organizations (CSOs) and religious leaders

from all regions in the Sub-Saharan Africa.

The meeting was a follow up to the Fourth

High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held

in Busan, South Korea, on 29 November to 1

December 2011. The participants discussed

and agreed on the importance of CSO’s in-

volvement in the Development Effectiveness

agenda since the conference in Busan gave

CSO’s an important role as the key drivers

of the agenda as they have equal responsibil-

ity with governments, private sector and all

other actors in its implementation. It is also

important to note that gender equality and

women’s rights saw a major boost in the

Busan Partnership and also in the CSO Part-

nership for Development Effectiveness

(CPDE) draft document that was adopted by

the delegates at the Nairobi Conference on

13th July 2012. Roselynn Musa, Programme

Manager at the African Women’s Develop-

ment and Communication Network

(FEMNET) Secretariat was elected as the

Africa CSO Representative to the Global

Governance Structure on Development Ef-

fectiveness. FEMNET, Reality of Aid Africa

Network, Uganda National NGO Forum,

Open Forum for CSO Development Effec-

tiveness and Better Aid co-organized the

conference.

For information please write to advo-

[email protected]

Femnet co-organizes

Africa cso conference

on post-busan

- IN THE MEDIA -

The Gambia — Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians (AVG) published a short article on

the Lawyer’s Training held in Dakar, Senegal.

The link is available on the Equality Now website at: http://www.equalitynow.org/press_clip/

faiza_jama_mohamed_on_the_protocol_on_the_rights_of_women_in_africa

The International Women’s Rights Organiza-

tions and Networks Consultation on CSOs

Partnership for Effective Development was

held on 25 to 26 July 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The participants debated and gave inputs on

the CSO Partnership for Development Effec-

tiveness (CPDE) draft document, while putting

into consideration their role as women from a

feminist/ women’s rights perspective. The

main objective of the consultation was to

engage in policy-relevant deliberations on

the state of effective development, share

ideas and explore various avenues for in-

creased feminist/women organizations par-

ticipation in Development Effectiveness

political spaces to ensure that women’s

rights, gender equality and women’s empow-

erment are adequately taken into account in

all these spaces. Through the consultation,

the participants took stock, from a gender

perspective, of the significance of gender

equality in the Global Part-

nership for Effective Devel-

opment Cooperation

(GPEDC) and offered con-

crete proposals regarding how

to better ensure that women’s

rights, gender equality and

women’s empowerment are

promoted and our effective

participation and leadership

in Development Effectiveness

spaces is enhanced.

The participants nominated

representatives at the sectoral,

regional and sub-regional

level. It was agreed that the

International women’s

rights organizations

and networks consul-

tation on cso partner-

ship for effective devel-

opment cooperation

Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African

Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and

the Committee on the Rights and Welfare of

the Child. The training also provided an

analysis of certain violations of the Protocol

Training for lawyers

(continued from page 1)

Association for Women’s Rights in Devel-

opment (AWID) would take the responsibil-

ity for global representation. Roselynn Musa

(FEMNET) and Hamida Harrison

(NETRIGHT Ghana) were elected as the

Africa Regional Representatives. Emphasis

was placed on the need to continue working

together to strengthen the women’s move-

ment and remain relevant in the global

agenda.

to assist practitioners in drafting complaints

on these issues. Lawyers were also given

information on key cases relevant to

women’s rights decided by the African Com-

mission and from other regional human

rights systems and international treaty bodies

such as the Inter-American System in order

to give practitioners a sense of the current

jurisprudence on women’s rights. The par-

ticipants also partici-

pated in mini-moot

courts where they rep-

resented both the state

and the complainant

before the African

Commission on Human

and Peoples’ Rights,

the Africa Court on

Human and Peoples’

Rights and the Com-

mittee on the Rights

and Welfare of the

Child.


Soawr members participate in au summit in july

In July 2012, Heads of State and Government

met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 24th

Permanent Representatives Committee Ses-

sion (PRC), 21st Ordinary Session of the Ex-

ecutive Council and the 19th Ordinary session

of the Assembly of the African Union under

the theme “Boosting Intra African Trade,” the

same theme tabled for during the AU Summit

in January this year.

Prior to and during the Summit, SOAWR

members participated in activities which in-

cluded:

• Participation in the 20th GIMAC Pre-

Summit

• Advocacy Activities during the 19th Ordi-

nary Session of the Executive Council

• Participation in various activities at the

margins of the Summit

These activities were undertaken by the fol-

lowing SOAWR members: African Women’s

Development and Communication Network

(FEMNET), Alliances for Africa, Equality

Now, Oxfam, and Women of Liberia Peace

Network (WOLPNET).

20th GIMAC Pre-Summit

From the 10th to the 11th July 2012, SOAWR

members attended the 20th Pre-Summit Con-

sultative meeting under the auspices of the

Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) in

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting, which

was organized by the GIMAC network, was

coordinated by Femmes Africa Solidarité.

The objective was to strengthen the gender

mainstreaming agenda at the African Union

level in order to ensure that advocacy for

women’s empowerment in social, economic

and political spheres can be integrated in the

African Union while reflecting on the theme

of the AU Summit.

The two-day meeting was characterized by

presentations from high-level panelists and

group discussions and thereafter followed by

advocacy at the summit to present the out-

come recommendations of the consultation.

An update was provided of progress made on

major recommendations to the secretariat of

GIMAC during the last GIMAC meeting held

in January 2012, on the need to identify key

champions of GIMAC messages, establish a

secretariat at the AU and the need to effec-

tively coordinate the campaign. It was re-

ported that GIMAC had identified and ap-

proached President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to

be the Goodwill Ambassador of the cam-

paign, and that a secretariat had been set up in

Addis Ababa, housed in the African Centre

for Gender and Social Development at the

UNECA. It was also reported that the the-

matic and regional focal points had agreed

that there was need to have a steering commit-

tee to steer the GIMAC activities, and this

would be formalized during the current meet-

ing.

The topics of discussion at the meeting in-

cluded regional economic integration and

intra-African trade, agriculture and food secu-

rity, women and peace, and a review of the

implementation of the Solemn Declaration on

Gender Equality in Africa.

During a presentation, SOAWR member Nai-

sola Likimani (FEMNET) interrogated the

theme of integrating women into the economy

through advocating for gender responsive

trade agreements. Factors that prevent women

from benefitting from trade agreements be-

tween RECs and the EU were highlighted.

This includes lack of systematic integration of

gender analysis in trade negotiation and im-

plementation processes; low awareness by

women of international markets and lack of

capacity to meet stringent foreign market

requirements. Ms. Likimani indicated that the

five-country study carried out by FEMNET in

2011 highlights key actions that can be taken

by government.

Advocacy Activities during the 19th Ordi-

nary Session of the Executive Council

During the opening of the 19th Ordinary Ses-

sion of the Executive Council on 12th July

2012, SOAWR members Equality Now and

Oxfam sought out the delegations of countries

that have not ratified the Protocol in order to

advocate for its immediate ratification and

implementation. SOAWR members spoke to

Foreign Ministers and other members of na-

tional delegations from Congo, Cameroon,

Sierra Leone, Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia, Bu-

rundi, Eritrea, Tunisia and Chad, on the need

for member states to commit towards

women’s rights as a shared value of the Afri-

can Union and the need to ratify the Protocol.

The delegates were provided with advocacy

packets containing letters addressed to the

Foreign Minister encouraging him/her to en-

sure the ratification of the Protocol, and with

a copy of the AU ratification list detailing the

status of ratification of the Protocol. Equality

Now continued the lobbying on 13th of July

and was able to discuss and hand lobby pack-

ets to the foreign ministers of Sudan, Niger

and Algeria.

Post-MDG Meeting: Africa-wide consulta-

tion on the MDGs, UN Millennium Cam-

paign

The meeting discussed areas for intervention

on the post-MDG initiatives being coordi-

nated at the UN towards the review of the

MDGs in 2015. These areas include: invest-

ment, infrastructure, agriculture and food

security, peace and security, and governance.

The discussions emphasized the need for Af-

rica to participate actively in this process to

ensure that the review addresses the problems

of Africa, that it creates an enabling environ-

ment, promote transformative sustainable

growth, promote capacity, development &

technological innovation and promote human

development.

It was also noted that President Sirleaf is one

of three co-chairs of the UN High Level Panel

on MDG post 2015. As such she can be influ-

ential about Africa’s position in the discus-

sion. An African led CSO meeting on the

MDGs is planned for October in Liberia. With

regard to key contacts for thematic areas and

Left: Abdoulie Janneh

(Executive Secretary of

the United Nations

Economic Commission

for Africa and Bineta

Diop (Executive Direc-

tor of Femmes Africa

Solidarité) at the GI-

MAC Pre-Summit

Right: Naisola Likimani

(FEMNET) speaks at the

GIMAC Pre-Summit


countries, SOAWR members attending the

meeting were listed down for gender equality

and for their respective countries of operation.

Launching of the African Solidarity Initia-

tive (ASI) in support of the Post Conflict

Reconstruction and Development in Africa On 13 July 2012, Equality Now and Oxfam

attended the launch of the African Solidarity

Initiative (ASI), whose objective is to support,

encourage, motivate, and empower African

countries to assist post-conflict countries in

their reconstruction and development efforts.

The launch had in attendance AU Member

States, UN Agencies, Regional Economic

Communities (RECs), AU Regional Offices,

Ministers of Foreign Affairs, together with

other invited guests.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairperson of

the AU Commission (AUC), Dr Jean Ping. He

lauded the solidarity initiative by saying that

integration of Africa, has always been at the

heart of the objectives of the African Union

and cannot be achieved without solidarity. This

can take many forms besides financial contri-

butions and states should focus on various in-

kind contributions such as experience sharing

on best practices, provision of expertise and

capacity building. He stated that the AU is

fully committed to the pursuit of peace and

dealing with the consequences of conflicts,

through implementation of the AU policy on

Soawr members partici-

pate in au summit in july


The Coalition on Violence against Women (COVAW), FIDA-Kenya

and Equality Now commenced discussions with Kenya’s National

Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) as a follow-up to the train-

ing on the multi-sectoral framework (MSF) approach (April 2012

held in Nairobi, Kenya) that benefited Kenya and seven other coun-

tries. The training was co-organized, in collaboration with the Afri-

can Union Commission, by Equality Now and Oxfam (on behalf of

SOAWR) and the UN Women Liaison Office to the African Union

and UN Economic Commission for Africa.

In light of the Commission’s mandate the Kenyan participants of the

April training felt that it would be better placed to handle the coordi-

nation of the MSF application as opposed to the Ministry of Gen-

der. The application of the MSF approach is a strategy that would

assist in realizing the Government’s obligations under the Protocol.

During two follow-up meetings convened by the Commission a plan

was generated to expand knowledge about the MSF approach to vari-

ous sectors of government thereby bringing more stakeholders on

board and building interest and support for the approach within the

various governmental sectors.

Kenya’s national gender & Equality

commission takes up multi-sectoral

approach

Post- Conflict Reconstruction and Develop-

ment (PCRD).

This initiative seeks to support member states

emerging from conflict on a pilot basis. The

countries identified include Burundi, Central

African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic

Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and

South Sudan.

The member states targeted by the initiative

gave presentations outlining their priority need

areas and efforts in post-conflict reconstruction

and development.

The event ended with the adoption of a

“Declaration on the Launch of the African

Solidarity Initiative for the Mobilization of

Support for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and

Development in Africa.”

Africa/South East Asia CSOs Dialogue –

July 12, 2012, Atlas Hotel

FEMNET and Alliances for Africa attended

this forum, convened by the Center for Citi-

zens’ Participation at the AU. The purpose of

the dialogue was to share experiences between

CSOs working with the AU, and those working

with the Association of Southeast Asian Na-

tions (ASEAN), the AU’s equivalent in South-

east Asia. ASEAN is made up of 10 member

countries in Southeast Asia, and was started in

1967. However, it has only recently begun

formalizing its mechanisms and structures on

human rights and development. The CSO rep-

resentatives from Southeast Asia shared their

experiences in engaging ASEAN, the formal

and informal structures they use and challenges

they face.

Some highlights of the ASEAN experience

include convening of ASEAN CSO / People’s

Forums prior to each Summit, as well as

Youth Forums. These forums draw over 1000

participants from the ASEAN member states.

They also have informal meetings with Heads

of State to present outcomes of the CSO/

People’s Forums prior to each Summit.

The ASEAN Women’s Caucus is a well estab-

lished structure for women’s rights organiza-

tions, and they focus on five areas of interven-

tion: Migration, Violence against Women,

Economic Rights, Political Participation and

Discrimination in Law.

Major issues which affect CSOs engagements

with the regional bodies included:

• Ad-hoc engagement plans i.e. responding to

issues once instead of sustained engagement

with the institutions

• Missing strategic entry points that can ac-

celerate action on issues that are being

pushed

• Understanding the institutions and their

language in order to engage with them for-

mally and informally

• Access to information

• Availability of best practices including

documentation

The dialogue was deemed very useful by both

groups, and African CSOs were invited to the

next ASEAN Summit to meet with their coun-

terparts and continue the inter-regional ex-

change and learning.

Soawr raises con-

cern regarding

president Johnson

sirleaf’s comments

on fgm

SOAWR was concerned about a

statement made by President Ellen

Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia regard-

ing female genital mutilation

(FGM) which was published in the

Daily Observer on the 16th of July

2012. She was quoted as saying,

“…this [FGM] is not a thing that

you can legislate if you legislate or

enforce it without much sensitiza-

tion we might run into some ten-

sion in our society that we don’t

need. The long historical reasons

cited by traditionalists were

something to consider”. In re-

sponse, the coalition wrote to Her

Excellency urging her government

to honor Liberia’s international

and regional commitments by

enacting and enforcing compre-

hensive legislation against FGM.

FGM is recognized as a gross vio-

lation of women’s human rights.

Although the coalition recognizes

the Government’s efforts to end

the practice, these efforts should

be scaled up. As a State Party to

the Protocol, Liberia committed,

under Article 5, to prohibit the

practice through legislation meas-

ures backed by sanctions. In July

2011, Liberia and other African

Union member states renewed

their commitment to end FGM by

passing a decision to support a

draft resolution of the General

Assembly of the United Nations to

ban the practice. The coalition

calls upon all States to follow

through on this commitment.

to be played by the AU. This necessitates a

unified and coordinated approach in develop-

ing a policy framework. Accordingly, the AU

should employ existing instruments, including

the Constitutive Act, to deal with impunity.

The existing AU instruments are also located

within the broader international legal norms

which should not be breached. It was noted

that while international legality provides a

broad framework, the national context re-

mains important. The involvement of non-

state actors such as the broader civil society

and citizens should be harnessed in order to

ensure legitimacy and effective implementa-

tion of a comprehensive transitional justice

policy framework. The AU, Regional Eco-

nomic Communities (RECs) and other re-

gional initiatives should therefore draw on

mutually reinforcing measures when deploy-

ing transitional justice mechanisms.

It was recommended that the AU develop

long-term initiatives incorporating monitoring

and evaluation as opposed to ad hoc measures

to deal with transitional justice. In addition,

the sequencing and spacing of peace and jus-

tice focused initiatives, if necessary, should be

informed by the local context. It was argued

therefore that an African transitional justice

policy framework, if developed, should not be

prescriptive, but ought to be a set of guide-

lines and principles to guide the process and

address a range of imperatives and needs such

as the achievement of peace, justice and ac-

countability, national unity and cohesion,

reconciliation, gender equity, socioeconomic

rights and development, and victims’ right to

effective remedies.

Participants highlighted the need to redefine

“violations” beyond civil and political rights

to include socio-economic rights violations

such as targeted underdevelopment, economic

crimes, corruption and land grabbing. Further-

more, it was agreed that in order to fully un-

derstand the background of the conflicts tak-

ing place in the continent, the relationship

between the violations and their underlying

root causes must be examined, including

causes such as structural inequalities, environ-

mental factors and weak governance systems.

The issue of gender justice was discussed,

with particular reference to women’s experi-

ences of violence during conflict. It was noted

that since war does not end with the mere

cessation of hostilities, it is imperative to

address the impact of conflict on women, to

take into account their need for redress; and to

mainstream gender considerations into all

components of an effective transitional justice

framework. It was further agreed that immedi-

ate and durable reparations should be made

available to victims of gender violence. In

addition, the need to ensure at least minimum

levels of women’s representation, as well as


Equality now

participates in

consultation meeting

on ensuring a holistic

gender approach to the

African transitional

justice policy

Equality Now attended the expert consultation

meeting on “Ensuring a holistic gender ap-

proach to the African Transitional Justice

Policy” from 3rd to 5th August 2012 in Lomé,

Togo. The meeting was convened by the De-

partment of Political Affairs, African Union

Commission (AUC), and the Centre for the

Study of Violence and Reconciliation

(CSVR), based in South Africa.

The aim of the consultation was to:

• Review and make specific inputs, including

further amendments, to the draft African

Transitional Justice Policy Framework;

• Propose specific sections and language on

gender and ensure mainstreaming of gender

throughout the Draft Policy Framework;

• Improve synergy, coordination and collabo-

ration among relevant AUC Departments

and AU Organs to facilitate the develop-

ment of the African Transitional Justice

Policy Framework; and

• Review the road map to develop and adopt

the African Transitional Justice Policy

Framework and to consider strategies to

drive implementation in particular of key

gender provisions.

The meeting was characterized by interactive

discussions among participants. Some of the

questions that were discussed included: (a) the

value added by having the African Transi-

tional Justice policy; (b) what the policy

needs to reflect to promote a progressive gen-

der outcomes; and (c) what mechanisms can

be put in place to effectively address gender-

based crimes.

In deliberations it emerged that the current

dominant transitional justice discourse has a

narrow approach and places much emphasis

and focus on retributive justice, which in turn

inadequately reflects on the current under-

standing and application of transitional justice

in the African continent. Participants agreed

on the necessity to broaden the scope and

reach of transitional justice to include the

effective and holistic realization of socio-

economic rights, gender justice, and the right

to development.

The consultation noted that there is an emerg-

ing consensus that while transitional justice

measures and initiatives are anchored princi-

pally on the domestic framework, there is an

important role that has been and can continue

the inclusion of women’s rights and access to

justice in all post-conflict processes was reaf-

firmed.

The issue of positive complementarity and the

inclusion of traditional justice mechanisms

within the African Transitional Justice Policy

Framework were addressed by participants.

While the participants emphasised the impor-

tance of including traditional justice mecha-

nisms within the Framework, it was also high-

lighted that all local reconciliation processes

should be underpinned by accountability.

The participants further stressed the need to

foster positive complementarily between the

national and international justice systems,

with a view to ultimately strengthen domestic

accountability for international crimes and

serious violations of human rights. There was

also agreement on the need to broaden the

scope of accountability to include third party

states, transnational corporations and non-

state actors.

Regarding the question of amnesties, partici-

pants acknowledged that peace-building and

reconciliation efforts could consider a limited

role of conditional amnesties for low level

perpetrators. However, it was emphasised that

amnesties at the domestic level must at all

times comply with principles of international

and national legality.

African Women Rights

Observatory (AWRO)

Advisory Panel

convenes

The African Centre for Gender and Social

Development (ACGSD) of the United Na-

tions Economic Commission for Africa

(UNECA) convened the 2nd Meeting of the

African Women’s Rights Observatory

(AWRO)’s Advisory Panel on 17 July at the

UNECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Equality

Now and FEMNET attended the meeting,

contributed to the discussion and offered

recommendations on a number of action

points to make AWRO’s work relevant and

supportive to Governments’ and other stake-

holders. AWRO was launched in 2008 to be

a premier resource for information and data

in the status of the human rights of women

in Africa. It is a technical platform as well as

political and advocacy space that aims to

facilitate learning and networking.

Please visit the AWRO website at

www.awro.uneca.org for more details.


Soawr mapping report

on au protocol on the

rights of women

released

A study was conducted by FEMNET and

Equality Now on behalf of SOAWR covering

the 22 African member states who have not

ratified the AU Protocol on the Rights of

Women, with strong emphasis on 10 focus

countries with the aim of analyzing and map-

ping out country by country the reasons and

bottlenecks behind non-ratification and op-

portunities for change—both of which will

enable the SOAWR Coalition members and

other relevant stakeholders to develop an

advocacy strategy to better target and drive

their lobbying efforts to increase the number

of ratifications of the Protocol amongst Afri-

can states ahead of the 10 year anniversary of

the Protocol’s adoption.

The report, whose methodology entailed

Great lakes

governments agree to

fast track actions to

end sgbv crimes and

impunity

Naisola Likimani (FEMNET) represented the

SOAWR coalition at the International Con-

ference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)

Regional High Level Consultation with Min-

isters in Charge of Justice and Gender from

the Great Lakes Region which took place in

Kinshasa form the 25 to 28 July 2012. This

was a follow up to the ICGLR Heads of State

and Government Summit that resulted in the

Kampala Declaration on Sexual and Gender

Based Violence (SGBV) and implementation

of its Work Plan.

The objective of the meeting was to strate-

gize on the implementation of the Decisions

made by the Heads of State and Government

in Kampala, Uganda, in December 2011 with

particular emphasis on decision 2.7 and 8

pertaining to the need to accelerate the do-

mestication process of the ICGLR Protocol

on Non aggression and Mutual Defense, the

Protocol on Prevention and Suppression of

Sexual Violence against Women and Chil-

dren as well as the Protocol on Judicial Co-

operation, in order to eradicate existing

armed groups, combat Sexual and Gender

Based Violence and cooperate in matters of

extradition, judicial investigation and prose-

targeted online and phone surveys as well as

a desk review, found that two key reasons for

non-ratification were a lack of awareness (as

in the Republic of Congo, Guinea, Somalia

and Swaziland) and a lack of political will

and weak or poor institutional mechanisms

(in Algeria, Botswana, Chad, Eritrea, Mada-

gascar, Sao Tome and Principe, Sahrawi

Arab Democratic Republic). Nevertheless,

two countries, Congo and Guinea, came

through with their instruments of ratification

at the conclusion of the study.

The full report can be accessed at http://

www.soawr.org/en/news/item/

soawr_mapping_report_of_au_protocol_on_r

ights_of_women/ .This is a working docu-

ment; therefore please feel free to email any

information you have regarding obstacles

and opportunities for ratification of this Pro-

tocol to [email protected] for

inclusion in the report. We value your inputs

very much .

cution of perpetrators (Decision 2); to launch

the Zero Tolerance Now campaign on SGBV

crimes and impunity (Decision 7); and lastly

on the establishing and strengthening of Spe-

cial Courts, Sessions and Procedures in order

to fast track SGBV cases in the Police and

the Judiciary (with adequate financing, facili-

ties and gender sensitive Officers) to improve

access to justice and protect SGBV victims/

survivors (Decision 8).

In their deliberations, the Ministers of Justice

and Gender took cognizance of the impor-

tance of the Kampala Declaration on SGBV

in general and Decisions 2.7 and 8 in particu-

lar, namely: on domestication, special courts,

sessions and zero tolerance on SGBV crimes

and impunity, reiterating that Member States

should as a matter of urgency address the

issue of Negative Forces as envisaged in the

Kampala Declaration on SGBV (2011) and

the Addis Ababa Extraordinary Summit Dec-

laration (2012) on Negative Forces.

Civil society organizations, the regional

women’s forum, faith-based and youth repre-

sentatives from the Great Lakes also partici-

pated in the discussions and commended the

governments for their appreciation of the

urgency in dealing with SGBV in the Great

Lakes region, by committing to the following

actions:

• Immediate strengthening of existing courts

to handle SGBV cases, and steps to establish

Femnet update on

African women in

political leadership

FEMNET issued its third Update on Afri-

can Women in Political Leadership, cover-

ing May-August which saw historic elec-

tions in a number of African countries,

including Libya, Egypt and Somalia. Elec-

tions in Algeria and Senegal resulted in

unprecedented numbers of women joining

the political arena, and the long-awaited

results of the African Union Commission

elections saw a woman occupy the post for

the first time in the history of the African

Union and its predecessor, the Organiza-

tion for African Unity.

For the full report please visit: http://

femnet.co/index.php/en/leadership-

updates/item/101-update-on-african-

women-in-political-leadership-iii

special courts including mobile courts, spe-

cial sessions, and procedures such as special

prosecutors for SGBV in each member state,

and agreement to report on progress by De-

cember 2012.

• Where law allows, restrict granting of am-

nesty or parole for perpetrators of SGBV

against women and children

• Accelerate investigation and trial of flagrant

SGBV crimes to a period not exceeding 6

months

• Ensure provision of free legal representa-

tion and reparation for SGBV victims

• Heads of State to launch Zero Tolerance

campaigns on November 25, 2012, at the

start of the 16 Days of Activism. Each cam-

paign through its activities will aim to formu-

late or amend laws, policies and programmes

responding to SGBV, increase the number of

SGBV cases.

For more information, report of the meeting

and communiqué please visit: https://

icglr.org/spip.php?article234

eroon as one of its priority countries for ratifi-

cation. As such, the coalition has undertaken

several activities with the aim of accelerating

the ratification process. In February 2011, a

SOAWR delegation met with the Minister of

Women’s Affairs and the Family, Ms. Marie

Thérèse Ondoua Obama in Yaoundé, Camer-

oon. The members of the delegation were Ms.

Sylvie J. Ndongmo (Chairperson of

FEMNET), Ms. Valentine Ngouetche

(FEMNET Cameroon Focal Point), Ms. Val-

entine Kamtchang (FEMNET Cameroon Fo-

cal Point), and Ms. Comfort Effiom (Inter-

African Committee on Harmful Traditional

Practices Affecting Women and Children,

IAC-Cameroon). During the meeting, the

Minister confirmed that Cameroon has simply

not deposited the ratification instrument, but

that her Ministry was working with the Minis-

try of Foreign Affairs on this issue. At the

same time, she welcomed partnerships with

SOAWR members in advancing women’s

rights, particularly in the context of the Afri-

can Women’s Decade (2010-2020).

Subsequently, in early June 2011, FEMNET

coordinated an advocacy mission with support

from Equality Now on behalf of SOAWR.

This mission was aimed at mobilizing stake-

holders to accelerate the ratification and im-

plementation of the Protocol. During the mis-

sion, FEMNET successfully mobilized Cam-

eroonian CSOs and facilitated a strategy

meeting between several CSOs and the United

Nations (UN) Women Country Office. The

meeting led to the development of an action

plan, with UN Women committing to follow

up with the line ministries and its Liaison


SOAWR MEMBERS

conduct advocacy

mission to cameroon

From 9 to 12 September 2012, SOAWR

members, Equality Now, FEMNET, and

FAMEDEV joined Cameroonian members,

Women’s Advocacy and Communication

Network (WANET) and the Women’s Peace

Initiative Association, and other local CSOs

for an advocacy mission to urge the Cameroo-

nian government to expedite the deposit of its

instrument of ratification for the African

Women’s Rights Protocol.

At present, Cameroon is a signatory to the

Protocol, which it signed on 25 July 2006.

However, on 28 May, 2009, President Paul

Biya issued Decree Number 2009/143 on the

Ratification of the Protocol. Unfortunately,

due to dissent within religious communities—

especially within the Catholic Church—the

ratification instrument was not deposited with

the African Union Commission and, as such,

Cameroon is not among the 34 African Union

(AU) member states that have been recog-

nized by the African Union as a State Party to

the Protocol.

During its Annual Meeting held in November

2010, the SOAWR coalition identified Cam-

Office to the African Union and Economic

Commission for Africa and further commit-

ting to partner with SOAWR in coordinating a

high-level advocacy mission involving the

Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women

in Africa, Commissioner Soyata Maïga.

It was in this context that SOAWR members,

with support from the Urgent Action Fund

Africa, organized a subsequent advocacy

mission that targeted to coincide with the

promotional mission that the Commissioner

Maïga planned to undertake from 4 to 14

September 2012. This provided SOAWR a

unique opportunity to ride on the visibility of

the Commissioner’s visit to exert more pres-

sure on the Government. During the mission,

they met various senior officials from the

ministries of Gender and Justice. The Foreign

Affairs Ministry did not initially confirm the

appointment but did so a few days later. Ms.

Mfoula Edjomo Chantal, the Director of Afri-

can Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

who met with the SOAWR members on 20

September 2012 conveyed that the Govern-

Left: Faiza Mohamed

(Equality Now), Sylvie

Ndongmo (FEMNET)

and Médoune Seck

(FAMEDEV) with

participants of the CSO

consultation held in

September.

Right: SOAWR mem-

bers and partners with

Soyata Maïga, the Spe-

cial Rapporteur on the

Rights of Women in

Africa.

Sylvie Ndongmo (FEMNET) and Médoune Seck

(FAMEDEV)

RAISING HER VOICE Raising Her Voice (RHV) promotes the rights and capacity of poor women to engage effectively in govern-ance at all levels through increased voice and influence and more effective institutional accountability. The

programme uses strategies such as media and communications work, networking, lobbying and advocacy,

working with public institutions and decision-making forums and empowering and building capacity of civil society organisations.


Advocacy mission to

Cameroon (continued

from page 5)

ment has started the process of depositing the

instrument to the African Union Commission.

Prior to engagements with the government offi-

cials, SOAWR members convened a one day

consultation meeting with CSOs sharing the vi-

sion and achievements of the SOAWR campaign

while also exploring partnership avenues and

generating interest of Cameroonian CSOs to

launch the campaign locally and work together

for women to reap the benefits of the Protocol.

Towards passage of

violence against

persons prohibition

bill (VAPP) in nigeria

People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA)

RHV partners and community action group

members held a meeting at the Reef Hotel in

RAISING HER VOICE (continued)...

By Brenda Bepeh (Oxfam GB)

The legislative advocacy activities to-

wards the passage of the VAPP bill have

continued to gather momentum in the 7th

Assembly. The innovative use of social

media and sustained advocacy used by

Women’s Rights Advancement and Pro-

tection Alternatives (WRAPA)/RHV and

gender activists in different spaces to call

for the Bill’s passage has added pressure

on the legislators, which culminated in the

Bill being referred to the committee stage.

In June, WRAPA/RHV under the auspices

of the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on

Violence Against Women (LACVAW)

used bulk SMSes as an advocacy strategy

and a simultaneous use of social media

hyped the advocacy which culminated in a

motion being raised and approved on the

floor of the chambers in the House of

Representatives for the VAPP bill to be

committed to the Committees of the

Whole for consideration. The bill has

passed the first reading and is building

momentum through increased endorse-

ment of co-sponsors [legislators].

The bulk SMS advocacy strategy is an-

other innovative strategy that has in-

creased the success of the campaign so

far, it is targeted towards the legislators.

This is done by sending out weekly advo-

cacy SMSes on the provisions of the bill

to legislators. This was done to advocate

the speedy passage of the bill by increas-

ing awareness on the bill.

So far other development partners have

been supporting the process. A website

has been designed at a subsidized rate

through the linkage from McArthur Foun-

dation and managed by Mari Tikkanen of

Marketing Information for Development

(M4ID). With interactive platforms such

as You tube, Pinterest, GBV Videos/ Pic-

tures, the site has received wide patronage

and has recorded a high number of visi-

tors.

For more information on the VAPP Bill,

its provisions and related campaign infor-

mation, go to:

www.nigeriacountdown.com. Please visit

the site and sign up to show your support

for the Bill and boost the signature cam-

paign.

Powa holds meeting

for achpr shadow

report in south africa

Johannesburg, South Africa, on 18 July 2012.

The South African government is in the proc-

ess of preparing its report on human rights

progress in the country as required by the

African Commission on Human and Peoples’

Rights (ACHPR). The two-part report speaks

to the African Charter and the African

Women’s Rights Protocol. It was in this con-

text that the meeting was held in order

to facilitate a discussion between part-

ners in which they shared their experi-

ences (and those of women they work

with) as women living in South Af-

rica, in order to document them in the

shadow report and hold the South Afri-

can government accountable. Partici-

pants were requested to try as much as

possible to provide tangible evidence

that can be made available should the

government want to follow up. Thus,

this meeting was not a once-off process

but part of a continuing process in

which POWA can refer back to the partners

for further clarity or more information on

issues raised as the process of drafting the

shadow report continues.

While it is acknowledged that South Africa

has some of the most progressive legislative

instruments and policies in the world, some

of the major challenges lie in the implementation

process. Government has no proper systems to moni-

tor and evaluate their services, much to the prejudice

of the public-- particularly women who continuously

face long delays in the administration and execution

of justice. Law enforcement agents have been identi-

fied as falling short in executing their duties which

has resulted in serious miscarriages of justice. Other

challenges also include corruption and bribery, nega-

tive attitudes and treatment from authorities responsi-

ble for rendering services such as medical health and

treatment, xenophobic tendencies as well as harmful

cultural practices all of which place a heavy burden

on women in the country.

Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) is a coalition of 43 civil society organi-zations across the continent working to ensure that the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa remains on the agenda of policy makers and to urge all African leaders to safeguard the rights of women through ratification and imple-

mentation of the Protocol.

SOAWR Secretariat c/o Equality Now

P.O. Box 2018-00200 Nairobi, Kenya

Phone: +254-20-2719832 Fax: +254-20-2719868

E-mail: [email protected]; www.soawr.org

Status of the Protocol

In Sept 2011

In Sept 2012

Total Signatures 46 47

Total Ratifications 31 34

State Parties to the Protocol Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Co-moros, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Dji-bouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,

Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Ma-lawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Ni-geria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

POWA holds meeting for

acphr shadow report


Members of the Africa UNiTE Campaign to End VAW Regional Steering Committee

held their 5th planning meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, from the 2nd to 3rd August 2012

hosted by the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS). The meet-

ing shared progress on activi-

ties carried out in the year and

thereafter reviewed and en-

dorsed the work plan that the

Campaign Secretariat devel-

oped for the remainder of the

year. For the remaining part of

the year the secretariat will be

working towards supporting

regional and national events in

relation to the 16 Days of

Activism, as well as Consulta-

tions and substantive prepara-

tions for CSW 2013.

Some of the key areas on

which the campaign will focus include: strengthening coordination and communica-

tion, targeted advocacy, social mobilization and capacity building for more commit-

ments and actions to end violence against women in conformity with the Six Out-

comes and Three Pillars of the Africa UNiTE Campaign, strategic/innovative partner-

ship building and resource mobilization to roll out the campaign at all levels, knowl-

edge management: strengthen evidence base, monitoring, reporting progress, with

focus on best practices on implementation of the campaign at all levels, effective

management of Campaign Secretariat in collaboration with co-chairs (UN Economic

Commission for Africa, African Union Commission, UN Women, United Nations

Population Fund, and African Development Bank). Faiza Mohamed (Equality Now)

represented SOAWR in the meeting.

5th Unite campaign to end vaw

steering committee meeting held in abuja

Coalition Members Action for Development (ACFODE), African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies

(ACDHRS), African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), Alliance for Africa, Association des Ju-ristes Maliennes (AJM), The Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers (AEFL), BAOBAB for Women’s

Human Rights, Le Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines de Burundi (CAFOB), Cellule de Coordi-nation sur les Pratiques Traditionnelles Affectant la Santé des Femmes et des Enfants (CPTAFE), Centre for

Justice Studies and Innovation (CJSI), Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), Eastern Africa Sub-regional Support Initiative (EASSI), Equality Now, Fahamu Networks for Social Justice, Federation of

Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya, Forum Mulher, Girl Child Network, Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS), Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), NGO Gender Coordination Network, Oxfam GB,

People Opposing Women’s Abuse (POWA), Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance (RHRA), Sister Namibia, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), The Inter-African Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices (IAC), The Inter-African Network for Women, Media, Gender Equity and Development (FAMEDEV), Ipas Africa Alliance for Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights, Tomor-row’s Child Initiative, Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), Union Nationale des Femmes de Djibouti

(UNFD), University of Pretoria Centre for Human Rights, Voix de Femmes, Women’s Advocacy and Com-munication Network (WANET), Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), Women Direct, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Women of Liberia Peace Network (WOLPNET), Women NGOs

Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Women Peace Initiatives Association

SOAWR Quarterly Newsletter July to September 2012...Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development...

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