SOAWR Quarterly Newsletter July to September 2012 · human rights for all and on the implementation...
Transcript of SOAWR Quarterly Newsletter July to September 2012 · human rights for all and on the implementation...
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
Page 2
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-
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.
Page 3
JULY –SEPTEMBER 2012
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
SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ’S R IGHTS COALITION NEWSLETTER
Page 4
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
(continued from page 3)
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
Page 5
JULY –SEPTEMBER 2012
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.
SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ’S R IGHTS COALITION NEWSLETTER
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-
Page 6
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
Page 7
JULY –SEPTEMBER 2012
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.
SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ’S R IGHTS COALITION NEWSLETTER
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
Page 8
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
(continued from page 7)
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