The African Women Mobilizing Initiative

on Impoverishment and Human Rights

(AWOMI)

The African Women Mobilizing Initiative on Impoverishment and Human Rights

(AWOMI), based in Dakar, Senegal, was launched in May 2005 in Limuru, Kenya.
AWOMI's establishment was triggered by the fact that women’s impoverishment and
the burden they carry to sustain social welfare continues to worsen despite Govern-
ments signing of numerous international legal instruments including the Convention
on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1979; the 1995 Bei-
jing Platform for Action; the 1997 SADC Declaration on Gender and Development; the
African Union (AU) Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa; and the AU Ad-
ditional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights
of Women in Africa (ACHPR). AWOMI also recognizes that an African women's
agenda proposing alternative economic policies centered on human rights is seriously
lacking and requires urgent attention. AWOMI’s goal is to fill this gap through evi-
dence gathering, economic education, youth empowerment, accountability tracking
and policy advocacy.

AWOMI’s objectives are:

• to build evidence and knowledge on economic analysis and poverty assessments that
takes into account gendered perspectives and human rights commitments at all levels;
• to propel the emergence of a mass mobilization for social movement building on gen-
der equality, economic and social justice with organizations and community leaders
and excluded groups of women and youth;
• to develop innovative accountability tracking and advocacy mechanisms for ensu-
ring that resources mobilized are put into the hands of impoverished women and
youth.
• to influence different categories of stakeholders involved in policy making and po-
verty eradication processes, to reorient their approach towards equality driven inter-
ventions;

The publication of this magazine was made possible thanks to generous

grants from the Ford Foundation, The Flora Family Foundation, the
United Nations Volunteers Programme, the NEPAD Secretariat and
UNIFEM Brazil. AWOMI, its staff and partners express their grateful
appreciation for this support.

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect AWOMI’s

opinions. AWOMI is a believer in free spech and as such encourages
its partners to debate on issues as openly as possible

Daring to Dream
Two years have already passed and here we are again at
this 2008 Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Insti-
tute (YOWLI). YOWLI is a crossroads enabling us to cele-
brate together with gender sensitive young women and
men the vibrancy and leadership of young women from
Africa and its Diaspora. This is a historic moment as the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 60. It is the li-
ving proof that Africa and its Diaspora have so much to
contribute in a global debate dominated by power strug-
gles within and across nations. At this stage, Africa has
one of the fastest growing young populations and has ves-
ted interest in nurturing them, educating them and protec-
ting them. Children and young women and men coming
from all walks of life are present at this YOWLI gathering
ready to tackle and engage our beloved continent’s har-
shest realities. This year marks the second edition of
AWOMI’s grand idea to bring together a sizeable number
of the young leaders from all parts of the globe to connect,
and critically question the state of things and seek ans-
The
wers.YOWLI is a month long activity held every two years.
It contributes in nurturing democratic citizenship and dia-
logue between Africa and its Diaspora. This year we
connected groups and individuals from places as far as Su-
riname and Brazil to Egypt and Guinea Conakry. This year,
a diverse group of 34 different nationalities and 85 partici-
pants have come together into a beautiful diverse commu-
nity to live at the Mariama Ba Boarding School. They
range from 8-year-old children to adults in their early 30s
with vast reserves of energy and potentials to critically as-
sess their situation and Africa’s quest for a brighter future.
The YOWLI is an impressive idea. For an organization less
than 5 years old to realize the vision of connecting in the
same geographical location for a month about 100 minds
from more than 30 countries, different cultures, continents,
socioeconomic status, level of exposure, character and
background; from conflict stricken zones to the sophistica-
ted life of megalopolis of industrialized nations, is indeed
an enormous effort. This is no easy task for the young
AWOMI team of 8 people from Cameroon, Senegal and
Zambia and volunteers. Despite all the challenges regar-
ding travel, visa, health matters and the daunting task of
upgrading the Mariama Ba Boarding School to a suitable
habitat for our guests, they managed to make the YOWLI
happen. In addition to the valuable financial support of the
Ford Foundation, The Flora Family Foundation, the ELMA
Philanthropies and the NEPAD Secretariat, this is a collec-
tive effort, which exemplifies our spirit of generosity and
sharing resources and knowledge so that Africa’s youth
can come to grips with learning to face its responsbilities
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
EDITORIAL
as tomorrow leaders. Instructors and facilitators delivered
their respective knowledge packages and modules beyond
expectation. They facilitated a positive and constructive
dialogue between participants who brought with them
thoughts and anxieties as well as enthusiasm and hopes
that reflect the wide array of crises and triumphs their
communities have gone through over the years. Partici-
pants also discussed freely amongst themselves, voluntee-
red to fill gaps in our organizational construct and started
networking along their own areas of interest. YOWLI par-
ticipants volunteered to help at all levels. A team of African
interpreters also volunteered free of chargeto help us com-
municate from English, French and Portuguese. Other vo-
lunteers made sure that everyone had food while others
helped organize the Mini YOWLI.
This magazine is a testimony to this generosity and figh-
ting spirit that prevailed throughout this magnificent pro-
cess. It is the outcome of significant efforts made by
YOWLI participants who volunteered to write on topics re-
levant to their respective lives, from reproductive health,
sexuality, gender-based violence, rights to economics. Yet
other participants found time to edit articles written by
their peers.
This is a dream we are trying to realize. Challenges are
many in Africa but we cannot allow them to stop us as
long as we keep trying to improve ourselves while keeping
in mind the disastrous situation of all our mothers, sisters,
nieces and brothers who are struggling through the battle-
fields of structural adjustment policies. As we had a few
operational problems to stay in a crumbling several-centu-
ries old building, we were also realizing that we were rol-
ling in a Cadillac compared to farmers, fishermen and
women and housewives spending their lives as poorly
paid if not unpaid labourers at home and in work places.
The statement from our YOWLI sister from Goma, DRC is
full of symbolism “this YOWLI in Goree is heaven to me!”
The YOWLI is our reality check exercise. Whether we stay
with Senegalese families like in 2006 or live together in
Mariama Ba High School in Goree, where the best minds
among young girls in Senegal are obliged to live, learn and
even succeed in conditions of abject impoverishment re-
sulting from Government’s neglect and ill conceived eco-
nomic policies, we always go back home with a big dose of
humility through our claims for vanguard activism and our
quest for true leadership.
Yassine Fall
AWOMI President
YOWLI 3
 TABLE OF
GENDER EQUALITY Nilza Laice

• Femmes africaines et droits sexuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Aïssatou Thiam Ngom
• Women’s Political Participation : A Reality or An Illusion? . . . . . . . 6
Chioma Ukwuagu

• A Time for Women To Rise Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Joan W. Karanja ECONOMICS, SOCIETY & POWER
• Femmes et Emigration: Situation des Epouses d’Emigres Laissees
Au Senegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 • Les Programmes d’Ajustement Structurels
Magatte Niang et l’Aggravation de la Pauvrete en Afrique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Kouka Kabore
Mauritanie : Le dilemme des femmes entre famille et droit au travail• Senegal
. . . . . 11: Rarete de L’Eau en Milieu Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Fatma Fall et Fatou Binta Dieng Fatou Binetou Diedhiou

• Gender and Equality: The View of a Disabled Liberian Youth . . . .•.Housing:

12 An Economic Issue in Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Daintowon D. Pay-bayee Elehinle Olalekan Edward

• Gender-Based Organizations and Policy Formulation: • Pauvreté et agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

A Ghanaian Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fatou Kiné THIAM, Mariama DIEDHIOU
Dorothy Aawulenaa et Ndèye Madjiguène Mbow
• Discriminação de gênero e valores culturais. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 • Genre et droits socio-économiques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Isaura Ligia Correia Chirindza Adji Mbène Sambe

• Le Leadership féminin : Un élan à ne pas freiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16• Halte à la mondialisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Nimatoulaye Diallo Marième Sarr

• Does Customary Law Protect or Violate Rights of Women in Africa? 17

Shawana Soud Khamis HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S
RIGHTS
• Young Women As Agents of Social Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Talent Jumo • Violences Sexuelles Contre Les Femmes et Les Jeunes Filles :
• The Link Between Gender and Economic and Social Rights . . . . . .Une
19 Arme de Guerre a L’Est De La Republique Democratique du Congo42
Anuarite Kabuo Kalunga
Wesam Hassan
• Interview : L’horreur à l’état brut au nord Kivu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sophie Nzinga Sy

HIV/AIDS: A GENOCIDE? • Le Sourire Perdu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Cynthia Kanyere

• Robbed of Motherhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 • Are you okay with this?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Rachel Giacchero
Esther Sheehama

• Rapport Entre VH/SIDA et Emigration Au Senegal. . . . . . . . . . . . .•21

Recognising Women ‘s Rights in African Governance . . . . . . . . . . 47
Priscilla Allen
Ndeye Astou Aw
• La Violence Conjugale Tolerée Socialement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
•Malawi: Gender, Society and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Ndeye Coumba Diallo
Steve Binali
• Le Genre et L’Impunite en Cote d’Ivoire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
• UGANDA: ABC STRATEGY FOR HIV/AIDS PREVENTION, Claudine Kouame

NOT WORKING FOR MARRIED WOMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .•. The

. 24 Ghanaian Girl Child and Alms Begging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Monicah Amoding Rita Asombala
• O IMPACTO DO HIV/SIDA NA VIDA ECONÓMICA • Sexual Exploitation in Sierra Leone Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
DA POPULACÃO EM MOÇAMBIQUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Isa Cole
Isaura Mauelele
• Malawi, Do Not Violate the Rights of Our Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
• Virginity and Vulnerability of Young Men and Women . . . . . . . . . . 28
Maria Sadick
Mwelwa Chabala
• Txissola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

YOWLI
4 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
CONTENTS
• The Impact of Child Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Muna Dol
PANAFRICANISM, AFRICAN
Nadya Touhami DIASPORA
• Causing your self pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Nwanneka Nnoli

• Keepers of Our Own Dignity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

• Uganda: Gender and Trafficking of Women and Girls . . . . . . . . . . 62 Joan Dogojo
Regina Kacwamu
• Racism: The Novelties of A Common Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Mafoane Odara Poli Santos

CIVIC & POLITICAL ISSUES

• Haiti: Femmes en Etat de Siege. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Marie Soudne Rivette

• Educação para quê e para quem? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

• ZIMBABWE: Leadership and/or Economy Spinning Out of Control? . 64
Erica Ferreira e Viviane de Jesus
Tomupeishe Maphosa
• African Youth Living Abroad: Investing in Our Continent . . . . . . . . 92
• Halte aux politiques de privatisation : Moiyattu Banya
Le Sénégal n’est pas à vendre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Cheikh Amadou Tidiane Diémé • Strengthening Africa and The Diaspora’s Struggle Against Racism. 94
Priscilla Ferreira
• Continuity in Leadership: The Case of Mentorship . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Enala Mumba • Inferiority Complex or Lost Identity?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Yaganoma Baatuolkuu
• The Role of Youth in Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Nomsa Ingwe POETRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

• A La Derive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Yacine Ndiaye Sow
CULTURAL IDENTITY
MINI YOWLEES • Dem A Bleach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Stephanie Grant

• Les Mini YOWLEEs Se Font Entendre:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75• Collage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Makini Boothe
Responsabilité des religieux dans la formation
de jeunes leaders au Sénégal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Selly Ba

LEADERSHIP
• Education: An Essential Element in Youth Leadership . . . . . . . . . . 80
Jemila Abdulai

• Continuity in Leadership: The Case for Mentorship . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Enala Mumba

• Women’s Leadership and Political Participation:

The South African Ambiguities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Kgomotso Mmalegae Moalusi

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 5
 Gender Equality

Women Political Participation :

A Reality Or An Elusion?

Ukwuagu Chioma
27 years
UNIFEM - Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria

The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of

Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) states
that State parties shall take all appropriate mea-
sures to eliminate discrimination against women in
the political and public life of the country and, in
particular, shall ensure to women on equal terms
with men, the right to vote in all elections and pu-
blic referenda and to be eligible for elections to all
publicly elected bodies; to participate in non-go-
vernmental organizations and associations concer-
ned with the public and political life of the country

The United Nations declarations are running non-governmental or-

and International conventions, of
which Nigeria is a signatory to, are
neither domesticated nor imple-
mented but just mere lip-service
and false promises.
Women in Nigeria, under the law
can vote and be voted for in any
elections in the country. However,
the realization of this statement is
very limited. In as much as women
in their own right participate and
ganizations concerned with the
public and political life of the
country, only few women are suc-
cessfully in top decision-making
positions. Women in Nigeria are
largely under represented at most
levels of government; which has
made little progress in attaining
political powers in legislative bo-
dies or in achieving 30% minimum
representation of women.
As a young Nigerian woman, I

YOWLI
6 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
have an interest in seeing that
women live above discrimi-
nations and attain high elec-
tive positions. This formed
the concern to understudy
and analyze the last general
elections in Nigeria. The ana-
lysis showed that no woman
was elected as governor of
any of the 36 states of the fe-
deration in 2007, while about
16 women contested. Only six
(6) women were successful as
Deputy Governors out of the
47 that contested. Fewer
women, (54) emerged as
members of House of Assem-
bly out of the 328 women that
contested in the 990 consti-
tuencies in the federation.
The Senate has 109 available
seats and only 9 were won by
women out of the 57 that
contested. Also in the House
of Representatives, which
have 360 seats, only 27
women were elected while
about 151 contested. No
woman emerged as president
or vice president, as the two
positions are perceived to be
for men only.
From the above analysis, one
can clearly see the power re-
lations that prevent women
from attaining elective posi-
tions, from the most personal
to the highly public. They are
discouraged from seeking po-
litical office by discriminatory
attitudes and practices; family
and child-care responsibili-
ties, and the high cost of see-
king and holding public office a country in general.
in Nigeria. The political ter-
rain is fraught with corrup- The way forward is for the
tion and violence; and many Nigerian government to place
women are discouraged to high priority in completing
participate. The socialization the process of full domestica-
and negative stereotyping of tion of CEDAW and ensure
women and men, including that the CEDAW provisions
stereotyping through the are given credence in Nige-
media reinforcing the ten- rian law before the next gene-
dency for political decision- ral elections in 2011. With this
making to remain the domain we can anticipate a better re-
of men. presentation of women in all
levels of government.
Following the analysis, Nige-
rian women are not really
emerging. It would be inte-
resting to note that Nigeria is
yet to implement the 30% Af-
firmative Action Measures, as
established by article 4
CEDAW, as a justifiable step
to bridge and redress the gla-
ring inequalities that are em-
bedded in our socio-cultural
settings. The irony still re-
mains that every year, despite
the level of discrimination;
the government presents its
masked-report to the United
Nations on their claimed im-
plementation of CEDAW.
In this respect, I strongly be-
lieve that women’s equal par-
ticipation in decision-making
is not only a demand for sim- Amazone du Roi Béhanzin
ple justice or democracy but du Danhomey
should also be seen as a ne- (actuel Bénin)
cessary condition for
women’s interests to be taken
into account. It would pro-
vide a balance that most ac-
curately reflects the
composition of a society and
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 7
 Gender Equality

A Time For Women

to Rise Up
Joan W. KARANJA
30 years
Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa
Kenya

Until the lions have their own historians,

tales of hunting will always
glorify the hunter – An African Proverb
(In the same way, until women recognize
and defend their own rights as women,
oppression and discrimination will always
be subjected upon them.)

In the Maasai community, the birth
of a baby boy is celebrated by the
whole community and a prime bull
is slaughtered by the fortunate son’s
father, in honor of his entry into the
community. In the same community,
at the birth of a baby girl, only the
women are allowed to sing celebra-
tory songs, and unlike her brother,
this beautiful African female child
will have no bull slaughtered in her
name. This attitude at birth marks
the beginning of gender inequality
that ascribes lower value to girls
and women’s opinions, views and
choices, eventually leading to une-
qual power and access to resources.
In the Kikuyu community, the Bantu
people of Central Kenya, a woman
has no right to inherit the property
of her late husband, and has no
claim on any of the wealth they
jointly created – this oppressive cus-
tom is still practiced today, in mo-
dern Kenya. The majority of the
people in the world living in abso-
lute poverty are women, and the
number has been rising steadily
over the last decade, perhaps even
longer. Even on a worldwide scale,
women on average earn less than
50% of what men earn (United Na-
tions led International Conference
on Population and Development –
ICPD).
In many rural communities in
Kenya, the choice to educate a girl is
often made with reluctance; the pre-
ference is always to send the “boy”
to school, while marrying off the
daughter for sheep or goats, or any
other kind of income. In situations
of teenage pregnancy, more often
than not, the girl bears her child,
and leaves school to grow up into
an uneducated adult, while the boy
who, is equally responsible conti-
nues with school and moves on
with his life. Girls across Africa and
other parts of the developing world
still face discrimination because of
ingrained cultural attitudes, early
marriages, pregnancies, in-accessi-
bility to schools, and inadequate
and gender-biased educational ma-
terials. (Beijing Platform for Action)
Women have a right to equal access
to education and training. The sup-
port for the education of women
and girls is critically important and
serves as a catalyst for building self
esteem and enabling women to rea-
lize their full potential.
Women’s mortality remains unac-
ceptably high in our societies today
owing to the lack of affordable
health care for women, lack of ap-
propriate and relevant information
on their reproductive health, expo-
sure to sexually transmitted di-
seases due to low empowerment to
make and affect decisions of their
sexuality, and high maternal morta-
lity as a result of the de-prioritiza-
tion of women’s health issues. The
problem is further compounded by
cultural traditions such as Female
Genital Mutilation, Early Marriage

YOWLI
8 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Practice and Wife Inheritance that
further disempowered women and
their right to autonomy over their
reproduction and sexuality which is
key to having control over the other
areas in one’s life. (United Nations
Population Fund – UNFPA)
All women have a right to the en-
joyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical, sexual and
mental health. (Beijing Platform for
Action) They further have a right to
control all aspects of their health.
This can be achieved by increasing
the access to health services (that
are appropriate and affordable) and
information (that is comprehensive,
complete and understandable) to all
women.
greater or lesser degree subjected
to physical, sexual and psychologi-
cal abuse that cuts across lines of in-
come, class and culture.
(International Conference on Popu-
lation and Development – Program
of Action. The sad reality is that wo-
men’s lives and potential continue
to be endangered by violence direc-
ted at them simply because they are
women. Furthermore, the lack of
action in most African countries,
against perpetrators of violence
(particularly domestic violence)
against women has resulted in
many women remaining silent
about their plight.
Women, just like any other member
of society have a right to safety and
security and protecting these rights
should be the priority of African go-
vernments and other stakeholders.
To achieve this, there is a need for
advocating for the full empower-
ment of women so that gender
equality in the work place and in in-
come generation can be achieved.
Every woman has a right to live a
life of fulfillment and work towards
living their dreams and achieving
their aspirations. As women in
Africa, it is our duty, right and res-
ponsibility to fight for our rights
and work towards greater equality
and respect for all African women.

AWOMI
Kenya has a population of close to
32 million, of which 60% are female.
However, in the country’s Legisla-
tive arm of leadership women oc-
cupy less than 10% of seats in the
parliament that decides their fate.
Although women have demonstra-
ted considerable leadership in com-
munity and informal organizations,
socialization and negative stereoty- TRAINERS
ping of women and men, including
stereotyping through media, rein- Hameda Deedat
forces the tendency for political de-
cision-making to remain the domain Nogaye Diop
of men. (International Conference Bintou Fall
on Population and Development – Yassine Fall
Program of Action). Naana Otoo-Oyortey
There is a great disparity in power Aminata Toure
between women and men in both Mariama Williams
private and public affairs. There is
further under-representation of
women in decision making posi-
BOARDS MEMBERS
tions in the areas of art, culture,
sports, media, education, religion Ndri Thèrèse Assié Lumumba
and law. This situation needs to be Mary V. Balicoungeri
addressed and actions taken to
Nafissatou Diouf
work towards equitable sharing of
power and leadership among Yassine Fall
women and men within family, Virginia Davis Floyd
community, national and internatio- Amina Ibrahim
nal levels. Mary Robinson
Violence against women exists in all Amélia Zawangone
socio-economic groups throughout
the world. Women and girls are to a

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 9
 Gender Equality

Femmes et Emigration :
Situation des Epouses
d’Emigrés Laissées au
Sénégal
Magatte Niang
25 ans - Sénégal

La question de l’émigration constitue un problème majeur dans les pays de l’ensemble de

la région africaine. Le phénomène s’est accentue de façon exponentielle a partir des
crises économiques cycliques qu’a connues le monde a partir des années 1970. Elle se tra-
duit de nos jours par un mouvement général d’émigration qui touche de façon inégale les
différentes couches sociales et les régions du Sénégal. La Vallée du fleuve Sénégal consti-
tuait à l'origine le principal bassin d'émigration. Aujourd’hui, un pourcentage significatif
d’émigrés, ou Modou Modou, viennent des régions centrales du pays (Louga et Diourbel)
les plus affectées par la crise agricole et de l’économie arachidière et partent a l’assaut de
l'espace Schengen et des Etats-Unis. La question essentielle est de savoir quelle est la si-
tuation vécue par les épouses d’émigrés laissées longtemps au pays ?

La réalité des femmes d’émigrés est
liée à des phénomènes de stigmatisa-
tions du fait des problèmes socio-éco-
nomiques qu’elles rencontrent presque
tous les jours.
Il ne se passe pas une journée sans
entendre un problème de viol, d’adul-
tère, de prostitution, de grossesse,
d’infanticide, d’autres formes de vio-
lence et de violations des droits en re-
lation avec les droits humains à l’égard
des épouses d’émigrés au Sénégal. Les
maris étant partis à l’étranger, les
femmes restent des années toutes
seules avec leurs enfants et gèrent
comme elles peuvent la lourde charge
de l’éducation des enfants, les sévices
et les caprices de la belle-famille, les
problèmes financiers etc. Malgré toute
leur responsabilité, elles sont confron-
tées à d’énormes problèmes. Le cas de
Khady est
Khady, une ma voisine
femme qui et mèreàde
habite deux
Louga
garçons, son mari est parti aux Etats-
est un exemple à méditer.
Unis depuis 10 ans. Fatiguée d’atten-
dre son époux depuis des années sans
argent et sans travail, elle a lié des re-
lations sentimentales et amicales avec
un homme. Elle dit que cet homme le
soutenait financièrement et morale-
YOWLI
10 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
ment. Elle allait souvent lui rendre vi-
site chez lui les après-midi. Consciente
des maladies sexuellement transmissi-
bles, elle entretenait néanmoins des re-
lations intimes avec son partenaire. Un
jour, elle est tombée enceinte par dé-
faut d’utilisation du préservatif avec
son partenaire. Se sentant responsable
de son acte, elle décide de l’avouer à
son mari. La réaction de ce dernier, in-
grate et irresponsable, il la répudie et
la jette à la porte avec ses deux en-
fants.
Au-delà de la situation de Khady, des
cas plus alarmants et choquants sont
relatés presque tous les jours par la
presse sénégalaise. On y accuse régu-
lièrement ces femmes d’avortements
ratés et d’infanticides sans jamais éta-
lés les raisons de ces faits. L’émission
télévisée de la RTS1 appelée « Ndiaga-
mar » sur les femmes des émigrés est
illustrative à cet effet. Cette émission
avait décidé d’organiser une enquête
pour que la population sénégalaise dé-
couvre la réalité que vivent ces femmes
emprisonnées au Camp Pénal de
Dakar. Elles racontaient qu’elles
avaient contracté une grossesse non
désirée dans le plus grand secret. Car
l'infidélité d'une femme mariée est très
mal vue, ce qui les oblige à cacher leur
ventre pendant neuf mois pour se dé-
barrasser de leur bébé après l'accou-
chement sans assistance. D’aucuns
étranglent leur bébé et d’autre les met-
tent dans des fosses septiques, et dé-
clarent que c'est un mort-né. Face à la
vigilance des médecins et des voisins,
ces femmes ont été dénoncées et arrê-
tées avant d'être placées sous mandat
de dépôt pour le délit d'infanticide. Ju-
gées à la Cour d'assises, les femmes
poursuivies pour le délit d'infanticide,
écopent pour la plupart de 5, 7 à 10
ans de prison ferme, si le délit est
avéré. Mais souvent elles bénéficient
de circonstances atténuantes à cause
de la solitude et des problèmes finan-
ciers causés par un mari trop loin et la
non assistance de la belle famille, suite
à une bonne plaidoirie de leurs avocats
ou même l'acquittement en quelques
occasions.
Nous pensons que, pour freiner cette
saignée migratoire et les situations
que vivent les épouses d’émigrer lais-
En
séesceauqui concerne
Sénégal, lesallons
nous Emigrés.
essayer
Nous leur disons
de proposer au moins
quelques d’investir
solutions.
sur leurs femmes en leur créant des
activités génératrices de revenus
pour qu’elles puissent assurer la re-
lève. Nous leur demandons égale-
ment de faire une introspection car
l’Europe ou les Etats-Unis ne son pas
un Eldorado.
En ce qui concerne les femmes
d’émigrés :
Nous leur disons aussi même de
prendre leurs propres responsabili-
tés avant que leurs maris ne partent
pour l’émigration. La religion musul-
mane interdit même aux hommes
d’abandonner leurs femmes au-delà
de six mois, sinon la femme a bel et
bien le droit de demander le divorce.
En d’autres termes nous leur disons
aussi d’avoir un pouvoir décision, de
connaître aussi leur droit au sein de
Mauritanie :
Le dilemme des femmes entre famille
et droit au travail
leur ménage. respectes dans leurs communautés
d’origine. Nous demandons égale-
En ce qui concerne l’Etat du Sénégal ment au gouvernement de créer des
: emplois pour les femmes et les
Nous lui demandons de créer des jeunes et de les assister car ce sont
politiques qui permettront à sa jeu- eux qui font le développement d’un
nesse d’avoir confiance en elle- pays.
même. Pour cela il doit mettre des En définitive, ces situations sont ex-
ressources là ou il faut afin que les trêmement douloureuses à vivre car
hommes restent travailler dans le ce ne sont pas toutes les femmes qui
pays au lieu d’aller émigrer dans les peuvent s’abstenir au moment où
pires conditions y compris dans la leurs maris sont à l’étranger. La
clandestinité, le drame des traversées femme a besoin d’un épanouissement,
océaniques qui se soldent par des d’assistance et d’affection. En tant
milliers de morts et les conditions que jeunes filles de YOWLI du Séné-
inhumaines et dégradantes de traver- gal nous devons lutter contre les
sée d’espaces adverses parsemes blâmes faits à l’égard des femmes.
d’embuches et de rapaces prêts a ex- Nous demandons aussi à ce que les
ploiter des emigres depouilles de droits des femmes soient respectés
leurs derniers deniers et de leur qua- car ils font partie des droits humains.
lité d’hommes et de femmes libres et
Fatma Fall et Fatou Binta Dieng
(Cooperative des femmes de Garack ; Mauritanie)

En Mauritanie, on distingue deux catégories de conjoint financièrement et matériellement. Les

femme au travail :
a) La femme en milieu urbain
b) La femme en milieu rural
La femme est au premier plan dans la vie familiale.
Un hommage mérité lui doit être rendu car elle a de
lourds fardeaux
Elle doit préparerfamiliaux.
l’enfant à bas age et devant aller
à la maternelle.
Elle doit également être prête à aller au travail à
l’heure d’embauche. De ce fait ; elle doit être très
forte sur pied ; mais aussi organiser à la maison
sans négliger le moindre détail. Au travail, elle doit
oublier la maison et s’acquitter comme il se doit de
ses responsabilités.
A la descente, elle peut avoir quelques achats à faire
pour la maison. De retour à la maison, bien qu’elle
ait droit au repos après une journée mouvementée,
elle doit s’occuper aussi bien du chef de famille que
des enfants.
Le cas est différent pour la femme en milieu rural,
qui manque de tout. Elle n’a pas de domestique pour
le ménage ou la cuisine. C’est elle qui cherche l’eau
au puit, prépare les enfants pour aller à l’école, orga-
nise la maison avant d’aller au travail. Dés son re-
tour du lieu de travail, elle n’a pas droit au repos ;
elle réorganise la maison en pensant au repas du
soir et peut être fait un tour au périmètre maraîcher
; elle ne reviendra que vers 19 ou 20 heures.
Une femme qui travaille présente des avantages sur
le plan socio-économique, car elle peut épauler son
femmes Mauritaniennes travaillent pour avoir le
maximum d’argent et faire face a leurs multiples be-
soins de base ainsi que ceux de leurs enfants et de la
communauté au sein de laquelle elle a des responsa-
bilités. On constate donc que la réussite familiale ré-
sulte en grande partie de la volonté des femmes. La
tache sera hardie, mais demeure noble. Il s’agira de
mener ses activités avec rigueur, noblesse, organisa-
tion et responsabilité. La femme qui travaille est un
vrai parcours du combattant. Personne ne peut
ignorer la place qu’occupe la femme aussi bien dans
le travail que dans la famille.
La femme Mauritanienne a su réaliser des avancées
non négligeables sur le plan du travail tout en
conservant son identité et ses valeurs de femmes
musulmane. Les excellents résultats obtenus par des
jeunes filles dans ce cursus scolaire et les expé-
riences professionnelles réussies de certains
femmes Mauritaniennes dans leur vie publique sont
autant de sources d’espoirs pour voir nos sœurs et
filles occuper d’avantage de positions stratégiques
et d’emplois dans notre chère patrie.
Nous saisissons cette occasion pour lancer un appel
à toutes les femmes Africaines et à la femme Mauri-
tanienne en particulier pour leur dire qu’il leur est
possible d’apporter leur pierre à l’édifice de libéra-
tion des femmes de l’exploitation et de l’oppression
aussi bien dans leur espace conjugal que dans
l’arène publique.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 11
 Gender Equality

Gender and Equality:

The View of a Disabled
Liberian Youth
Daintowon D. Pay-bayee
25 years
Association of Disabled Females International
Liberia

For many years now up until today, I have come to realize that many disa-
bled women and girls in particular are discriminated and stigmatized
against. Even though women in general are the most vulnerable group in
society, disabled women and girls are at a much higher risk of being
raped, poverty stricken, as well as suffer from lack of access to quality
health care services, quality education and in many communities are vie-
wed as a curse to society and are hence marginalized.

My story to you today is one held
most dear to my heart. As I tell it,
I speak not only on my own be-
half but also on behalf of my
friends with whom I share this
problem of being differently-
abled, most commonly referred to
as disability.
I became disabled as a result of
polio at the age of 5, having to
crawl on my knees up until the
age of 9 when Dad gave me a
stick to learn how to walk. One
day I dropped the stick and pla-
ced my left hand on my left thigh
and found that I could walk in this
manner. I have used this method
of walking since then.
Before this my mother had to
carry me on her back to the farm
during the civil crises at the time
while seeking refuge, and also to
school. She received from some
relatives and friends questions
like: “Why are you torturing your-
self for this crippled girl?”; “What
use will she be to you?”; “Will she
even remember your good
deeds?” and many other com-
ments like that.
I grew up in a community where
people described or addressed
me by my condition: “Are you
looking for Daintowon, that crip-
pled girl; she lives in that house.”
Even when having fun with
friends my disability is placed
right in the centre of matters.
“You crippled girl, what do you
say?” At school the experience
was the worst of all.
Through all these experiences, my
loving parents, especially my Dad,
stood by me. Today through their
efforts and support, I stand proud
as a Junior student at the Univer-
sity of Liberia. Although, I am still
experiencing a lot of discrimina-
tion and insensitivity, my focus is
on my studies with the belief that
one day soon I too will be reco-
gnized and respected as a contri-
buting member of society and a
role model for other disabled
youth and others.
The worse experience I ever had
was entering into a boy friend-girl
friend relationship; and what I
went through is a form of discri-
mination so hard to describe.
Really, Disabled woman, youth
and children experienced so
much from birth to adult, in fami-
lies, relationships, more vulnera-
ble to contracting HIV/AIDS,
denied of so many rights that are
God’s given, opportunity to serve
in Public (mainly Governmental)
and Private Offices and many
more on and on. Also, we have
great barrier with infrastructures
(such as steps, bathroom and si-
dewalk) that does not provide
proper and necessary access for
those with disability.

YOWLI
12 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute

Therefore, I am calling on:
Parents of the Disabled
to ensure quality educa-
tion (it is not a waste of re-
sources!) for their
children. They should
make them feel a part of
the family and seek their
opinions in decision ma-
king. This is the root of
good governance.
Citizens to ensure that
the disabled are accepted
loved and are important to
society. They should treat
disabled people equally as
they treat the non-disa-
bled.
The Government of Li-
beria (headed by Her Ex-
cellency Madam Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf) should
ratify those Laws adopted
by the United Nations, im-
plement the ones in the
Constitution and mainly,
The United Nations
Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabili-
ties and The Act on Disa-
bility in order to ensure
the full participation of di-
sabled women, youths
and children in all activi-
ties.
With collective efforts to
implement the Call for Ac-
tions, Disabled Women,
Youths and Children
shall be empowered edu-
cationally, economically,
politically, socially to rea-
lize their full potential and
make valuable contribu-
tions to society. They
should feel they are an in-
tegral part of society and
will gladly join every citi-
zen to say “Long Live Li-
beria Happy Land. A
Home of Glorious Liberty
By God’s Command.”
Gender -based Organizations and Policy Formulation :
A Ghanaian Perspective
For many years now up until today, I have come to realize that many
disabled women and girls in particular are discriminated and stig-
matized against. Even though women in general are the most vulne-
rable group in society, disabled women and girls are at a much
higher risk of being raped, poverty stricken, as well as suffer from
lack of access to quality health care services, quality education and
in many communities are viewed as a curse to society and are hence
marginalized.
Gender-based organizations (GBOs) in thout the proper support mechanism or
Ghana play two roles; one of holding such as sex and reproductive health
government accountable; the other, of support and education, exposes/ places
working with women around various these young women at risk to becoming
projects. In reality, however, they are fai- HIV/AIDS infected, STD’s and teenage
ling to realize both objectives. pregnancy. For those who are able to
Gender-based organizations in Ghana escape this lifestyle and do end up em-
are not performing their independent ployed, the conditions of employment
monitoring role of holding government due to their vulnerable circumstances is
accountable. Due to the lack of a system precarious, for instance they are made
of accountability for NGO’s in Ghana, a to carry heavy loads over long distances
mushrooming of NGOs has emerged insecure and earn a meager wage that
but few of these are taking up spaces to On theeven
cannot issuepay
of working withmeal.
for a decent women;
influence and advocate on policies and
legislation at the national and regional
level. This is particularly evident in the
social and economic policies, and in po-
licies pertaining to the rights or inte-
rests of girls and young women. There
is a complete disinterest in creating or
negotiating spaces or an enabling envi-
ronment to promote the economic and
social rights of girls and women. This
has led to the situation of mistrust and
lack of credibility of these institutions. Dorothy Aawulenaa
A specific case in a point has been 27; Center for Sustainable Devlt.
around the issues of International Mo- Ghana
netary Fund (IMF) and World Bank
economic policies that have led to libe- GBOs develop programmes focusing on
ralization and privatization of goods elderly women in rural communities
and services. These policies have wor- and others that support women to be
sened the plight of the already vulnera- able to access agricultural processing
ble, including young Ghanaian women, machinery and needed funding through
especially in Northern Ghana. The lack Micro-Credit Schemes. The programs
of will on the part of government to ad- however, do not make any attempt to
dress the abject poverty gripping the target young women and as such do not
country and rural areas in particular, create conditions for them to participate
has resulted in young women of Nor- in economic activities, nor do they
thern Ghana (at least 31.4%), being for- create the necessary spaces in which
ced to migrate to urban cities in search young women can advocate for their
of employment opportunities. Many of rights. This has created levels of des-
these women rarely find the needed em- pondency and mistrust to the extent that
ployment, but in fear of returning to GBOs are being accused of ’amassing’
se e n ext pag e
worse situations in the rural areas, they
L'institut
YOWLI 13
choose to remain in the cities pour
and l’éducation
are des jeunes femmes au leadership
eventually forced into prostitution. Wi-
 Gender Equality

wealth under the umbrella of 'advocating for women's

rights'. Added to this misperception is that those em-
ployed by these organizations are ‘wealthy’.
Issues such as prostitution and the vulnerability of
women to HIV-AIDS, among other poverty related is-
sues as some of the key sectors that NGOs need to
focus attention. However, their focus has been limited
to that of agricultural sector where the possibility of ac-
cessing funds is much easier. The lack of accountability
and mechanisms to ensure that NGO’s take up their
role as advocacy groups allows for this circumstances,
and civil society by and large are currently making no
attempt to change it. As a result organisations who ob-
tain funding have a tendency to misrepresent what hey
are doing and in many instances exaggerate. Their be-
neficiaries are either too complacent or too grateful for
what is being done and do not hold them accountable.
Donors providing the funding have the same lax atti-
tude further exacerbating the complacency. It is thus
not surprising when reading the annual reports of seve-
ral NGO’s that while they claim to account, explained
and disseminated information to the women they work
with, this is not being done in practice. The clear lack of
accountability and transparency is most vividly illustra-
ted by the presentation of information in their annual
report which has very limited or no information on the
financial aspects of organizations.
It is notable that in most countries gender based orga-
nizations, by their very nature act as agents of change
for the betterment of the population at large and
women and young girls in particular. They do so
through actively participating in advocacy activities to
influence government policies, to create an enabling
non hostile, legislative, regulatory environment for wo-
men’s participation. Currently this situation seems
unattainable in Ghana. A decisive change of heart and
strong political will on the part of civil society to pres-
sure NGO’s for accountability and who in turn will hold
government accountable. On the part of government
the need for effective monitoring systems and active
monitoring and evaluation criteria on the part of donor
agencies is critical. Concerted effort must be made to
capacitate the youth through directing their funds to-
wards building their capacity which in turn will empo-
wer them to act as agents of change. This will also
ensure a better future for our societies, especially for
young girls, who once empowered will advocate for
their rights on social and economic issues.
I urge all young women, especially those from Nor-
thern Ghana to take up the challenge and through ac-
tive engagement, vigorous networking and an
intensification of advocacy activities on issues that im-
pact their lives at both the on national and international
level. Young women rise and take up the fight against
discrimination against women, and pursue our govern-
ments to ratify the human rights instruments that en-
sure the rights of women and ensure their full
domestication into national laws for the attainment of
substantive equality.
Dorothy Aawulenaa (29, Ghana), Bsc in Community
YOWLI
Nutrition,
14 The YoungUniversity for Development
Women Knowledge Studies
and Leadership (Ghana):
Institute
Works with the Centre for Sustainable Development
Initiatives-CENSUDI.
 Discriminação de gênero
e valores culturais
Isaura Ligia Correia Chirindza
20 years - YOWLI (Mozambique)

Em todas as nações do mundo os valores e costumes determinam os lu-

gares sociais ocupados por homens e mulheres. Na África e, em Mocam-
bique em particular, não é diferente. Em diferentes sectores da sociedade
é possível perceber a desigualdade nas relações de gênero. O artigo a se-
guir apresenta como se expressam essas diferenças em alguns setores im-
portantes da sociedade moçambicana e a conseqüência dessa
diferenciação para mulheres e homens.

A discriminação começa na escolha
do nome das crianças. O nome si-
gnifica a expectativa dos pais em re-
lação ao filho. Em certas regiões
moçambicanas, os nomes dados as
meninas e aos meninos reproduzem
a percepção do lugar da mulher e do
homem. Os nomes das meninas são
relacionados a beleza e o amor, por
exemplo, Nheleti que significa Es-
trela em Changana - língua local -, já
os nomes dos rapazes são relaciona-
dos com animais ferozes e perigo-
sos, por exemplo, Nguenha - que
significa crocodilo. Isso mostra que
desde o nascimento, as crianças são
ensinadas que o homem é sempre
Quando falamos do acesso
mais forte.
à educação, a situação não é dife-
rente. Os pais perante a decisão de
quem matricular na escola priorizam
sempre os meninos porque estudar
significa desenvolvimento pessoal e
familiar e preparação para o futuro.
Considerando que o habitual é a
mulher sair de casa para casar e ser-
vir a outra família, enquanto que o
rapaz, na maioria das vezes, trás a
sua esposa para morar na casa dos
pais dele, o desenvolvimento deve
permanecer na família de origem
dos filhos. Isso significa que se a
mulher estuda quem vai se benefi-
ciar do desenvolvimento é a outra
família e não a família dela.
Parte da identidade dos moçambica-
nos e das moçambicanas, a religião
reproduz as discriminações de gê-
nero. As estruturas religiosas defen-
dem que a liderança destas seja
atribuída aos homens e o trabalho
voluntário de cozinhar e fazer limpe-
zas e das mulheres porque para os
líderes religiosos o homem é a ca-
beça e a mulher é a serva.
Outra esfera importante da socie-
dade diz respeito ao lugar ocupado
por mulheres e homens na produ-
ção mundial e sub-sahariana. A par-
tir dos dados das Nações Unidas e
da Comissão Económica para
África, Isabel Maria Casimiro - In-
vestigadora do Centro de Estudos
Africanos na Universidade Eduardo
Mondlane-, constatou que as mul-
heres possuem 1% das riquezas
mundiais, recebem 0,1% do salário
mundial, trabalham 2/3 das horas de
trabalho à nível mundial e compõem
2/3 dos analfabetos do planeta. À
nível da África sub-sahariana, as
mulheres constituem entre 60% e
80% da forca agrícola, são responsá-
veis por cerca de 100% da confecção
da comida, recolha de água e lenha,
apesar das leis internacionais sobre
direitos humanos garantirem a
igualdade sem distinção de raça, gé-
nero, etnia etc.
Vale destacar que quando compara-
mos o trabalho exercido por ho-
mens e mulheres na África
sub-sahariana, as mulheres realizam
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
praticamente 100% de todo o tra-
balho doméstico, para além de qual-
quer outra ocupação fora de casa,
chefiam 30% das famílias na África
sub-sahariana, na prática, mas não
de jure (ou seja, não são reconheci-
das como tal) e recebem 3/4 dos sa-
lários dos homens.
Outro aspecto relevante para a eco-
nomia e a vida dos moçambicanos e
das moçambicanas é o acesso dife-
renciado as políticas de saúde, mais
fortemente quando falamos de DSTs
e HIV/SIDA. A desigualdade de
poder entre o homem e mulher res-
tringe a autonomia sexual das mul-
heres e raparigas contribuindo para
o aumento da vulnerabilidade ao
HIV/SIDA em relação ao homem.
Esta situação de discriminação de
género e de facto muito preocu-
pante. É urgente a reflexão coletiva
sobre isso e emergente a necessi-
dade de encontrar formas de rever-
ter essa situação, pois só assim
conseguiremos desenvolver o
mundo e também reduzir o índice
de seroprevalência.
A partir dos dados e informações
apresentadas pode-se perceber que
as diferenciações entre mulheres e
homens têm como conseqüência as
discriminações de género que conti-
nuam mantendo as mulheres em
desvantagem nos diferentes setores
da sociedade.
YOWLI 15
 Gender Equality
Le leadership féminin :
un élan à ne pas freiner
Nimatoulaye DIALLO
26 ans YOWLI - (Guinée Conakry)
En Guinée, la situation de la
femme en terme de respect de ses
droits socio- économiques et cultu-
rels n’est point effective. La popu-
lation étant composée de plus de
52% de femmes, le pays a besoin
des potentialités de celles-ci dans
tous les domaines de développe-
ment de son capital national. De-
puis l’avènement de la deuxième
République (1984-1994), nous
avons eu un constat amer du fait
que la femme guinéenne était
beaucoup plus représentée dans
les travaux ménagers qu’ailleurs.
La question du leadership féminin
bien que largement étudiée est
toujours d’actualité en raison du
contexte social défavorable et de la
persistance de la sous représentati-
vité des femmes dans les postes
de responsabilité. Dans un pays où
le droit, la culture et la tradition
sont de nature à compromettre
l’exercice du leadership féminin,
les actions et initiatives de la
femme doivent être un combat de
tous les jours pour être soutenues
et encouragées.
Le leadership ne s’improvise pas,
mais il se construit dans le temps
et dans l’espace. C’est pourquoi les
femmes doivent s’outiller pour
avoir le bagage nécessaire afin de
prétendre légitimement accomplir
le même type de taches que leurs
confrères masculins, reconnaître
qu’elles ont en elles un capital en
matière de leadership qu’elles peu-
vent valoriser et imposer.
Il n’est donc plus question de s’ac-
commoder de la ¨supériorité¨ des
hommes comme s’ils avaient des
YOWLI
16 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
compétences exceptionnelles inac- on peut le devenir, il suffit de sti-
cessibles à la gente féminine. Un muler l’élan de certaines jeunes
philosophe du 18eme siècle disait filles qui en manifestent les atouts.
:« les trois bastions qui restent à
conquérir par les femmes sont : la L’amélioration de la représentati-
liberté, l’accès au savoir, l’accès vité des femmes dans les sphères
aux responsabilités ». de décision est possible à la seule
. condition que les femmes s’inves-
Jadis, la faible présence des tissent et qu’elles aient confiance
femmes dans les postes de respon- en elles, car la confiance en soi est
sabilité pouvait être expliquée par un besoin indispensable pour tout
la difficile conciliation entre travail être humain, surtout pour celles
et famille des femmes, la discrimi- qui ont la prétention d’évoluer.
nation envers elles (sélection) et le Cela améliorera véritablement l’ac-
« plafond de verre » (expression si- croissement quantitatif et qualitatif
gnifiant la frontière invisible inhé- de leur représentativité dans la so-
rente à la structure ciété et par conséquent pour un
organisationnelle qui crée obstacle changement tout aussi positif.
à l’avancement des femmes dans Les politiques nationales et inter-
les organisations). nationales devraient mettre en
Toutefois, il y a eu des femmes qui, place des stratégies pour la pro-
malgré le climat non propice à une motion des jeunes filles en vue
émergence féminine ont prouvées d’un changement des mentalités.
qu’elles pouvaient avoir de bonnes
initiatives, les mettre en oeuvre et
aussi accéder à de hauts postes de
responsabilités. A ce titre, nous
avons Madame Jeanne Martin
Cisse, première femme africaine à
représenter un Etat au Conseil de
sécurité de l’ONU (Guinée Cona-
kry) ; Françoise Foning, Présidente
mondiale des femmes chefs d’en-
treprises (Cameroun), le Réseau
des Femmes du Fleuve Mano River
pour la Paix (REFMAP) en collabo-
ration avec les jeunes, lutte pour la
paix dans les conflits armés, le
YOWLI qui veut propulser les
jeunes filles en renforçant leurs ca-
pacités afin qu’elles puissent deve- Femme Peulh
nir de véritables leaders. Tout cela du Fouta Djalon
montre la capacité d’émergence
On peut naître leader mais aussi
des femmes.
Does Customary Law Protect
Or Violate Rights Of Women
In Africa?

Many African countries have traditional rules, norms and cus-

toms which govern their daily lives. Some of these are appro-
ved by legislation and some are accepted by the community
themselves but all are regarded as customary laws.
Some of these customary laws are good in practice but many
violate the rights of women and the youth in matters such as
marriage, inheritance and the right to property ownership.
There is also the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), di-
vorce and welfare of children.
Shawana Soud
(Tanzania)

Customary laws are practiced in
terms of social aspects and are
mostly overseen by community
leaders like chiefs and religious
leaders. Some of these laws vio-
late the rights of young women
due to misconception and the
belief that the practice is better
for the lives of young women.
Most African communities allow
marriage for girls below 18 years
of age. Situations like this limit a
lot of opportunities to the girls
including education and beco-
ming professionals. Health wise,
it makes the girls more vulnera-
ble to cases like fistula.
Customary laws exclude women
from inheritance and do not give
right to property ownership ei-
ther in their families or the hus-
bands family. For example, when
the father dies, all property goes
to the sons and daughters get
nothing.
The situation is the same if the
husband dies and leaves a
widow. How can Africa women FGM Practice is also among the
survive under these situations? customs of many African com-
How can we meet our goals if munities. It is all about the cus-
some people take away our basic tomary laws that is not religious,
rights. Can we afford to meet that legalize FGM. How can peo-
our necessities? Women as ple legalize FGM while it causes
much pain to the girl in term of
human beings have the same
disease, continuous bleeding
rights as men and we should get and even loss of life?
our share of inheritance as men
do. Practice of some customary laws
In some customs, it can be hap- results in violation of our rights
pen that when the husband dies, and reinforces vulnerability. It
the brother of the deceased has can also cause a rise of HIV in-
the chance to inherit the wife of fections and Poverty.
his deceased brother. It does not
matter whether the widow Our government and religious
agrees or not as she is taken to leaders are responsible for these.
be property. This is difficult for Non-governmental organiza-
young women. How can I live tions also have great responsibi-
with a man not of my choice? lity to make sure that those
How can I enjoy life and share customary laws, which violate
love with him? In such situa- the rights of young African
tions, if the woman or young girl women are abolished.
refuses to marry her brother in
law, the community will regard
her as a sinner and punish her or
even kill her.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 17
 Gender Equality

Young Women Organise for Social

Transformation
women’s prescribed roles as wives and
Feminist analysis recognises the fundamental premise mothers. Debates and policy recommenda-
of patriarchal power as the denial and suppression of tions are situated within safe zones, evol-
women’s naming and controlling their bodies for their ving largely around what is culturally
sanctioned and permissible. ‘Rights’ conti-
own joy and nurturing. This is why it is necessary for nue to be explored within parameters of
young women to engage and organize for social cultural prescriptions about women’s roles
change. The YOWLI -Zimbabwe focus for 2008-2010 and bodies, and fail to address the patriar-
chal tendencies that promote sexual domi-
is to enhance young women’s access to Sexual and
nation over, and deny women control over
Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information their bodies and sexuality.
that empowers them to make informed choices about The YOWLI-Zimbabwe response is based
their reproductive and sexual lives. on women’s rights to choices and sexual
freedoms. It entails an exploration of fun-
damental issues of abortion, sexual orienta-
mYOWLI offers that space for us to criti- struggle with debt payment. These initia- tion, pleasure, and the fight for freedom
cally analyze our lived realities, articulate tives wretch rather than heal our econo- from coercion, violence or punishment as
our needs and aspiration, and take critical mies, and account for the widening gap means of sexual surveillance. We promote
steps towards social transformation. We between the world’s richest and the young women’s appreciation of the inter-
recognize with concern that availability, ac- world’s poorest. linkages between sex, sexuality and the
cessibility and affordability of quality overall political discourse around owner-
In Zimbabwe, for example, SAPs resulted
healthcare in Zimbabwe remain a difficult ship, power and control over resources
the rolling back of the welfare state, which
challenge, given the economic crisis that and opportunities. Building young
accelerated the downward spiral in key so-
has crippled the healthcare delivery sys- cial indicators, particularly in health and in Talent Jumo
tem. Our generation inherits a socio-eco- education. At the same time, trade liberali- 27 years YOWLI
nomic order that is punctuated by gross zation unleashed competition that further (Zimbabwe)
inequalities between and within nations. depressed the local economy. Today, turna-
Patriarchal hegemonies overshadow our round of the economy remains an elusive
agency, and continue to undo many of the dream - unemployment / poverty continue
gains that women achieved over the past to rise.
three decades.
The current socio-economic order presents The SAP-factor, coupled with retrogressive
a threat to women’s rights. As right wing and reactionary policies like the ‘Gag rule’
academics and the media continue to en- and PEPFAR that promote the abstinence
gage in hegemonic discourse under globa- only messages, fail to recognize our lived
lization, it has become blatantly clear that realities, and undermine women’s ability to
the systems of colonial and imperial pa- access quality sexual and reproductive
triarchal power continue to define the rea- health care and services. Life expectancy
lities within which we live and struggle. for females in Zimbabwe for example is
International conventions and systems that 34years; the lowest in the world, according women’s inner strength and determination
shape the policies and govern the world to WHO. This can be attributed to the femi- to navigate vigilantly the possibilities of
continue to be gender biased, trampling on nization of poverty and HIV & AIDS. more dignified and meaningful lives for
the rights and dignity of women and girls Meanwhile, government led approaches women, both in the private and public
of the economic South. fail to recognise and respond to the socio- spheres; is our core. Inner strength as a po-
Sadly, there still exists triumphalist rhetoric cultural factors that deepen women and litical resource enables young women to
of globalization within two-thirds of the girls’ vulnerability to AIDS; in particular assume greater control over their bodies
world. Yet, under a free market system, the gender, sex and sexuality perspectives. and sexualities. This process has enabled
public resources are not mobilized in fa- HIV & AIDS is treated in isolation, and us to discover the reservoirs of personal
vour of the people. In Africa for example, broader SRHR issues have been pushed to and political courage that lies within us, in-
Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) the margins. Civil society organisations dividually and collectively to fight for what
emphasized market liberalization and pri- that seem to ‘incorporate’ SRHR into their lies beyond oppressive social systems and
vatization, giving way to Transnational programmes have also tended to focus on circumstances, to fight against the roles
Companies that continue to siphon re- particular mainstream issues such as re- patriarchal powers, have institutionalized
sources and profits out of Africa to Europe. production, i.e. family planning, and dis- as the norm for us as women.
Meanwhile, African countries continue to courses framed within hetero-normative
YOWLI
18 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
sexual relationships, putting emphasis on
 Gender and economic and
social rights
Wesam Hassan
(Egypt)
As a young woman residing in a de-
veloping country under a regime
whose governance is conservative, I
realize that the role and opportunity
for women to participate even at
community level is limited. This is
particularly true in decision making
processes that pertain to develop
sensitive issues relating to the re-
productive rights and sexual health
of women. In many instances reli-
gion, conflated with inherited rarely
questioned traditions and norms are
used to explain or justify women’s
exclusion, from these process. Ho-
wever, closer scrutiny of this ratio-
nale reveals that the justification to
be more the misuse and misinter-
pretation of religion by men rather
than scripture. This conservative
and sexist view of women is incor-
porated into the socialization pro-
cesses of my society with the result
that young women like me are per-
ceived as naive, inexperienced and
unknowledgeable. This perception
is perpetuated by cultural norms
and traditions among women which
result in women being viewed as
helpless individuals with no power
or the rights to stand for what they
want, and what they believe in. The
situations for women in rural areas
are even worse since they struggle
to access information. This lack of
access creates an even greater vul-
nerability to all these beliefs.
Young people and young women in
particular remain underrepresented
in my society and are absent from
top-level positions. As such the
voices and aspirations of young
Egyptians or the youth (both men
and women) are largely unheard.
Like in most countries the voices
and rights to access social services
and productive resources are diffe-
rent between men and women, with
women accessing far less. For e.g.:
• Women remain vastly under-re-
presented in national and local as-
semblies, accounting for less than
10 percent of the seats in national
parliaments.
• In most low-income countries,
girls are less likely to attend school
than boys even when girls start
school at the same age as boys,
• Girls are more likely to drop out
due to early pregnancy early mar-
riage, or various forms of violence
against them in many forms often
due to the lack of access to repro-
ductive health services.)
The possibilities for change are fast
becoming a reality with the shared
understanding and realization wi-
thin the development community
that if they do not change their de-
velopment policies and actions to
take gender inequality into account
it will have serious cost implications
for them. For example, during the
second half of the 20th century, the
primary enrollment rates of girls
just about doubled in South Asia,
and Africa, rising faster than boy’s
enrollment rates. And women’s life
expectancy increased by 15-20 years
in developing countries. Also, one
of the main findings of the Arab
Human Development Report 2002 is
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
that the low empowerment of
women is one of three deficits
which have seriously hampered
human development in the region
over the last three decades. Thus, an
approach to development that
strives to increase gender equality
has high payoffs for human well-
being. Investing in young people is
also a great step to ensuring sustai-
nable and effective solutions. Inte-
grating the youths’ perspectives
into the decision-making process
will also help in building leaders of
tomorrow. I believe that the human,
social, and economic development
of Africa really depends on young
people feeling of part of the deve-
lopment process.
Ignoring gender disparities comes
at great cost to People’s well-being
and to countries’ abilities to grow
sustainably, to govern effectively,
and thus to reduce poverty. But ef-
fective action requires also that poli-
cymakers take account of local
realities when designing and imple-
menting policies and programs.
Identifying what works requires
consultations with stakeholders
both women and men on key issues
and actions. This points to the fact
that to enhance development effec-
tiveness, gender issues must be an
integral part of policy analysis,
YOWLI 19
 HIV/AIDS: GENOCIDAL TRENDS

Robbed of Motherhood

Esther Sheehama
26 years
International Community of Women Living with HIV
(Namibia)

My name is Esther Sheehama and I am a 26 year-old Namibian who has been li-
ving with HIV for as long as
I can remember. I have been called names by people
I trusted, I have been denied my right to freedom of expression and in some ins-
tances, decisions have been taken without my consent, as with the case where
I found out a few months after giving birth by caesarian section I discovered I
had been sterilized without my consent. My situation is one of several where the
rights of HIV-positive women are ignored, and nobody is held responsible.

Being HIV-positive does not mean
I am incapable of bearing and
bringing up children, or that I am
any different from HIV-negative
women with regards to my child-
bearing capabilities. HIV-positive
women have equal rights to health
and the right to freedom from dis-
crimination. Indeed, some HIV-po-
sitive individuals might want to
have children. But more often than
not the question we are asked is
who will take care of the children
when you die? We live in a world
where people die day in and day
out from different ailments and in-
fections, why should there be so
much stigmatization surrounding
HIV-positive individuals?
The 1994 International Conference
on Population and Development
(ICPD) affirmed sexual and repro-
ductive health as human rights
that must be fully enjoyed by all.
In the 2005 World Summit on
HIV/AIDS, world leaders commit-
ted to increasing support for
HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment
and care and the Namibian go-
vernment recently agreed on the
Millennium Development Goals
that address women’s reproductive
health rights. Human rights are es-
20
YOWLI
sential to promoting
The Young genderand
Women Knowledge equa-
Leadership Institute
lity and reproductive rights. Cur-
rent situations indicate that wo-
men’s health and rights are rarely
included in the political agenda of
countries, or in the cases where
they are mentioned are rarely im-
plemented. Our governments have
a duty to uphold the treaties they
have signed on women’s health
rights. They must allocate financial
resources and put in place mea-
sures to implement existing laws,
programs and policies as well as
mechanisms to ensure their enfor-
cement.
Sexual and Reproductive rights are
founded on the principal of human
dignity and freedom and include;
the right to sexual and reproduc-
tive health care and the right to
making personal decisions with re-
gards to sexual and reproductive
health. The Namibian government
developed a policy and legal fra-
mework called the Namibian
HIV/AIDS Charter of Rights in
2000. The Charter recognizes that
people living with HIV/AIDS live
with stigma and discrimination
which stops them from accessing
benefits. The Charter prohibits dis-
crimination, calls for the right to
confidentiality, women’s empower-
ment, the right to prevention and
treatment and tackles minors’
rights.
( ref: Centre for Reproductive
Rights, 2006, Gaining Ground: A
Tool for advancing Reproductive
Rights Law Reform).
In spite of signing onto the Charter
which seeks to tackle discrimina-
tion against HIV -positive persons
and making provisions in the Na-
mibian constitution for the promo-
tion of equality, the reality for
HIV-positive women in Namibia is
that they are not treated equally as
their HIV-negative counterparts.
We demand answers from the Na-
mibian government! The issue of
forced sexuality is a major concern
for particularly young women and
should not be ignored. What is the
community doing about it? What’s
the church’s action on forced steri-
lization and how are HIV-negative
women helping? Doctors who do
forced sterilization need to be
made accountable to the commu-
nity since they work under the di-
rection of higher authorities.
Tears run down my face each night I think about the fact
that I will not be able to have another child and all I can
do is wipe my tears away because I am not allowed to
speak against the injustices that happened to HIV-posi-
tive women such as me. I am sure that there are several
other women who have to wipe their tears each night
they contemplate their lack of rights and the lack of wo-
men’s rights in general. When we look around us we see
the pain that most women go through yet no one wants
to be responsible for the damage that is done. Even
women in decision-making positions see the pain and in-
justice that exists but they choose to be silent and cry be-
hind closed doors. Women living with HIV and AIDS
must be guaranteed respect, dignity, and equal opportu-
nities to enjoy their sexual and reproductive health rights
including the right to enjoy motherhood without discri-
mination.
I am encouraged and inspired by the training given
under the YOWLI framework and the level of attention
given to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Through the program I have encountered at least one
woman who chooses not to wipe her tears behind closed
doors at the injustices pertaining to HIV-positive women
but instead takes constructive strides to fight against
those injustices.

Sénégal : VIH/SIDA et émigration

Le Sénégal possède un taux de prévalence du

VIH/Sida faible par rapport à celui des autres pays de
l’Afrique subsaharienne. Selon l’ONUSIDA en 1999
moins de 2% de la population adulte était porteuse du
VIH/Sida par rapport à prés de 9% de la population
adulte subsaharienne. Malgré ce faible taux de préva-
lence, le sida se rencontre plus dans certaines régions
Ndèye Astou Aw
(Sénégal )
que dans d’autres. Par exemple, le nord du Sénégal,
zone d’où viennent bon nombre d’émigrés renferme
le plus grand nombre de personnes vivant avec le VIH
au Sénégal.

Ceci nous amène à soulever la ques-
tion de la corrélation entre les zones
migratoires les plus affectées et la
progression de la pandémie si-
déenne. En effet, les études dernière-
ment effectuées ont montré que la
migration pourrait constituer une
menace d’augmentation de la popu-
lation séropositive. Les travailleurs
clandestins font partie des groupes
les plus exposés à la transmission du
VIH/Sida. Selon une étude réalisée il
y a 10 ans par Fadel Kane et ses col-
lègues, 27% des travailleurs mi-
grants hommes revenus de
l’étranger était porteurs du VIH/Sida
par rapport à 1% d’hommes non mi-
grants. De plus, une étude plus ré-
cente faite à Matam (région du nord
du Sénégal) révèle que 40% des
hommes qui ont émigré dans les
pays africains à forte séroprévalence
signalent avoir eu un comportement
sexuel à risque de retour au foyer. En
plus bon nombre d’émigrés après
plusieurs années à l’étranger et une
fois revenus chez eux n’ont pas re-
cours aux préservatifs et font ainsi
office de passerelle du VIH/Sida qui
passe ainsi des pays endémiques aux
pays les moins touchés. D’ailleurs en
2001 lors d’une série d’entretien or-
ganisée au Fouta (Matam) une
femme de 22 ans décrivait ainsi la
transmission du VIH/Sida : « les
hommes émigrent et ont des com-
portements sexuels non protégés et
irresponsables avec des femmes sé-
ropositives. Ils contractent ainsi le
VIH/Sida et une fois de retour au
pays le transmette à leurs épouses
ou épousent des jeunes filles vierges.
Lorsqu’elle meurt son époux se re-
marie et le transmet à d’autres et
ainsi de suite ». Donc l’émigration
des hommes vers d’autres pays le
plus souvent endémiques constitue
un réel facteur de risque de propa-
gation de la maladie, et entraine
même une féminisation de la mala-
die.
Cependant il nous faut préciser que
les travailleurs migrants ne sont pas
les seuls responsables de cette mala-
die chez leurs épouses. En effet bon
nombre de femmes d’émigrés après
plusieurs années d’absence de leur

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 21
 HIV/AIDS: GENOCIDAL TRENDS

Ceci nous amène à soulever la ques-
tion de la corrélation entre les zones
migratoires les plus affectées et la
progression de la pandémie si-
déenne. En effet, les études dernière-
ment effectuées ont montré que la
migration pourrait constituer une
menace d’augmentation de la popu-
lation séropositive. Les travailleurs
clandestins font partie des groupes
les plus exposés à la transmission du
VIH/Sida. Selon une étude réalisée il
y a 10 ans par Fadel Kane et ses col-
lègues, 27% des travailleurs mi-
grants hommes revenus de
l’étranger était porteurs du VIH/Sida
par rapport à 1% d’hommes non mi-
grants. De plus, une étude plus ré-
cente faite à Matam (région du nord
du Sénégal) révèle que 40% des
hommes qui ont émigré dans les
pays africains à forte séroprévalence
signalent avoir eu un comportement
sexuel à risque de retour au foyer. En
plus bon nombre d’émigrés après
plusieurs années à l’étranger et une
fois revenus chez eux n’ont pas re-
cours aux préservatifs et font ainsi
office de passerelle du VIH/Sida qui
passe ainsi des pays endémiques aux
pays les moins touchés. D’ailleurs en
2001 lors d’une série d’entretien or-
ganisée au Fouta (Matam) une
femme de 22 ans décrivait ainsi la
transmission du VIH/Sida : « les
hommes émigrent et ont des com-
portements sexuels non protégés et
irresponsables avec des femmes sé-
ropositives. Ils contractent ainsi le
VIH/Sida et une fois de retour au
pays le transmette à leurs épouses
ou épousent des jeunes filles vierges.
Lorsqu’elle meurt son époux se re-
marie et le transmet à d’autres et
ainsi de suite ». Donc l’émigration
des hommes vers d’autres pays le
plus souvent endémiques constitue
un réel facteur de risque de propa-
gation de la maladie, et entraine
même une féminisation de la mala-
die.
Cependant il nous faut préciser que
les travailleurs migrants ne sont pas
les seuls responsables de cette mala-
die chez leurs épouses. En effet bon
nombre de femmes d’émigrés après
plusieurs années d’absence de leur
mari s’abandonnent au travail du
sexe pour pouvoir survivre et nourrir
leurs enfants. Par exemple selon le
chercheur Christophe Saez dans la
ville de Richard Toll (ville au nord du
Sénégal dans la région de Saint
Louis) beaucoup de femmes se ren-
dent en ville prétextant vendre du
lait pour y vendre leurs charmes.
Cette situation est vraiment alar-
mante. Et si l’état du Sénégal ne réa-
git pas ou en tout cas pas assez c’est
à nous jeunes et en tant que YOWLI
de mettre en œuvre des initiatives vi-
sant à éduquer ; informer et sensibi-
liser les gens à respecter le droit des
femmes à la protection. Il faudrait
également que l’information puisse
arriver jusqu’au niveau de ces émi-
grés afin de venir en aide à ces po-
pulations et mettre fin à ce
phénomène.

Malawi:
Gender, Society and the
HIV/AIDS Epidemic

In Malawian Society, there is a higher tendency
of boys getting educated than girls. The ratio-
nale behind this is that girls are meant for mar-
riage, and education is not needed for them to
fulfill their domestic responsibilities. This bias to-
wards girls is not only found in education but is
a general tendency in other aspects of society. As
such the Malawian society does not advocate for
the equal rights of girls in society, and in deci-
sion making processes. This discrimination and
unequal treatment of women is particularly stri-
king considering that women constitute over
60% of the Malawian population, an estimated
number of 13 Million. Gender analysis of the Ma-
lawian society; illustrate the multitude of inequa-
lities throughout the society, especially with
regard to women. For example when comparing
the literacy rates between men and women, the
rate for women is much lower. Women also indi-
cate a higher percentage of HIV/AIDS infections
and lower self esteem as compared to men.
Women are uninformed about their rights and

YOWLI
22 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
are unaware that their rights are en-
compassed within the human rights en-
shrined in the Malawian constitution.
Despite Malawi being a signatory to a
number of protocols that call for the ad-
vancement of women in society, the go-
vernment has made no attempt to
integrate the rights of women into its Steve Binali
policies. Some examples to protocols (25 ; Malawi)
which Malawi has signed on are: The
Convention on the Elimination of Dis-
crimination against Women (CEDAW) –
The Beijing Platform, the Southern
Africa Development Community
(SADC) Protocol which calls for 30% representation of women in positions of in-
fluence etc.
An acute absence of women’s representation and participation is prevalent on the
governmental levels including parastatal bodies, parliament representation, local
assemblies etc. A direct consequence of this is that women remain unable to exer-
cise their rights, or exert any influence in the creation and implementation of poli-
cies. Their lack of participation in government is further exacerbated by low
education levels, lack of capacity and unavailable resources. This means that they
are not sufficiently represented in the socio-economic spheres of Malawi. This has
particularly impacted women especially with regards to HIV/AIDS Policies, the
treatment of HIV positive women, and young girls and the access to treatment by
women and young girls.
The vulnerability of women to contracting or becoming HIV infected is far greater
than men in Malawi. Globally 60% of 15-24 year olds living with HIV/AIDS are
young women . The figures remain high despite support services that are made
available. In contracting the diseases, women and girls become victims of stigmati-
zation. This impacts their willingness to access HIV/AIDS care and treatment com-
pared to men. This situation is compounded by a number of cultural practices;
women’s low participation in development initiatives, less access to resources, and
the inability of women to participate in matters that affect their sexual and social
lives.The irony of this situation is that men (or the husbands of these women) are
the primary cause of these infections and continue to weild the power and control
in decision making. Other contributing factors that place women at a higher risk
are poverty, women and child trafficking, sex work in the absence of comprehen-
sive sex education, migration, gender discrimination and gender based violence. In
spite of these challenging circumstances government and civil society at large
continue to fail to advocate and initiate change. This leaves women and young
girls disproportionately bearing the burden of the epidemic.
In light of the inability or ‘political willingness’ for government to act, there is an ur-
gent need of the participation of civil society and women organisations. This can be
made possible by the promoting and advocating for young women’s rights and lea-
dership as enshrined within the Malawian contitution. This in turn will lead to the
improvement of capacity amongst women to participate in decision making pro-
cesses. As a final statement, it is important that men and civil society in general be
educated to jointly advocate for this change.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 23
 HIV/AIDS: GENOCIDAL TRENDS

UGANDA:
ABC STRATEGY FOR HIV/AIDS
PREVENTION, NOT WORKING
FOR MARRIED WOMEN

Monicah Amoding
(Uganda)

Uganda has received international acclaim for a job well

done in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS using the ABC
strategy through which the prevalence rates have success-
fully been brought down from more than 25% in the 1980s
to the current 6.4%. As we celebrate this major achieve-
ment, several challenges remain such as increasing infec-
tions among married couples and the feminisation of the
pandemic. Statistics on AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa and
Uganda in particular point to one clear fact that, HIV/AIDS
is increasingly becoming a female disease with a young wo-
man’s face.

There are currently over 40.3 mil-
lion people living with AIDS
worldwide of which nearly half of
these are women. In Uganda, the
HIV prevalence varies between
males (5.2%) and females (7.3%)
and this has been rising over the
last three years. The ABC strategy
has however failed to protect
women due to the actual sexual
violence in marriage relations. So
why are the rates of infections in-
creasing among women? Are
these common HIV prevention
messages really working for
women in Uganda? What lessons
can be learnt from the Ugandan
experience in HIV Prevention?

YOWLI
24 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Abstinence
Abstinence is believed to be
one of the most effective me-
thods of protection from HIV
infection. However, is it possi-
ble for married women to abs-
tain? In Uganda, women and
girls are portrayed as subser-
vient and therefore incapable
of making decisions including
those relating to sexual mat-
ters such as; when and not to
have sex with their partners.
The socialisation of young
women preparing for mar-
riage in many Ugandan com-
munities emphasises that they
learn not to say no to their
partner’s sexual demands.
This in many ways fosters the
power imbalance in sexual re-
lations and makes it hard for
women to abstain from sex
even with full knowledge of
their partners’ unfaithful
sexual behaviours and
HIV/AIDS status. This leaves
many women in very difficult
situations, as on one hand the
choice to abstain may result
into further violence from
their partners whilst on the
other hand, failure to abstain
may result to them getting in-
fected by their partners. So
can abstinence save women
from contracting HIV/AIDS?
Being Faithful
Whereas a woman may chose
to be faithful to her partner,
the same may not be true for
her partner. Marital infidelity
and polygamy among men is
a practice that is still conside-
red normal in many societies
of Uganda. Due to the power
imbalance characterising its unaffordable price. For this
many sexual relationships, reason, the prevalence of
men are considered free to de- HIV/AIDS in Uganda is shif-
cide on having more than one ting from young people of age
partner at a time whilst group 15-24 years and increa-
women cannot, neither can sing amongst married people
they abandon relationships between 30-44 years. Out of
that put them at risk of the new 132,000 HIV infec-
HIV/AIDS due to social and tions as of 2007, over 60% new
economic reasons. For this infections were reported
reason, many polygamous amongst married people.
marriages and those plagued
with infidelity are very vulne- What can other countries the-
rable to the HIV/AIDS refore learn from Uganda re-
scourge. How then can a garding the HIV/AIDS
faithful woman with an un- prevention? There is a need to
faithful partner, more over develop other approaches that
with no social or economic focus on addressing
power be safe from HIV/AIDS among married
HIV/AIDS? people. Even as we promote
abstinence, faithfulness and
condom use, we must also en-
Condom Use
sure that women have the ne-
cessary power in their
Whereas the use of condoms
relationships to make choices
has continued to save many
regarding sexual matters. HIV
lives, several women cannot
Prevention interventions also
negotiate for sustained safer
must take into account the
sex due to the violence that
realities of infidelity, physical
characterises many relations-
violence and forced sex in
hips. Most women cannot
sexual relationships if sustai-
freely choose safer sexual
nable impact is to be achieved.
practices or refuse unsafe
All these call for HIV/AIDS
sexual activity but instead
prevention programmes that
must negotiate within unequal
will address the power ine-
intimate relationships. This is
quality in intimate relations-
worsened by the fact that they
hips that has for long been
lack the social and economic
ignored yet responsible for
power necessary to insist on
the high infection rates espe-
condom use. Due to such gla-
cially amongst married
ring gaps, women activists
women.
have been advocating that go-
vernment subsidizes the fe-
male condom to save the lives
of women but these demands
have not been adequately res-
ponded to. The female
condom continues to be very
inaccessible to women due to
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 25
 HIV/AIDS: GENOCIDAL TRENDS
MOÇAMBIQUE :
O IMPACTO DO HIV/SIDA
NA VIDA ECONÓMICA DA
POPULACÃO
Isaura Mauelele
(Moçambique, 23 anos)
Moçambique é um país que se loca-
liza na região da África Austral e,
segundo dados apresentados pelo o
Fundo das Nações Unidas para a
População (FNUAP), possui 19.9
milhões de habitantes. Desse nú-
mero, a percentagem da população
com menos de 15 anos é de 43.1%.
O HIV/SIDA é uma doença que
causa um impacto relevante na vida
da população, especialmente das
mulheres. A taxa de seroprevalên-
cia em adultos é de aproximada-
mente 16.1%. Dessa percentagem,
cerca de 66% é composta por mul-
heres, na faixa etária entre os 15 aos
24 anos.
Com o HIV/SIDA a vida económica
tem sido afectada, sendo que os
gastos no sector da saúde, por ano,
têm sido elevados, em relação a ou-
tros sectores, como o da agricul-
tura. Actualmente, fala-se na crise
alimentar mundial. Para os países
YOWLI
26 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
africanos, como Moçambique, a so-
lucão apontada pelos governantes
de África, é de apostar na agricul-
tura para a producão dos alimentos.
O país deve ser independente de
importações dos países desenvolvi-
dos. Contudo, tal recomendação
está ameaçada com as recentes dis-
cussões em torno do uso da terra,
para a produção de biocombustí-
veis.
Por outro lado, nos últimos tempos
tem se registrado casos de violação
dos Direitos Humanos, que
converge para a propagação do
HIV/SIDA. Casos de violação de
menores são divulgados pelos ór-
gãos de comunicação social. O
Quarto Poder (a Mídia), em Mo-
çambique, tem desempenhado um
papel importante no âmbito do jor-
nalismo investigativo, ao divulgar
casos de abusos a adolescentes e
crianças.
Segundo uma pesquisa efec-
tuada pelo International Plan-
ned Parenthood Federation
(IPPF) em 2005, o número de
mortes devido ao SIDA foi de
110 mil pessoas por ano.
Mais de 50% da populacão é
composta por mulheres, que
constituem as mais vulneráveis
e afectadas pela doença. Por
detrás desta vulnerabilidade,
estão diversas razões sociais,
económicas e culturais, como
os casos de casamentos prema-
turos, em que a idade média
das mulheres na altura do pri-
meiro casamento é de17 anos.
Adiciona-se que a prmeira rela-
ção sexual surge na idade
média de 16 anos. Contribuem
também para a propagação da
doença, as desigualdades de
género e poder, violência
sexual e doméstica, pobreza e
falta de oportunidade econó-
mica. Adicionam-se outros fac-
tores como baixo nível de
escolaridade e baixa utilização
de métodos anticonceptivos.
As estratégias governamentais
em parceria com associacões
juvenis tem sido em garantir a
transmissão de informação em
matérias de saúde sexual e re-
produtiva para adolescentes e
jovens. Caso concreto do Pro-
grama "Geração Biz", que se
incide na formação da faixa
etária com especial enfoque
para prevencão. É importante
empoderar as mulheres a
terem coragem de dizer «não »
ao sexo desprotegido.
O acesso ao tratamento antire-
troviral (ARV) tem sido outra
batalha, visto que o Governo
não tem conseguido garantir o
seu acesso a todas as pessoas
afectadas, principalmente nas
zonas rurais, com maiores difi-
culdades de acesso.
Por seu turno, a camada mais
pobre devido a doença são as
mulheres. Em contrapartida, o
número de homens e mulheres
com emprego é extremamente
diferente, sendo que, segundo
uma pesquisa de 2007 efec-
tuada pelo Programa das Na-
ções Unidas para o
Desenvolvimento PNUD e a
Fundação para o Desenvolvi-
mento da Comunidade (FDC),
cerca de 76% dos homens tem
emprego, contra apenas 24%
de mulheres. 74% das pessoas
vivem com menos de 2 dólares
por dia e a dívida externa por
moçambicano é de 40.5% do
Produto Interno Bruto (PIB).
Existem indicações que a dí-
vida está a aumentar.
Para se desenvolver o país é
necessário que se invista mais
em políticas concretas, para a
formação daquela que constitui
a maior mão de obra do país,
portanto, as mulheres.
A agricultura é considerada a
base para o desenvolvimento,
sendo que é desse sector que
advém os alimentos. Ora, como
se pretende usar mais de 70%
de terras férteis para a produ-
cão de vegetais que não sejam
destinados para a alimentação
da população ? Isso agrava
ainda mais o problema, por se
tratar de um país em que o tra-
tamento de ARV não vem
sendo acompanhado de uma
alimentação adequada, agra-
vando por vezes o estado de
saúde dos doentes. Ao contrá-
rio, pretende-se produzir ali-
mentos para a fabricação de
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
energias alternativas (biocom-
bustíveis), alegando-se que o
preço do petróleo subiu. A ver-
dade é que países como Mo-
cambique vão continuar a
comprar combustíveis a um
preço muito mais elevado,
considerando que os produtos
cultivados serão exportados e
processados em países desen-
volvidos, que impõem essas
políticas devastadoras para o
continente africano. Portanto,
sabe-se que o país não possui
tecnologias industriais para o
processamento dos recursos e
produção dos biocombustíveis.
É tempo de África, especial-
mente Moçambique, reflectir
sobre a questão do HIV/SIDA
e relacionar essa questão com a
economia, porque os agricul-
tores necessários para a produ-
cão dos alimentos que não
serão para o consumo e melho-
ria da vida da população estão
ameaçados pela a doença.
Para tornar o país indepen-
dente, temos que reduzir os
casos de HIV/SIDA. E para re-
duzi-los é necessário ampliar
os programas de prevenção
através do investimento na
Educação. Trata-se de um
papel de todos, Governo, socie-
dade civil e a comunidade em
geral.
YOWLI 27
 HIV/AIDS: GENOCIDAL TRENDS

Virginity And Vulnerability

of Young Men And Women
Mwelwa Chabala
(Zambia)

In most societies adults control young people’s access to in-

formation about sex and health. While many adults are either
ill/uninformed about HIV/AIDS many hold the misconception
that young people’s access to information about sex will lead
to early sexual initiation. This is particularly acute in societies
where a woman’s virginity is viewed from a moral perspec-
tive. As such in many cultures the key message during the
‘sexual’ socialization of young girls lays emphasis on the pro-
tection of virginity. Placing value on virginity is perceived as
an inhibitor for young women seeking sexual and reproduc-
tive health information and services or engaging in sexual be-
haviour.

It also precipitates the stigmatisa-
tion of young women who attempt
to obtain this information by crea-
ting the perception that they are al-
ready sexually active. This
misperception has dire conse-
quences for young women who
face the possibility of expulsion
from home. In some instances this
has lead to the death of young
women. For example, in Egypt a
young Muslim woman was forced
into marriage by her father for not
being a virgin. Prior to the mar-
riage she was subjected to surgery
to camouflage this reality from her
husband. A few months later she
ran away from her home, but was
tracked down and killed by her fa-
ther and brother for dishonouring
the family name.
This inexcusably violent behaviour
towards young girls and women
has however not succeeded in pro-
moting abstinence. Instead young
women are choosing to engage in
oral or anal sex with men or having
sexual relationship with women
while preserving their virginity. In
many instances these alternative
sexual practices occur without pro-
tection, and as such are placing the
lives of these young women at risk.
Sexually transmitted diseases are
thus a common occurrence
amongst unmarried women due to
limited access to family planning
services. The risk of contracting
HIV/AIDS is especially high be-
cause it is not given much impor-
tance since it is assumed that
virgins are “clean” and free from
diseases. Bearing in mind the em-
phasis placed on ‘virginity’ as in in-
dicator of the morality of a society
and linking it to the honour of the
family name has not been success-
ful in acting as inhibitor for sexual
activities or behaviour of women.
Instead it has lead to alternative
sexual practices which preserve
“the virginity” but results in sexual
behaviour with even greater risk.
Vulnerabilities of sexual behaviour
is not limited to cultures who want
to preserve virginity. In other com-
munities where sexual behaviour is
the choice of the individual, with
few pressures to curb it, a different
set of vulnerabilities emerge. For
example, in many countries were
the economic conditions are harsh,
girls are placed at a disadvantage
as parents choose to educate their
boys over their girls. The financial
responsibilities for school fees are
then transferred onto the girls who
have to find their own means to
pay in order to continue their edu-
cation.

YOWLI
28 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
 TXISSOLA
Eu só tinha dez anos. Não falava a língua ofi-
cial do meu país e já era mulher. Meu filho
nasceu com cegueira infantil, deficiência fí-
sica e soropositivo. Eu e meu pai já éramos
soropositivos e houve re-infecção e formação
de vírus mutantes.
Quando a comunidade descobriu que o filho
era meu, culparam a minha mãe, por não ter
permitido que eu fosse aos ritos de iniciação
(onde eu aprenderia a controlar os meus ex-
tintos sexuais), e por deixar me usar roupas
curtas e europatizadas (riu-se ....)
Hoje sou apenas eu: meu bebê não viveu
uma semana, meu pai sucumbiu e
minha mãe morreu de desgosto e
não pela doença, pois fisicamente
ela estava bem, mas psicologi-
camente não (caiu-lhe uma lá-
grima). O estigma e a
discriminação são piores que
a doença...(manteve-se em si-
lêncio por algum tempo).
Vendo meu corpo para me
sustentar e, às vezes, tenho
que esquecer do meu lado hu-
mano, porque sou gente e pre-
ciso de dinheiro, então faço sexo
sem preservativo. Não estou tentando
me justificar, mas se eu tivesse ido à escola,
tivesse aprendido sobre os meus direitos
sexuais e reprodutivos, sobre o sexo, como
usar o preservativo, assédio sexual; se al-
guém tivesse me ensinado a falar, a expor
meus problemas, pelo menos com meus pais;
se nesse mundo a mulher não significasse
objeto sexual e de reprodução; se depois da
menarca eu não deixasse de ser criança ou
adolescente e me deixassem ser mulher
quando eu me sentisse pronta... Talvez...
Não nego os benefícios que a globalização
nos proporciona, mas choro porque abando-
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
Nilza Laice
(18 anos; Mozambique)
nei minha capulana, meu ser mulher, cultura,
hábitos e costumes. Não nego que minhas
roupas hoje possam sim despertar num
homem desejo, mas naquele tempo não. Eu
era uma criança sem malícia, por isso nego
que um homem não saiba viver em socie-
dade e em família e nego viole, não só uma
criança ou uma mulher, mas os seus direitos.
Acredito que desde os tempos mais remotos,
nossos antepassados já andavam nus ou
semi-nus, mas sempre estiveram presentes
os conceitos de família, amor e respeito. Sei
que não sou a pessoa ideal para falar de res-
peito, pois não respeito meu corpo
e sou espancada várias vezes,
mas tenho medo e não re-
corro a ninguém. Às vezes
quero ser fiel a mim
mesma usando o preser-
vativo, mas os clientes
vêm em demasia e não
tenho o tempo para tro-
car ou colocar o preser-
vativo. Às vezes, mesmo
que eu queira não tenho
como comprar, por falta de
dinheiro ou por vergonha dos
comentários... Não respeito meu
corpo, mas tenho amor pela vida. Sei que
existem milhões de Txissolas como eu em
toda África e vocês YOWLI podem mudar
esse cenário, pois para mim YOWLI é uma
corrente de renascimento de mulheres afri-
canas, não só de sangue, mas também de co-
ração.....(sorriu)
______________
Texto adaptado, baseado em várias estórias
africanas
YOWLI 29
 HIV/AIDS: GENOCIDAL TRENDS

Femmes africaines
et droits sexuels

Aissatou Thiam NGom

(Senegal)

Dans de nombreuses sociétés, les hommes exercent un contrôle total sur les femmes
dans toutes les relations qu’ils entretiennent avec elles. Cette répartition inégale du pou-
voir entre les sexes représente une contrainte majeure pour les femmes qui voudraient se
protéger contre les MST.
Par exemple, si une femme achète des préservatifs, elle risque d’être accusée d’infidélité.
Or, de nombreuses femmes séropositives ont été contaminées par leur mari « infidèle ».
Manquant de tout pouvoir de négociations, elles sont souvent dans l’impossibilité d’insis-
ter pour s’assurer des relations sexuelles à moindre risques.
De plus de nombreuses femmes et jeunes filles illettrées méconnaissent leur corps. Elles
ne sont non plus pas informées sur les mécanismes de transmission du VIH/SIDA et des
autres MST et le risque qu’elles courent en entretenant des relations sexuelles non proté-
gées.
Un autre facteur de vulnérabilité au VIH/SIDA réside dans la violence faite aux femmes et
filles. Les domestiques par exemple sont souvent victimes d’abus sexuels de la part de
leurs employeurs. Cependant, l’impunité pour acte de viol demeure un fait courant alors
que les femmes victimes sont souvent harcelées, blâmées et même parfois accusées d’être
responsables.
Le proxénétisme et la traite des filles mineures sont devenues monnaie courante sans que
les auteurs ne soient presque jamais inquiétés. En Afrique les jeunes filles venant des
zones rurales ou périurbaines se voient périr entre les mains des proxénètes pour avoir
cru à des promesses illusoires d’emploi.

YOWLI
30 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Les professionnelles du sexe
se voient souvent reprocher la
propagation du VIH/SIDA. Il
est pourtant important de se
rendre compte que pour cer-
taines femmes moins ins-
truites que les hommes et
ayant moins accès à l’emploi,
et vivant dans des conditions
d’appauvrissement de plus en
plus avilissantes, se prostituer
devient alors le seul moyen de
survivre. Par ailleurs, lorsque
les gens accusent les profes-
sionnelles du sexe de propa-
ger le VIH/SIDA, ils ne
tiennent pas compte du rôle
joué par le client. Or, c’est sou-
vent ce dernier qui refuse
d’utiliser le préservatif, malgré
le risque d’infection. Donc, il
convient de reconnaitre la res-
ponsabilité de tous car sans
demandeur pas d’offreur et
vice-versa.
N’oublions surtout pas que la
grande majorité des parents
ne tiennent pas compte des
questions sexuelles dans
l’éducation des enfants, ce qui
cause souvent des dérives
sexuelles. Dans certains pays
par exemple les jeunes
hommes sont incités à avoir
leur première expérience
sexuelle avec des prostituées.
Les femmes sont également
plus vulnérables exposées au
VIH/SIDA sur le plan physio-
logique. Les causes en sont
multiples : une activité
sexuelle trop précoce avec les
mariages précoces, la mutila-
tion génitale et les rapports
sexuels brutaux sont autant de
pratiques qui provoquent un
traumatisme et accroissant
ainsi le risque d’infection par drogue par voie intraveineuse.
les MST. D’après les cher- A la mort de la femme, au
cheurs, le risque qu’une malheur de ses enfants, son
femme soit infectée par le mari amène à la maison une
VIH/SIDA est au moins deux marâtre pour « s’occuper des
fois supérieur à celui que cou- enfants ». Cette dernière
rent les hommes. exerce toutes sortes de discri-
Par la suite de leur rôle tradi- minations envers les enfants
tionnel de dispensatrice de de la défunte au profit des
soins au sein du foyer, ce sont siens. Je ne parle même pas
les femmes qui s’occupent des problèmes sociaux que
principalement des membres rencontrent les autres enfants
de la famille atteints du mais de la petite séropositive
VIH/SIDA .Etant donné l’im- qui devrait bénéficier spécifi-
pact dévastateur de l’épidémie quement d’un bien être fami-
sur les ménages et le nombre lial. Tous ces dilemmes, la
croissant d’orphelins, ce sont marâtre s’en fiche éperdu-
les femmes âgées et les jeunes ment. Et ces enfants ont peu
filles qui se retrouvent char- de chance de réussir dans leur
gées de la famille. vie. Autre problème : la marâ-
Je vais raconter une anecdote tre ne savait pas qu’elle entre-
qui s’est passée à Kolda et qui tenait des relations sexuelles
revele au grand jour tous les avec un séropositif.
problèmes qu’on peut rencon- Et vous voyez ainsi tous les
trer avec le VIH/SIDA : les dommages qu’un mari infidèle
maris infidèles, la stigmatisa- peut causer à une société.
tion contre les personnes sé-
ropositives, les orphelins du
VIH/SIDA, etc.
NF a découvert qu’elle était
séropositive lorsqu’elle a
amené son bébé chez le méde-
cin parce qu’il perdait du
poids. Le médecin, préoccupé,
a fait un test qui s’est avéré
positif et il a donc analysé le
sang de NF. Quelques temps
plus tard, NF a contracté le
SIDA. Sa famille et ses amis
ont réagi à la nouvelle avec in-
crédulité et émotion. Cer-
taines personnes ont disparu
de sa vie, tout cela à cause
d’un mari infidèle qui sillon-
nait les rues du village à la re-
cherche d’adolescentes et qui
prenait en même temps de la
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 31
 ECONOMICS, SOCIETY & POWER

Programmes d’ajustement
structurel et aggravation
délibérée de la pauvreté

Kouka Kaboré
(Burkina Faso)

Les premiers programmes d’ajustement structurel (PAS)

en Afrique remontent aux années 80. Avant les indépen-
dances les économies africaines étaient des économies
extraverties. Avec l’avènement du pétrodollar, les
grandes banques européennes se retrouvent en situation
d’excès de liquidité. Elles décident d’accorder dans les
années 70 des prêts aux pays du sud à des taux d’intérêt
faibles dont l’utilisation s’est soldée par des échecs. Ainsi
les Institutions de Breton Woods décident de dicter aux
Etats du sud un processus de développement avec des
solutions préconçues pour redresser leur économie.

Les PAS exigent un processus du tiques d’ajustement relèvent d’un

désengagement de l’Etat du secteur
public et laisser libre cour au mar-
ché de réguler le système écono-
mique. Avec les PAS, les secteurs de
l’eau, de l’énergie, la santé, l’éduca-
tion, l’agriculture et de l’environne-
ment ont connu de profondes
reformes qui ont engendré des
conséquences désastreuses. Au
delà de cette définition les poli-
choix de société basé sur la doctrine
libérale qui prône l’économie de
marché. Les PAS visent donc à éta-
blir ou à rétablir de façon perma-
nente l'équilibre dans les balances
de paiements, en favorisant l'instau-
ration d'un climat économique ap-
proprié. Globalement, il vise à
"forcer" les pays concernés, qui ac-
ceptent la contrainte, à vivre selon

YOWLI
32 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
leurs moyens (Landell-Mills,
p, 7), d'où sa nature macro-
économique structurelle.
Concrètement, la BM estime
que "la réduction de la dette
est un moyen et non une fin
en soi " (BM, rapport annuel
1990, p.53).
En Afrique, l’adoption des
PAS soldée par un échec total
a eu une conséquence consi-
dérable pour les pays en voie
de développement. . La pau-
périsation et l’élargissement
des inégalités sociales s’accen-
tuent. Il y a l’émergence d’une
nouvelle classe de riches qui,
en partie sont des politiciens
véreux qui pillent les richesses
publiques et jouissent d’une
impunité flagrante et égale-
ment des personnes qui, du
fait de la corruption et du
clientélisme bénéficient des
monopoles de fait. Par exem-
ple les 5 plus riches du Bur-
kina sont des politiciens,
l’importation du riz est déte-
nue par 5 agents et le cuir est
l’affaire de Tan-Aliz dont la
première responsable est la
belle mère du président du
Faso. L’aggravation de la pau-
vreté est perceptible en
Afrique sub-saharienne et
dans le reste du monde. Selon
des statistiques de 2004 de la
Banque Mondiale portant sur
l’année 2001, près de la moitié
de la population mondiale vit
avec moins de 2 dollars par
jour et un cinquième avec
moins d’un dollar . Dans le
cas de l’Afrique sub-saha-
rienne, 47% de la population
vit en dessous du seuil de pau-
vreté. L’adoption des PAS sol-
dée par un échec total a eu
une conséquence considéra-
ble pour les pays en voie de
développement mais aussi
pour les Institutions Finan-
cières Internationales à cause les institutions de Breton
la crise de la dette multilaté- Woods se sont vues obligées
rale. d’introduire la notion « de di-
La privatisation fait partie in- mension sociale de l’ajuste-
tégrante des PAS il n’est pas ment » pour réparer les
de dissocier la privatisation préjudices causés mais ce
des politiques d’ajustement énième mécanisme est resté
dans les pays en développe- sans effet notable. L’évolution
ment. Avec les PAS, la privati- inquiétante de la pauvreté du-
sation a connu un essor a rant ces derniers décennies
travers le monde à partir des traduit l’échec des PAS. Après
années 80 avec une accéléra- plusieurs décennies d’ajuste-
tion dans les années 90 et ment structurel aucun succès
connait un affaiblissement de- durable ne peut être exhibé,
puis 2000 ,alimenté en grande ce qui témoigne de l’inutilité
partie par la montée des de ce type de programmes
contestation de la société ci- comme outil de développe-
vile et les différents bilans ment durable en Afrique.
inefficaces dressés. Dans cette
dynamique plusieurs entre-
prises en Afrique ont été pri-
vatisées. Ainsi Au Burkina
Faso, au total de 1991 à fin
1997, 18 sur les 44 entreprises
ciblées ont été privatisées. Ces
privatisations ont entrainé des
licenciements et la perte d’em-
plois (120 emplois supprimés
en fin 1996 au Burkina) ; Ce
qui à accentué la pauvreté,
l’échec scolaire et universi-
taire, le phénomène de prosti-
tution et les questions de
corruption.
La dévaluation du FCFA en
1994 a été un facteur aggra-
vant de la pauvreté dans la
zone. Au lieu de relancer la
balance commerciale des
Etats à accentuer le deficit,
l’inflation jusqu’aujourd’hui
reste difficilement maîtrisable
dans cette zone avec les prix
des biens et services qui ne
cessent de grimper.
Les PAS ont été vivement criti-
qués pour leurs solutions pré-
conçues imposées à tous les
pays sans prendre en compte
les caractéristiques spéci-
fiques et pour leurs effets dé-
sastreux. Suite à ces critiques
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 33
 ECONOMICS, SOCIETY & POWER
SENEGAL :
L’eau manque dans les zones
rurales
Fatoumata Bintou Diedhiou
Age: 20
Dakar, Senegal
L’eau est source de vie et de dévelop-
pement économique, social, culturel et
spirituel. Pour garantir aux hommes la
préservation de leur état de santé et
leur épanouissement global il faut leur
donner la possibilité d’accéder à une
eau potable et en quantité suffisante.
Ce qui n’est pas le cas dans les zones
rurales ou j’ai pu faire mes enquêtes
de mémoire sur le terrain dans la zone
de Ngaye Mekhe. J’ai constaté un
manque d’eau terrible dans cette zone,
malgré l’installation de 22 forages. Ce
déficit est d’une part dû au faible vo-
lume d’eau des forages qui est en gé-
néral de 30 mètres cube, et, d’autre
part, du fait que plusieurs villages ne
bénéficient pas de forages. Ce qui fait
que les producteurs en période de ma-
raîchage ont du mal à cultiver comme
ils veulent. Cependant, des groupe-
ments de cultivateurs et de femmes
ont arrêté leurs activités parce qu’ils
ne reçoivent pas assez d’eau pour pro-
duire. Aussi des épidémies de diar-
rhées sont souvent notées dans
quelques villages où les comités de
gestion ne nettoient pas fréquemment
les forages.
En ce qui concerne la gestion des fo-
rages, source exclusive d’approvision-
nement en eau potable en milieu rural,
le Sénégal avait opté depuis janvier
1984 pour le mode de gestion commu-
nautaire confiant leur gestion aux po-
pulations organisées en comités de
gestion. Devant la persistance du
manque d’eau en milieu rural, on
pourrait se demander si les popula-
tions ont été suffisamment préparées
et outillées pour assumer cette res-
La multiplicité et la complexité des
ponsabilité.
problèmes liés à la croissance arith-
métique du nombre des forages ont
conduit la Direction de l’Exploitation
et de la Maintenance (DEM) du Minis-
YOWLI
34 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
tère de l’Hydraulique à impulser une
dynamique associative et communau-
taire des usagers (organisés en comité
de gestion) afin de susciter leur parti-
cipation dans la gestion des infrastruc-
tures réalisées. Ainsi, plusieurs
approches ont été mises en œuvre
pour la gestion des forages mais les
résultats escomptés n’ont pas été at-
teints.
Par ailleurs, on ne peut pas parler
d’eau sans parler de femme car leur
contribution est indispensable et doit
être prise en compte dans l’améliora-
tion de l’approvisionnement eau. C’est
pourquoi consciente de l’impact que le
succès de la décennie pouvait avoir
sur les attributions des femmes, la
conférence mondiale de 1980 (décen-
nie des Nation-Unies) à opté de « pro-
mouvoir la participation pleine et
entière des femmes à la planification, à
la mise en oeuvre et à l’application
pratique des technologies de tous les
projets d’approvisionnement en eau. »
Une telle décision s’avère fondée car
la plupart des politiques initiées en fa-
veur de l’hydraulique rurale ont été
parachutées vers les populations sans
au préalable les impliquer dans leur
conception et les responsabiliser dans
leur mise en œuvre. Ce qui, de ma-
nière évidente, a conduit à la passivité
des populations devant leurs préoccu-
pations majeures et surtout au faible
degré d’atteinte des objectifs poursui-
vis par les politiques.
Voici quelques recommendations a
prendre en consideration pour espe-
rer une amelioration de se secteur
dans les zones rurales.
-Tendre vers l’élimination du paye-
ment de l’eau par forfait car cela n’ar-
range pas les comités de gestion ou
ASUROR(Association des Usagers de
Forages) du fait que même si les mé-
nages consomment plus qu’ils ne
payent, c’est le même prix qu’ils
payent et cela entraîne dès fois un
grand déficit au niveau de la gestion
du forage.
-Essayer d’uniformiser le système
d’installation des compteurs par les
producteurs et faire payer la caution
avant de bénéficier de cette eau car il y
a des producteurs qui, après avoir
écoulé leurs récoltes ne payent pas
l’eau déjà consommée durant la pé-
riode de maraîchage ; ce qui peut met-
tre en cause le système de gestion des
forages.
-Installer des châteaux à la place des
forages pour assurer et les produc-
teurs et les ménages en période de
maraîchage ; une chose est de faire
des forages et une autre est de les pé-
renniser.
-Aussi, voir comment réduire le coût
des tuyaux qui permettent d’achemi-
ner l’eau dans les champs de tous car
beaucoup de producteurs n’arrivent
pas à cultiver à cause du manque
d’eau et du manque de moyen. C’est le
cas pour des groupements féminins et
GIE de femmes qui aujourd’hui ne
fonctionnent plus à cause de cela.
-Voir comment mettre en place un sys-
tème de contrôle pour la bonne tenue
de l’hygiène des forages car il y a des
forages qui ne sont pas bien entrete-
nus par leur comité de gestion d’où les
épidémies de diarrhées qui sont très
inquiétantes et graves pour les popu-
lations qui consomment cette eau.
L’amélioration des conditions d’exis-
tence de l’homme est le but majeur
des projets d’approvisionnement en
eau potable et d’assainissement. Les
objectifs escomptés de ces projets ne
peuvent être atteints que si les popula-
tions ne s’activent réellement à leur
mise en œuvre en tant que décideurs
et gestionnaires.
Housing:
An Economic Issue In Nigeria

Elehinle Olalekan Edward

(Nigeria)

Les premiers programmes d’ajustement structurel (PAS)

en Afrique remontent aux années 80. Avant les indépen-
dances les économies africaines étaient des économies
extraverties. Avec l’avènement du pétrodollar, les
grandes banques européennes se retrouvent en situation
d’excès de liquidité. Elles décident d’accorder dans les
années 70 des prêts aux pays du sud à des taux d’intérêt
faibles dont l’utilisation s’est soldée par des échecs. Ainsi
les Institutions de Breton Woods décident de dicter aux
Etats du sud un processus de développement avec des
solutions préconçues pour redresser leur économie.

When the issue of housing is addres- In a case study in a community in the

sed in Nigeria it is seen generally that
20 percent of people are living in good
well made houses under good environ-
mental conditions, 25 percent of people
are living in average class houses,
while 35 percent of people including
those in the rural areas are living in
low class houses and 20 percent are li-
ving in slums.
Karu Local Government area of Nasa-
rawa State, a place that is 8km from the
Country’s Federal Capital; Abuja, it was
seen that some people living in this
area comprises of Hausas which is the
tribe from the Northern part of the
country. These people are living in
slums; an inappropriate place that is to-
tally unhygienic for human habitation.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 35

Most of the people living in this
area are illiterates, with no for-
mal education. They live on a
day to day unfixed job terms
within their environment. On
average majority of them are li-
ving on N500 per day; an
amount the equivalent of 4 Dol-
lars, yet some of these people li-
ving in this area have children
to take care of.
The underlying factor for these
people in the slums in such bad
conditions has been a major
factor that hinders human de-
velopment and living which is
poverty; the inability for them
to secure good houses in good
environments, inability to af-
ford school fees; transport fares
and so many social needs in the
society. In this case the study
revealed that every woman and
young girl living in this com-
munity in Karu indulge in petty
trading and most of them are
into prostitution to be able to
take care of themselves and
their families or as the saying
goes to make ends meet regar-
ding their social and financial
status.
A lot of young people in this
area have been subjected to dif-
ficult living conditions which
YOWLI
36 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
have changed their mentality
leading them to engage in very
negative vices. They feel they
should obtain whatever they
want in any form either by rob-
bery or being a commercial sex
worker, which is due to the im-
proper upbringing of these
people in the first place; where
there has been no formal edu-
cation for them to contribute to
the society and in return obtain
good deal of revenue to sustain
their lives.
The Improper upbringing of
the children in this area had
caused most of them to indulge
in activities that endanger their
social health and behaviour.
These young children most of
whom are not up to age 12 had
started taking drugs, learning
how to rape little girls and in-
volving themselves in so many
bad acts. These children that
ought to be taking care of the
future of our nation have ins-
tead learnt to face hardship in
the face of poverty.
In addition, most youths in this
area that are sexually active do
not care about the HIV/AIDS
epidemic, they have a lot of sex
partners and exchange partners
frequently without care. Young
people in this community do
not have access to Government
skill acquisition, information
concerning sexual health, fa-
mily planning, poverty and
many other important issues
for Economic and Social orien-
tation.
Looking at the above so many
questions could be asked for
the way forward such as: What
would the future of these
young people in this area be
like? What will the future of this
area render the country? It is
usually said that a dog could
not give birth to a lamb mea-
ning that parents bring on
earth children that behave like
them. In this regard, parents
have a major role to play on the
life of their children by provi-
ding a good environment for
them, where the children would
not be influenced by the bad
activities in the society to the
extent of been initiated to prac-
tice ill.
Further more there is need for
several interventions to address
this problem and rekindle the
light of young people to play
their role in the development of
Africa. The intervention of the
government is therefore nee-
ded to help develop these
young people living in this
community by enabling them
have access to adequate and re-
levant information and services
for the socio-economic deve-
lopment of the country.
Pauvreté et agriculture
Fatou Kiné THIAM, Mariama DIEDHIOU
et Ndèye Madjiguène Mbow
Avant que les échanges com-
merciaux agricoles ne commen-
cent à être libéralisés dans les
années 90, la plupart des pro-
ductrices parvenaient à répon-
dre aux besoins de leurs
familles et à tirer un revenu de
leurs activités.
L’effondrement des prix consé-
cutifs à la libéralisation des
échanges a marginalisé les pe-
tits producteurs et augmenté
l’insécurité alimentaire. De
nombreuses personnes en si-
tuation de pauvreté rencontrent
beaucoup de difficulté par
manque de moyens. C’est le cas
au Sénégal où la crise alimen-
taire se fait sentir de jour en
jour car il n y a pas de subven-
tions, de semis ou une baisse
des prix aux cultivateurs afin
que les intrants de production
soient accessibles. On note
aussi le manque de matériels de
production. Dans certaines fa-
milles, c’est la femme qui prend
en charge la famille en produi-
sant des céréales, des légumes,
mais aussi en pratiquant l’éle-
vage.
Le Sénégal est un pays
très dépendant des importa-
(Senegal)
tions de riz. Cette cé-
réale était introduite
massivement dans le
régime alimentaire des
Sénégalais lors de la
colonisation. Ce fai-
sant, les surfaces culti-
vées en arachide ont
été développées a tra-
vers un système de
monoculture cepen-
dant que les surfaces
de mil ont été réduites.
Les colons français ont
importé des brisures
de riz (les « déchets »
du traitement de riz, ce
que ne mangent pas
les Occidentaux) pour nourrir la
force de travail dans le bassin
arachidier. Les revenus moné-
taires obtenus dans la vente de
l’arachide permettent alors aux
paysans d’acheter des brisures
de riz. La consommation de riz
a beaucoup augmenté dans le
pays pour atteindre environ 75
kg par personne et par an (en
moyenne 200g par jour). Ainsi,
cette consommation s’élève à 1
million de tonnes par an et le
pays ne produit que 20% de
cette quantité. Les populations
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
En Afrique où les femmes
constituent la majorité de la
population, la question rela-
tive à la pauvreté suscite des
interrogations qui touchent
une partie de la population la
plus vulnérable, du fait que
cette dernière est confrontée
à des problèmes écono-
miques. De ce fait, l’agricul-
ture qui est un facteur crucial
pour l’éradication de la pau-
vreté et des problématiques
de genre dans les pays en
voie de développement, fait
vivre 2/3 des femmes.
rurales peuvent vivre une partie
de l’année avec leurs récoltes et
il existe tout de même certains
réseaux de solidarité en milieu
rural qui limitent le risque de
famine.
Même si cette dernière ne sem-
ble pas inquiéter les gens, on se
demande si la pénurie ne pour-
rait pas surprendre les gens qui
n’ont pas de stock. Il est bien
possible que les tensions sur
l’accès aux céréales importées
ou locales persistent et s’aggra-
vent a travers la spirale sans fin
des prix a la hausse.
YOWLI 37
 ECONOMICS, SOCIETY & POWER

GENRE ET DROITS
SOCIO-ÉCONOMIQUES

Adji Mbène SAMBE

(Sénégal)

25 ans après l’adoption de la Convention sur toutes formes de

discrimination à l’égard des femmes (CEDAW), la place de
ces dernières, ainsi que les droits qui leurs sont accordés
continuent à nourrir plus d’un débat.

Dans presque toutes les civilisations, notamment dans les so-

ciétés africaines, la femme a plus de devoirs que de droits (si
ces deux paramètres ne sont pas confondus). En effet, dans
nos sociétés, son rôle se réduit souvent aux simples tâches
domestiques et à la satisfaction voire la soumission au bien-
vouloir (volontés et exigences) de son époux. Cela explique en
partie, le faible taux d’alphabétisation et d’emploi des
femmes.

Le rôle de la femme doit-il se li-
miter au rôle d’épouse ? (ou de
mère de famille ?)
La femme ne cesse de montrer
des aptitudes de gestionnaire,
de manager, de comptable au
sein de la « microéconomie »
familiale. Cellule de base de
toute société, la famille consti-
tue, dans son organisation et sa
gestion, un miroir quant aux
qualités « entrepreneuriales »
de la femme. Par exemple,
lorsque le mari sénégalais
donne à sa femme la
« dépense » quotidienne ou
mensuelle, celle-ci ne se
contente pas de la « dépenser »
mais la gère afin de nourrir
convenablement ses enfants, et
ce, malgré la hausse incessante
du prix des denrées de pre-
mière nécessité.
La hausse du taux d’inflation
est une réalité malheureuse-
ment très présente dans les
pays en voie de développe-
ment, et ce phénomène s’ac-

YOWLI
38 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
centue au fil des années. Les
femmes, comme presque sou-
vent, sont les plus touchées par
ce fléau. Et pourtant, elles se
« débrouillent » avec les
moyens du bord (tontines, mu-
tuelles de femmes, petits com-
merces d’appoint…) afin de
garder la face et surtout de pré-
server l’honneur de leur époux
et de leur famille.
Dans un pays comme le Séné-
gal, où 52% de la population est
composée par des femmes, ne
pas considérer à sa juste valeur
cette partie de la population est
plus que révoltant.
Le fait, par exemple, que pro-
portionnellement le nombre de
femmes est plus élevé que celui
des hommes, devrait faire qu’à
cette main d’œuvre potentielle
soit accordée une attention par-
ticulière.
Face à cette situation plus
qu’inconvenable, les pouvoirs
publics font les sourds
d’oreilles devant les revendica-
tions féminines. Et pourtant, ils
sont les premiers à bénéfi-
cier (voire profiter) de leurs
compétences en terme de mili-
tantisme, d’éloquence… dès
lors qu’il s’agit d’un électorat
potentiel. La cause des femmes
n’est défendue qu’à la veille des
élections !
Cela se ressent d’ailleurs dans
la société qui trouve normal
qu’« un » ministre soit nommé,
et qui se réjouit lorsqu’il s’agit
d’une femme (même si cette
dernière est mieux qualifiée
pour occuper ce poste).
L’exemple le plus frappant est
que, lorsque nos pouvoirs pu-
blics annoncent l’introduction
de la parité au sein du gouver-
nement, du parlement ou des
listes électorales, la société s’en
réjouit, les femmes les pre-
mières. Mais doit-on réduire les
femmes à un « nombre » ?
Cette forme de discrimination
positive à l’égard des femmes
ne constitue-t-il pas un simple
coup de pub pour les poli-
tiques, un piège, un leurre ?
Le terme même de discrimina-
tion positive tombe sous le sens
et sous-entend que le genre fé-
minin est inférieur au genre
masculin (cf. discrimination po-
sitive envers les personnes de
couleur ou « d’origine » dans
les pays industrialisés). Or,
notre réelle préoccupation n’est
pas une simple comparaison
mécanique et systématique à
l’homme. C’est pourquoi il se-
rait judicieux que les institu-
tions internationales ainsi que
les pouvoirs publics locaux
prennent davantage en consi-
dération dans l’élaboration et
surtout dans la mise en applica-
tion de leurs politiques en fa-
veur des femmes, le fait que
celles-ci ne sont ni subordon-
nées, ni égales à l’homme mais
juste différentes. Ces politiques
doivent donc s’adapter à cette
notion de genres qui, quoi que
différents, se valent et sont
complémentaires.
Cela dit, il ne faut pas non plus
se limiter à cela en ne raison-
nant qu’en termes de genre.
Des dispositifs de protection du
statut de la femme doivent être
prévus. Les anciennes poli-
tiques d’assistance aux femmes
doivent être bannies, laissant
place à des dispositifs d’inser-
tion dans le monde du travail,
de reconnaissance de leurs
compétences et aptitudes. Les
femmes ne doivent plus se sa-
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
tisfaire d’un partage égal au
sens du nombre, mais doivent
plutôt revendiquer un partage
équitable par rapport aux com-
pétences. Si le rôle de la femme
doit se résumer aux tâches mé-
nagères, pourquoi pas ? Mais,
dans ce cas, que les autorités
publiques mettent en place un
salaire de substitution permet-
tant à celle-ci de subvenir à ses
besoins, et des droits salariaux
tels que prévus par le Code du
travail, car pendant ce temps,
elle ne peut prétendre (ou diffi-
cilement) à aucun autre emploi.
Les femmes, africaines en parti-
culier, sont très courageuses et
se suffisent souvent à elles-
mêmes. Ceci, en plus d’un
manque cruel d’instruction et
d’information sur leur statut et
sur leurs droits, les pousse à se
satisfaire très facilement de leur
situation actuelle, sans chercher
à l’améliorer.
Nous sommes donc face à une
nécessité de prise de
conscience, tout d’abord au
sein des femmes ; qu’elles se
prennent en main, qu’elles
connaissent et reconnaissent
leurs droits afin de mieux pou-
voir les revendiquer.
Cette prise de conscience com-
mence à s’affirmer grâce à des
mouvements organisés de
femmes ou pour les femmes,
l’UNIFEM, le CEDAW … mais
le problème des mentalités, des
coutumes et des appartenances
religieuses reste un obstacle
majeur à surmonter afin que se
réduise le faussé entre droits
octroyés par les Conférences
internationales et leurs concré-
tisation.
YOWLI 39
 ECONOMICS, SOCIETY & POWER

HALTE À LA
MONDIALISATION

Marième SARR
(Sénégal)

Aujourd’hui tout examen de nos revendications se vou-

drait efficace et doit nécessairement tenir compte du
contexte actuel dans lequel évolue le monde du travail, à
savoir de la mondialisation et de ses autre pendants.
En effet, par ce temps du capitalisme triomphant, il
n’existe nul domaine de la vie socio-économique et même
politique qui pourrait être appréhendé en dehors de la
mondialisation. T out particulièrement les travailleurs qui
en ont payé un des plus lourds tributs du fait des me-
sures diverses se rapportant à la législation du travail (de
la déréglementation du marché du travail), aux outils et
moyens de production que sont les entreprises, aux trai-
tements et mesures de protection sociale et à l’informa-
tion de la fonction publique.

YOWLI
40 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Ce faisant, les revendications
des travailleurs, quelque soit
le niveau où elles se posent
pour être bien cernées, dé-
fendues et donc solution-
nées, doivent être
appréhendées dans ce
contexte. Pour ce faire, dans
cette analyse qui se veut mo-
deste, nous développons la
problématique de la mondia-
lisation et les programmes
d’ajustement structurel
(PAS).
Le concept de mondialisation
ou encore globalisation est
de nos jours partout utilisé
pour justifier la transforma-
tion que subit notre monde.
Assez souvent, des questions
comme le libéralisme écono-
mique sauvage, la domina-
tion des multinationales sur
les états, la recolonisation et
l’exploitation par le capital fi-
nancier international ou en-
core la violation
systématique des droits de
l’homme par certaines super-
puissances, sont évoquées
comme effets de la mondiali-
sation.
Même des pays comme les
nôtres où les populations vi-
vent en dessous du seuil de
la pauvreté, l’impact de la
mondialisation se mesure sur
tous les secteurs de notre vie
socio-économique tels que :
l’alimentation, le logement,
l’éducation, la santé et l’envi-
ronnement.
Ainsi, on a pas besoin d’étu-
dier des grandes thèses sur
la mondialisation pour se
faire une idée sur ce phéno-
mène ; il suffit de jeter un re-
gard critique autour de soi :
la privatisation sauvage des
entreprises, le désengage-
ment de l’état dans tous les
secteurs productifs ainsi que
la « marchandisation » de
toutes les valeurs, sont là
pour nous le rappeler.
L’abandon du social sans
précèdent par nos états a
partout engendré tension et
crise sociale qui ont atteint
leur paroxysme dans la plu-
part des pays pour dégéné-
rer en conflits sociaux (pour
ne pas dire guerres sociales)
et guerres civiles. Les pays
pauvres encore sous la domi-
nation de l’empire impéria-
liste sont transformés en
horribles hécatombes.
Pendant ce temps, alors que
nos états ploient sous l’impi-
toyable fardeau de la dette
en lieu et place de pro-
grammes rédempteurs, nos
gouvernements continuent à
s’accommoder de recettes
bancales, inefficaces et dé-
passées, comme les PAS ou
encore sa nouvelle dérivée
appelée aujourd’hui stratégie
de réduction de la pauvreté
et consorts.
Par devers tous les discours,
par devers la toute puissante
campagne médiatique, mal-
gré la publicité mensongère
orchestrée par les officines et
autres citadelles bourgeoises
,la mondialisation ne peut
passer pour une fatalité iné-
vitable. Elle reste et demeure
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
un rouleau compresseur bien
commandité par un petit
groupe d’acteurs qui orga-
nise l’exploitation de
l’homme par l’homme.
En effet, il est aujourd’hui
clairement établi que ce sont
les pays pauvres qui finan-
cent l’économie de soit di-
sant grandes puissances
avec les différents verse-
ments effectués au titre du
remboursement de la dette,
auxquels s’ajoutent le pillage
de nos ressources naturelles
qui n’a jamais cesser malgré
notre semblant d’indépen-
dance.
A u regard de ce qui précède
que faire ? Allons nous assis-
ter passivement au démantè-
lement et à la remise en
cause de nos acquis socio-
économique et politiques, ar-
rachés très souvent de haute
lutte ? Assurément non !
Il est donc urgent et indis-
pensable tout d’abord de
bien comprendre ce phéno-
mène, cette nébuleuse qui
n’a d’autre finalité que
d’étendre ces tentacules
jusque dans les moindres
sphères socio-économiques
pour contrôler la production
de la richesse et mieux l’ex-
ploiter à son unique profit. Il
nous incombe dès lors à
nous travailleurs, à nous
force prolétariennes, à nous
jeunesse de la diaspora, et à
nous Yowli de nous battre en
conséquence pour faire
triompher l’équité et la justice.
YOWLI 41
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO :

Violences sexuelles contre
femmes et jeunes filles :
UNE ARME DE GUERRE
Anuarite Kabuo Kalunga
(25 ans, RDC)

Depuis 1994, la partie Est de la RDC, est le théâtre de viols récurrents,

en masse, à une echelle qui défie l’entendement. Le phénomène est de-
venu une arme de guerre utilisée pour anéantir les populations civiles.
Les milices savent, en effet, qu'une fois les femmes et les jeunes filles
neutralisées, il est possible d’aneantir la source de production des pro-
duits vivriers au sein des communautés ciblées, et, conséquemment, de
parvenir à une paralysie foudroyante de ces communautés.

A titre d'exemple, une femme qui s’etait refugiée
dans les grottes volcaniques par peur de repré-
sailles des milices a été retrouvée à moitié morte du
fait qu'elle a passé 2 jours sans manger et sans
nouvelles de sa famille. Pleurant à chaudes larmes,
elle a expliqué lorsqu’elle a été retrouvée, comment
sa propre mère, agée de 70 ans, a été violée par les
miliciens et est morte brutalement par suite d’un
arrêt cardiaque provoqué par les assauts sexuels
répétés de ses tortionnaires. Cette scene d’horreur
s’est deroulée, nous dit le témoin, en présence de
deux des petites filles de l’infortunée: Ces dernières
ont été elles-mêmes sauvagement violées, en série
et de manière répétitive. La plus âgée de ces jeunes
filles avait 16 ans. Par suite de ces viols en serie, elle
est tombée enceinte. La plus jeune, 12 ans, souffre
à present d’une fistule vésico-vaginale du fait que
ses organes reproducteurs ont été littéralement
saccagés .
Une jeune fille agée de 17 ans témoigne aussi le
calvaire qu'elle a vécu : “Ma famille habite à 1km
du camp militaire. Je suis orpheline d’une mère
tuée au début de la guerre. Fille unique, j’habite
avec mon père et mes petits frères. Un soir, pen-
dant que je préparais à manger pour la famille, en
l’absence de mes petits frères qui introduits dans la
maison. Ils m’ont violée. C'était horrible parce que
j’étais encore vièrge. Après cet acte barbare, ils se
sont enfuis dans la forêt. Les femmes du village
m'ont acheminée à l'hôpital. Deux jours après mes
premiers soins, en retournant au village, 2 des
memes militaires sont encore revenus chez moi et
ont violé l’épouse de mon père en sa presence et
celle de mes frères qui ont tous été aussi maltraités
par ces miliciens armés”.
Dans le troisième exemple, une femme a eu un en-
fant suite aux violences sexuelles. Elle ne voulait
pas de cet enfant et son mari non plus qui lui a re-
commandé de tuer l’enfant ou de l'abandonner
dans la forêt. La femme n'étant pas d'accord, son
mari a finalement decide d’épouser une séconde
femme.
Dans la region Est du pays, les violences sexuelles
ne sont pas punies avec la corruption ambiante
dans le système judiciaire et du fait que les familles
pauvres gardent un silence résigné. Ce constat a
été avalisé par les enquêtes croisées des femmes
qui luttent contre les violences sexuelles.

YOWLI
42 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Le fait de prioriser l'argent en
premier lieu, crée un déficit des
structures judiciaires et ces der-
niers ne permettent pas la prise
en charge des victimes des vio-
lences sexuelles sur le plan juri-
dique, ce qui entraîne
l’aggrqvqtion exponentielle de ce
fléau dans la région. Pourtant la
Constitution congolaise
condamne et punit les actes de
violences sexuelles contre les
femmes et stipule : “Les pouvoirs
publics veillent à l'élimination des
violences sexuelles utilisées
comme arme de déstabilisation
ou de dislocation de la famille”.
Mais sur le plan pratique, il n'y
pas d'application de la loi fonda-
mentale. Or, la violence sexuelle
perpétrée à travers le viol parti-
cipe d’une humiliation morale
pire que le fait d'être tuée car la
victime se sent souillée à jamais.
Mais, il n'est pas encore tard
pour veiller à l’application de la
loi, lutter contre et vaincre les
violences sexuelles faites à la
femme congolaise. Cette mission
incombe à la nation congolaise, à
toutes les populations et à la
communauté africaine et interna-
tionale travaillant la main dans la
main.

Anuarite Kabuo Kalunga

Interviewee par Sophie NZinga Sy

L’horreur à l’état brut au Nord Kivu

« On force les garçons à coucher avec leur propres mères devant toute la
famille. En cas de refus, tous sont executes par les miliciens armes… »

Parlez-moi de vous et ce que problème parce que ceux qui vivent très mal là-bas et la vie est très péni-
filles se prostituent pour pouvoir man-
vous faites dans la vie. dans les milieux urbains sont dépen- ble. Par exemple, les gens vivent sousger. Nous avons aussi des femmes
dants en matière de nourriture des desha- feuilles d’arbres ou sous des toiles
rwandaises qui viennent au Congo
Je suis originaire du Congo-Kinshasa,
bitants et agriculteurs vivant dans les
très fragiles et quand il pleut tout se
pour se prostituer à cause de la grande
précisément dans la Province du Nord
milieux ruraux. Ces derniers finissentmouille et on doit recommencer a zéro demande. Maintenant quand elles sont
Kivu. À propos de mon expérience pro-
par fuir leurs villages parce qu’ils sont
pour refaire un abri.Cela provoqueau travail, elles se font payer quelques
fessionnelle, je travaille avec les jeunes
terrorisés par les rebelles. beaucoup de maladies, surtout parmi fois 5 dollars ou moins avec un préser-
filles et femmes qui ont été victimes Peux-tu
de me donner un exemple
les enfants. Il y a même des cas ouvatif. D’autres fois quand le client de-
violences sexuelles.Avec les jeunesde violence sexuelle que les re-
des bébés ou des enfants en bas âgemande d’avoir une relation sexuelle
belles infligent aux femmes ?
filles, nous les aidons à s'intégrer dans
meurent parce qu’une tente est tombée sans préservatif, elles sont payées 8 à
la société à nouveau et nous faisonsTuunpeux être chez toi, avec ton mari et
sur eux. A part ça le problème de la10fa- dollars. C’est très difficile de les
encadrement psychosocial pour tes enfants et tout d’un coup les re-
mine pose un très grand problème ;faire arrêter à cause de la famine et
qu’elles arrivent à s’intégrer de nou-belles s’introduisent dans la maison et
parfois il y a des organisations huma-aussi elles doivent faire vivre leurs en-
veau dans la société afin qu’elles soit
tabassent le mari et les enfants et les
nitaires qui distribuent à manger pourfants. La prostitution c’est un grand
acceptées par tout le monde.Il y a immobilise. Après cela, ils s’acharnent
un mois entier, mais ils ne donnentmoyen
Quellesdesont survie
vos pour beaucoupende pe-
impressions
beaucoup de cas de divorce à causesur la femme et la viole devant le mari
Qui est ce quisexuelles
commet quices survien-
vio- que des quantités insignifiantes qui
tites filles et jeunes femmes.
général du programme Yowli ?
des violences et même devant les enfants. Ils sont
lences sexuelles la dans la plu- correspondent à 2 jours pour toute
nent dans les ménages. quelques fois, cinq, dix, quinze ou Le programme Yowli est tres important
part des cas ? une famille. Alors cinq à 10 personnes
même une vingtaine a tous violé la pour moi et pour mon pays parce qu’en
Dans la plupart des cas, les viols sont quelques fois n’ont que 2 jours de
femme en même temps. Si la femme participant à cette formation, j’ai appris
commis par les hommes en tenue, essaie de résister elle est automatique- nourriture pour une durée d’un mois.
beaucoup de choses que j’ignorais et
c’est-à-dire les militaires, puisque ment
mon tuée en insérant un pistolet dans Les enfants meurent devant leurs pa-
qui pourront m’aider a mieux vulgari-
pays est en guerre depuis 14 ans, Les rents tous les jours à cause de la fa-
son vagin et … aussi quelques fois, ils ser les violences faites aux femmes. Je
femmes et les enfants en sont les pre- mine. Aussi pour les vêtements,
insèrent une branche d'arbre dans le lance un appel à nos dirigeants pour
mières victimes. La violence sexuelle certaines personnes restent 6 mois
vagin de la femme, ce qui peut appor- qu’il y ai plus d’initiatives de cette
commise contre les jeunes, filles etter des complications très sérieuses. avec un seul vêtement. Ici, c’est le pa-
Et la prostitution? J’imagine sorte. Je saute aussi sur cette occasion
femmes au Congo, est utilisée comme radis comparé au Congo. Tu peux te
Dans certains cas aussi, on force les qu’elle doit être un sérieux pro- pour dire que les grandes organisa-
une arme de guerre. C’est-à-dire Vous travaillez aussi coucher sans entendre des fusillades la
garçons à coucher avecavec
leur beau-
propreblème ? tions humanitaires au Congo ne font
coup
qu’elle est utilisée pour terroriser les de réfugies,
mère devant parlez-
toute leur moi Ils nuit.
famille. sont
Le poisson et la viande, c’est
Oui en effet, c’est pasvi- leur travail, mais ce sont les petites
gens qui vivent dans les milieux ru-des problèmes qu’ils rencontrent comme de l’or. Lestrès sérieux.
réfugiés Nous
n’en man-
exécutés et torturés s’ils refusent. vons dans la partie Est du Congo qui organisations
a tels que AWOMI qui font
raux.Cela déstabilise les hommes etune fois qu'ils s'installent. gent jamais !
une frontière avec le Rwanda. Au plus de travail. Je pense que cela
femmes dans leur vie quotidienne et Dans les camps des réfugiés, ils vivent
Congo beaucoup de femmes et petites pourra changer beaucoup de choses si
leur ménage et éventuellement la com- l’on continue de travailler avec les
munauté entière souffre de ces vio- jeunes.
lences. Ceci crée un très grand
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 43
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Le sourire perdu …

Cynthia Kanyere
(Republique Democratique du Congo)

La femme du Sud Kivu, pilier économique de sa famille et

de toute la communauté, a été détruite jusqu’au plus pro-
fond de son être. Elle, la personne à mille bras, se trouve
aujourd’hui anéantie par le poids des conflits armés dont
elle est victime. Elle est violée, méprisée et marginalisée.
Rendue malade par les atrocités qu’elle a subies, elle se
trouve incapable de continuer à remplir son rôle d’épouse
et de mère. Va – t – elle croiser les bras et subir passive-
ment le lourd fardeau de son triste sort ? Entre temps elle
a perdu ce qu’elle avait de plus cher : son sourire.

Angelica est native d’un village
de Kaniola, en territoire de
Ngweshe, à plus ou moins
200km de la ville de Bukavu,
chef-lieu de la province du Sud
Kivu. Cette province est l’une
des onze provinces que compte
la RD Congo. Angelica passe
ses journées entre les travaux
des champs, l’éducation des
enfants et les tâches ména-
gères. Mais quelque chose mit
fin à l’harmonie familiale qui
faisait son bonheur. Voici son
témoignage.
« Un jour une dizaine
d’hommes armés ont envahi
notre maison. C’était à une
heure du matin. Il y a de cela
six ans. Ils parlaient le kinyar-
wanda. Ils ont battu et ligoté
mon mari. Ils nous ont exigé de
l’argent et ont pris tous les
biens de valeur que nous
avions, y compris notre bétail.
Pendant que les uns fouillaient
la maison, les autres s’occu-
paient de moi. Deux d’entre
eux m’ont violée devant mon
mari. Ils m’ont ensuite obligée
de transporter leur butin. En
route, j’ai constaté que je
n’étais pas la seule captive,
presque tout le village avait été
visité cette nuit là. Des femmes
et des fillettes ont été empor-
tées en forêt où se trouve leur
quartier général. Le lendemain
matin nos bourreaux ont en-
voyé un message au village
pour dire qu’ils exigent une
caution de 200$ pour la libéra-
tion d’une personne. Personne
n’a pu payer cette somme pour
moi. J’ai été tenue en esclavage
sexuel pendant deux mois dans
cette forêt où j’ai mangé de
l’argile et des plantes sauvages.
J’ai cherché une occasion pour
fuir, sachant que si on m’at-

YOWLI
44 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
trape on me tue. Dans ma fuite
j’ai pu atteindre mon village.
Personne n’a osé me regarder
malgré la souffrance qui s’affi-
chait à mon visage. J’étais une
personne indésirable. J’ai ap-
pris que mon mari était très fu-
rieux et qu’il aurait juré qu’il necommunauté. Ils utilisent ainsi
peut plus avoir pour épouse la
femme qui a eu des rapports
sexuels avec des Nterahamwe.
Mes enfants auraient fui pour
se réfugier en ville, où c’est re- L’insécurité persistante dans
lativement calme.
« J’étais très souffrante ; je sai-principale des violences
gnais continuellement. J’ai ren-sexuelles faites aux femmes.
contré des gens d’une ONG
qui m‘ont conduite à l’hôpital Les conséquences de ces vio-
de Panzi à Bukavu, où on
soigne gratuitement les vic-
times des violences sexuelles.
Le médecin m’avait dit que
pour être sauvée, il devrait en-
lever tout ce qui restait de mon
appareil génital. Car, selon lui,
il était complètement détruit à
cause des viols répétitifs et
toutes sortes d’objets que mes
bourreaux y avaient introduits
Angelica
». est l’une des milliers
de femmes qui ont été violées
au Sud Kivu pendant ces douze
dernières années. Parmi elles,
il y en a qui ont été violées à
deux ou trois reprises et à des
périodes différentes.
L’Association des femmes des
médias du Sud Kivu, AFEM/SK
pour laquelle je travaille, s’est
beaucoup intéressée à la ques-
tion des violences faites à la
femme. En tant que journaliste,
j’ai personnellement interviewé
plusieurs victimes des vio-
lences sexuelles. Elles affir-
ment que les bourreaux sont
dans la plupart des cas des
combattants hutu rwandais.
Ces derniers sont conscients
du rôle primordial que joue la
femme du Sud Kivu dans l’éco-
nomie et la survie de toute la
les violences sexuelles comme
arme de guerre pour anéantir
toute la communauté à travers
la femme, elle qui porte la vie.
cette partie Est du Congo-
Kinshasa est donc la cause
lences sexuelles sont entre au-
tres : la propagation du
VIH/Sida, les fistules chez les
femmes, la présence dans la
communauté des enfants indé-
sirables issus du viol, des trau-
matismes, la perte de confiance
et d’estime de soi chez les vic-
times... A cela s’ajoutent
l’exode rural et la rareté des
produits agricoles sur le marché.
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
Les ONG féminines locales re-
groupées au sein du Cacus des
femmes congolaises du Sud
Kivu pour la paix, se déploient
pour soulager tant soit peu la
souffrance des victimes des
violences sexuelles. Elles leur
apportent de l’assistance médi-
cale, psychologique, socioéco-
nomique et juridique. Le
gouvernement congolais a pro-
mis de mettre en place un fond
social pour assister ces
femmes, mais rien n’est fait
jusque là.
Malgré leur calvaire, les survi-
vantes des violences sexuelles
continuent à porter tant bien
que mal le fardeau de leur fa-
mille.
La santé d’Angelica est actuel-
lement précaire. Cependant,
elle a décidé de devenir por-
teuse des faix pour trouver de
quoi manger dans cette ville où
tout s’achète. Elle transporte
sur son dos des colis ayant 30 à
50kgs de plus que son poids.
Ainsi elle parvient à nourrir ses
enfants qu’elle avait rencontrés
à Bukavu. Comme un pélican,
elle est prête au sacrifice su-
prême pourvu que ses enfants
vivent.
Angelica a perdu ce qui faisait
sa joie de vivre : LE SOURIRE.
Selon elle, il n’est plus possible
de récupérer ce qu’elle avait de
plus cher. Mais elle garde es-
poir : « Lorsque les combat-
tants hutu rwandais seront
rapatriés dans leur pays, nous
pourrons retourner dans notre
village et refaire nos vies ».
YOWLI 45
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Are you okay with this?

Rachel Giacchero
(29; Ethiopia)

Bruck was 4 years old when I met him. He was a few days old, abandoned
in the streets and left to die because he was born with HIV. He was un-
wanted, unloved and therefore cast away. He was then taken in and got
his name which means ‘blessed’ in Amharic.

Whenever I saw Bruck, he ran, hug-
ged me and kissed me over and over
again. He was a happy child, always
laughing, knew some of the alpha-
bets and could count to ten. He loved
rolling around on the garden grass
while laughing hilariously. If I see-
med down for any reason, he would
hug me tightly and ask, ‘are you
okay?’ I could never really answer.
He always looked at me intensely
with his big brown eyes when talking
to me and I always felt as if he was
searching my soul for answers. Un-
like most of my friends who asked
out of courtesy, my Bruck asked out
of pure concern so I could never
reply spontaneously to him. What
could I say? He was only 4 years old.
Then Bruck started to get sick and
weaker. One day he asked me if I
could take him for a ride in a car. I
asked a friend to help me out and
when we went to get Bruck, he was
gone. I was devastated.
No one asks me now if I’m okay to
genuinely find out if there’s anything
going on with me and when I do talk
about problems; people just don’t
want to listen. But Bruck taught me
how to make it okay. He taught me
that it was all up to me to make things
okay and to make the changes that I
want to see happen, big or small.
This article is an opportunity for me
to pass on a message about what I
did to make a difference.
Today, thousands of research papers
YOWLI
46 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
are produced by highly educated citi-
zens and institutions on the existing
situations and how to deal with the
problems we face regarding women,
children and HIV/AIDS. These docu-
ments are inked on paper, gloriously
presented, discussed at length, ap-
plauded and then left on shelves to be
forgotten. People tend to come toge-
ther to talk about such issues, spend a
lot of time theorizing and making
propositions about possible solutions
but nothing much really happens.
When are we going to take this into
our own hands? When are we going
to stop waiting for those with the re-
sources to make the difference we
want to see today? When are we
going to make something positive
happen?
As a young woman, I want to have a
child born out of love and to raise my
child with all the love and affection
that all children have a right to. Don’t
you want a child to run to you, hug
you and kiss you a thousand times?
Don’t you want to hear the beautiful
sound of music made by a child’s
gleeful laughter? Don’t you want to
hear them learn the alphabet and
count to ten? Don’t you want to expe-
rience the real and selfless love that
children give unquestioningly to the
adults that have a responsibility of ta-
king care of them, the environment
they are raised in and their future?
Well it doesn’t take much. Most of us
live in poor countries and are in a
struggle to make ends meet in our
daily lives but all we have to do is
give it our best shot and you would
be surprised about how far that
would go. I now have 36 ‘Brucks’
that I take care of and provide for
their basic needs. Almost all are HIV
positive.
All of us should do what we can,
while we can. You can try by giving
one meal a day to a child that needs it
in your neighborhood. You can try
by sending one child to school or
buying the stationary items needed.
It takes little effort and money but the
impact this effort makes is immense.
Let us stop waiting for the govern-
ment, international institutions or of-
fices and people with power to do it
because if we want to see a diffe-
rence, we better start making it hap-
pen ourselves because women are
resourceful and can make huge im-
pact!
Bruck asked me a simple question
and created something within me.
Now, I feel okay every time my kids
call me mama, when I hear their
laughter, when they hug and kiss me,
and each time I see a positive diffe-
rence in their lives. Let’s start now
and heal hearts, let’s help the hope-
less and show our strength through
compassion to make our world a bet-
ter place.
I am making a difference and feel
okay. How about you? You decide.
 Recognising Women’s
Rights in Africa
Priscilla Hetty Darling Allen
The Gambia

der role leaves women very disempo-

“ The empowerment and autonomy of women and
wered and thus subjected under vio-
the improvement of women’s social, economic and lence situation with no protection from
political status is essential for the achievement of state legal apparatus. A woman’s edu-
both transparent and accountable government and cational level will affect her job oppor-
tunities and her exercise of legal and
administration and sustainable development in all other legal rights.
areas of life. Achieving the goal of equal partner-
ship of women and men in decision making will Looking at women’s labour rights and
provide a balance that more accurately reflects the unfair treatment with no support from
the state, I take an example about the
composition of society and is needed in order to Pink Lake or Lac Rose in Senegal where
strengthen democracy and promote its proper both men and women are engaged in
functioning” (“ Gender issues and Achievements the extraction of salt but the women get
lesser pay. I have seen the work that the
of Women”, United Nations Platform For Action, women do and what they are being
Para 109, March 2001). paid at the end of the day. It’s just too
small. Women carry buckets of salt
about 50 times back and forth the boats
We talk about human rights everyday and justice should be enforced. in a day for just an average sum of CFA
but yet still everyday people, particu- 1 000, it is a very tedious job for the
larly, women, are consistently deprived Most of these leaders use the opportu- women and they are exposed to many
of their most basic rights. Many do not nities at their disposals to enrich them- forms of sicknesses which the little
even know what these rights are and selves and live a very high life while amount of money they earned would
whether they can rely on them to live a forgetting that there are people who take care of and with this same amount
dignified life. are homeless, starving, uneducated, they need to take care of their children
weak and marginalised. and at the end not much of the money
African governments have ratified the
mMost governments now endorse the can be saved in order to buy a boat of
African Charter on Human and People’s
need to improve the status of women, their own because as of now only the
Rights and other human rights instru-
although there is widespread agree- male own boats. What are African go-
ments (i.e. The Convention on the Eli-
ment that development should be vernments doing about all of these si-
mination of All Forms of Discrimination
broad-based, women often remain mar- tuations women are subjected to?
Against Women; and the Maputo proto-
ginalized in the process. Neglecting Where are the laws and policies to en-
col). However, one would wonder the
women in social, economic and political sure equal treatment for women and re-
essence of their ratification when these
development will produce negative im- cognition of their services? Majority of
instruments are yet to be recognised
pact in nations and therefore depriving African leaders neglect these facts and
and respected. Are they really adhering
women equal right to develop too. women continue to suffer under every
to them? Were they just like ink on Women are composed of a greater part
paper? How can we even ask them the of the work force compared to men but form
It is ofonabsolute
condition throughout
importance their
that women
question why? When we do not even these are most unpaid labour and are lives.
are treated equally and their rights be
have freedom of speech in the first never appreciated or regarded as work. recognised under all sectors of our so-
place. In most African homes, the men prefer cieties. A call for action for leaders to
Politically, ratification of instruments be responsible for implementing instru-
their women to stay home and become
only reflects formal equality while subs- ments on behalf of women domestica-
housewives instead of getting a paid
tantive equality is yet to be actualized ting them into national laws to ensure
job but yet still the work that they do at
for African women. We wanted a go- equality and justice for women and
home is not regarded as work and the-
vernment of the people for the people fully recognising women work and
refore the men feel they work harder
and by the people, where equal rights worth toward development.
than their wives. This stereotype gen-

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 47
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Violence conjugale :
socialement tolérée

Ndeye Coumba Diallo

(Sénégal)

Les violences faites aux femmes constituent un frein au dé-

veloppement de la société. Elles restent aussi un phéno-
mène mondial qui touche l’intégrité physique et morale
qui, si on y prend garde, cause des désagréments, un trau-
matisme. Elles sont pour la plupart d’ordre sexuel, psycho-
logique, économique, physique mais surtout conjugal. La
violence au sein des couples est un phénomène qui,
contrairement à l’idée reçue, a tendance à s’aggraver en
Afrique. Elle est manifeste partout au Sénégal à cause de
la disparité hommes et femmes dans la prise des décisions.
Elle n’est pas causée non plus par la fragilité de la femme
mais elle est plutôt le résultat du système patriarcal qui
offre trop de pouvoirs à l’homme.

Le comportement violent d’un de toutes formes de Discrimina-

homme à l’égard d’une femme
est légitimé, voire encouragé par
l’entourage familial et par la so-
ciété. Les violences conjugales
sont considérées comme une
question d’ordre privé, un pro-
blème intime et interne au cou-
ple qui doit être réglé au sein de
la famille. Avec la ratification de
la Convention sur l’Elimination
tion à l’Egard des Femmes
(CEDEF) et du Protocole à la
charte Africaine des Droits de
l’Homme et des Peuples aux
droits des femmes en Afrique,
plusieurs lois ont été votées pour
la protection des droits de la
femme. Certaines femmes igno-
rent encore l’existence de ces lois
mais aussi que le code pénal sé-

YOWLI
48 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
négalais punit les violences
faites aux femmes. Contraire-
ment à la religion chrétienne,
les pesanteurs socioculturelles,
certaines croyances et cou-
tumes ainsi que la religion mu-
sulmane notamment
contribuent également à favo-
riser les violences.
Certaines femmes victimes de
violences s’engagent à ester en
justice, mais une fois le mo-
ment venu de se présenter de-
vant le juge pour entamer la
procédure, elles se rétractent
affirmant que leur problème a
été résolu à l’amiable. Elles ont
peur du jugement des autres
en exposant leur vie privée sur
la place publique. Ceci peut
être illustré par un cas plus
concret.
Aïssatou, une femme qui est
venue se confier au Centre de
Lutte contre les Violences
faites aux Femmes (CLVF), est
mariée depuis 10 ans. Au
début, à chaque fois une dis-
pute, son mari lui criait dessus,
lui donnait des claques, et puis
peu à peu, il a commencé à la
battre plus fort. Elle ne sait pas
combien de temps cela a duré,
mais elle n’en pouvait plus,
alors elle est allée se plaindre à
la gendarmerie. Une fois
munie d’un certificat médical,
elle s’est attiré les foudres de
son beau-frère, qui a immédia-
tement retiré le dossier des
mains des autorités. Au Séné-
gal, trop peu de femmes osent
admettre qu’elles sont battues
à cause des pesanteurs so-
ciales, économiques et d’une
méconnaissance et non infor-
mation de leurs droits, et
quand elles résistent, elles sont
victimes de pressions énormes
de la part de leur entourage.
Selon la straification sociale, la
femme doit être la subalterne
de l’homme. Elle doit suivre
l’homme même si l’expression
de sa domination se fait de ma-
nière violente.
Ces circonstances aggra-
vantes devront être appliquées
lorsque les violences auront
été commises par le conjoint.
Mais certains magistrats pour
sauver la vie de couple, font
bénéficier à l’époux ayant
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
commis des violences conju-
gales d’une mesure de sursis
alors que l’Article 297 bis du
Code Pénal prévoit que pour
ces infractions, le sursis est lé-
galement interdit. Cette situa-
tion est due à la non
application des lois actuelles et
à la non reconnaissance en
matière civile de la femme la
même capacité juridique que
l’homme. Il est judicieux de
créer ou de proposer des ser-
vices gratuits pour les femmes.
Il faut également qu’il y ait des
avocats et des avocates dû-
ment formés, capables de
conseiller et d’aider les vic-
times à prendre une décision
en reconnaissance de cause.
Ainsi si le problème est abordé
ouvertement, si les popula-
tions, les imams, les dignitaires
musulmans, mais surtout les
jeunes, particulièrement in-
fluents au sein de la société sé-
négalaise, sont encouragés à
en parler, cela pourrait permet-
tre de stigmatiser davantage
les violences faites aux
femmes.
The Yowli participants
chartting with Armah Ayi
Kwei, one of the most
celebrated African writers
YOWLI 49
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS
GENRE ET IMPUNITÉ
en Côte d’Ivoire
Claudine Kouamé
(Côte d’Ivoire)
Depuis le début de la crise, ni le gou-
vernement ivoirien ni les dirigeants
des Forces Nouvelles, ou la commu-
nauté internationale n’ont fait d’ef-
forts conséquents pour traduire en
justice les criminels responsables
des violences sexuelles et d’autres
violations sérieuses voire crapu-
leuses du droit humanitaire interna-
tional et des droits de l’homme – y
compris ceux des plus ignobles vio-
lences sexuelles. Ces lacunes ont
contribué à un environnement d’illé-
galité dans lequel prévaut une impu-
nité flagrante et où les violences
faites aux femmes demeurent un sé-
rieux problème.
En dépit des demandes d’informa-
tions auprès des autorités et de re-
cherches avec des représentants de
l’ONU, les ONG ivoiriennes tant
qu’internationales, Human Rights
Watch n’a pas pu découvrir d’infor-
mations sur une seule poursuite en
justice qui se serait soldée par une
conviction dans un cas de violence
sexuelle commis par un membre
d’un groupe armé – dans les tribu-
naux du gouvernement au sud tant
que dans les zones sous l’adminis-
tration des Forces Nouvelles. La
YOWLI
50 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Commission d’enquête internatio-
nale mandatée par les Nations Unies
pour procéder à des investigations
sur les allégations de violations des
droits humains en Côte d’Ivoire de
2002 à 2004 ont produit un rapport
critique à cet égard. Le rapport final
fut étouffé aux Nations Unies, mais
une version a été diffusée clandesti-
nement. Dans ce rapport, la Com-
mission nota, « tous ceux ayant
commis des crimes de sang, qu'ils
soient putschistes, soldats gouverne-
mentaux, gendarmes, policiers et au-
tres, n'ont pas vu les poursuites
pénales engagées à leur encontre
ou, pour celles qui ont été engagées,
menées à leur terme. » La Commis-
sion souligna que « cela a entraîné
la frustration des victimes à qui jus-
tice n'a pas encore été rendue.
L’absence de poursuites en justice
paraît découler de plusieurs facteurs
incluant la réticence ou l’incapacité
des victimes de poursuivre leurs cas
; Elles hésitent à s’exprimer de peur
d’amener la honte sur leur famille et
de se retrouver rejetées dans leurs
communautés.
L’effondrement du système légal au
nord, l’inefficacité et la corruption
phénomène généralisé dans le
système légal au sud, L’ab-
sence de définition du viol
dans le Code pénal ivoirien fa-
vorise cette atmosphère d’im-
punité, l’absence de volonté
politique et des attitudes cul-
turelles qui négligent le sé-
rieux de la violence sexuelle et
marginalisent ses victimes.
En plus de ces entraves pro-
fondes à la justice, Président
Laurent Gbagbo a signé en
avril 2007 une loi d’amnistie
pour les crimes contre l’état
dans le contexte de l’Accord
de paix de Ouagadougou et
les autres initiatives récentes
pour réunir le pays.
Cette loi n’amnistie pas les
crimes économiques et les
crimes selon le droit pénal
ivoirien sauf quand des indivi-
duels commirent des crimes
contre la sécurité de l’État et la
défense nationale ou là où des
individus commirent des
crimes en défendant les insti-
tutions républicains. L’amnis-
tie ne mentionne pas
l’impossibilité d’amnistier des
crimes de guerre ou crimes
contre l’humanité. L’amnistie
pourrait être interprétée de
façon trop large, pour blan-
chir d’innombrables abus à
l’encontre des civils.
Dans les zones sud de la Côte
d’Ivoire contrôlées par le gou-
vernement, les cas de vio-
lences sexuelles de tous types
sont rarement suivis d’une en-
quête et poursuivies en jus-
tice. Il en résulte une impunité
quasi totale, surtout pour les
violences sexuelles liées au
conflit, commises par les
forces armées pro-gouverne- L’impunité reste la norme
mentales. De même, les pro- pour beaucoup de crimes au
grès sont maigres, voire non nord rebelle, y compris les
existants même dans les rares crimes de violence sexuelle. Il
cas de violences sexuelles mé- n’y a point de système judi-
diatisées ou des survivants ciaire capable d’assurer des
courageux ont parlé ouverte- garanties pour un procès
ment des supplices qu’ils ont équitable qui respecterait les
vécu, et se sont engagés pour normes internationales. Le
que les commanditaires soient système judiciaire officiel au
poursuivis en justice. nord s’effondra suite à l’irrup-
L’entrave principale à la jus- tion des hostilités armées de
tice dans la zone gouverne- fin 2002.Prisons, tribunaux, et
mentale, au sud, découle du autres bâtiments furent sacca-
manque de volonté politique gés et la plupart du personnel
pour poursuivre des membres judiciaire s’est enfui au sud
des forces sécuritaires soup- (avocats et juges).
çonnées d’abus sexuels.
Recommandations
Les parents doivent assumer leurs responsabilités en ap-
portant soutient et assistance à leurs enfants victimes de
violences sexuelles.
L’Etat doit Recruter et former davantage de femmes char-
gées de faire appliquer la loi afin de répondre aux besoins
des victimes de violence sexuelle basée sur le genre. For-
mer d’avantage les membres des forces de sécurité sur le
droit international humanitaire et les droits humains, sur
les droits des femmes et les crimes basés sur le genre.
Renforcer la participation des femmes dans la planifi-
cation et la mise en œuvre du processus de paix, de re-
construction et de réhabilitation. Assurer aux femmes les
moyens d’action pour élaborer des réponses aux vio-
lences sexuelles et basées sur le genre, et pour formuler
des programmes de prévention de la violence. Punir les
responsables pour éviter que cela ne continue les mo-
ments de hautes tensions politiques comme pendant les
élections
Les femmes et les jeunes filles leaders doivent former un
réseau pour prendre le devant des choses.
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 51
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

THE GHANAIAN GIRL CHILD

AND ALMS BEGGING

Rita Asombala
(25; Ghana)

Ama is a thirteen year old orphan girl who got pregnant

by a blind man, Adongo, whom she was asked to assist in
begging for alms on the street. She was given to Adongo
as a wife. So it was obligatory for her to assist him beg
and do everything. Ama did not get support from anybody
because she was considered a ‘bad’ girl and so exposed
her to lots of discrimination among her peers, young
women and men, adults and even older people. She hardly
had a square meal per day and constantly fell sick and
never taking to the hospital because she and her so-called
husband did not register under the Ghanaian National
Health Insurance Scheme and also lacked money to cater
for hospital bills. Straight forward, so many things run
through my mind: what is a minor doing on the street ins-
tead of being in school? An orphan who is pregnant?
What kinds of risk would she be exposed to, who are
those who have kept her in this “bottle” couldn’t some-
thing be done?

YOWLI
52 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Many children (especially girls)
like Ama and others who are
sent on errands are being used
on our streets assisting the di-
sabled to beg for money, food,
soap, clothes among others.
These children like, Ama, often
have no education, lack good
nutrition and health, and their
needs (clothing, shelter and
food) are not met. The streets
also expose them to so many
challenges such as: early child
marriage, which leads to tee-
nage pregnancy and which
perhaps, would have dange-
rous side effects like obstetric
fistula and dying in child birth.
Street girls are also being used
as domestic servants they are
also more vulnerable to rape
and sexual harassments which
tend exposes them to sexually
diseases especially HIV/AIDS.
If children are our future, then
why are some of our future
leaders left out on the street to
face all these problems. Who
will lead us tomorrow when
we are no more? Should they
be illiterate, malnourished and
sick leaders who have no
where to lay their heads, be
those to take over after us? The
answer is obviously no. So in
this case, there is a need to ask
ourselves these questions:
where are these children’s pa-
rents? What are our leaders
saying or doing? And what is
happening to so many of the
human rights instrument most
of which are signed and recti-
fied by our governments?
We all have obligations with
regards to advancing the
rights of children especially
the girl child as well as the
young woman. Parents have
explicit obligations under the
Convention on the Rights of
the Child. Many African go-
vernments including the Gha-
naian government have signed
all these Human Rights
Conventions as well as the Na-
tional welfare legislation for
the child and the disabled.
Therefore, the state remains
the primary duty bearer under
the international human rights
law to take care of the child
rights. Thus African govern-
ments and for that matter
Ghana, have to know that it is
their duty/obligation to respect
the girls’ right, protect her
from all sort of discriminatory
actions and take progressive
steps to fulfil her rights. That is
putting in place laws, policies
and resources, services and
structures to enable girls to de-
velop well, have a high stan-
dard of health and to live a
good life. For “without ensu-
ring the girl her rights she can
never grow to be the woman
of her right”.
I also think that the over de-
pendence of Africans on fo-
reign aid, capital and expertise
has led to the loss of national
initiative and capacity, the pro-
gressive loss of national sove-
reignty over economic
decision and therefore must be
looked at critically to help fight
for the right of the child (espe-
cially girls) and young women.
For instance, most Africans es-
pecially Ghanaian’s economic
decisions are been defined and
controlled by the IMF and the
World Bank. A clear indication
in Ghana’s economic policies
over the years, such as Econo-
mic Recovery Program (ERP)
under the SAP and the HIPC
Initiatives also under the
Ghana Poverty Reduction Stra-
tegy (GPRS) have failed to ad-
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
dress poverty, create jobs, se-
cure livelihoods, social secu-
rity, improve human
development especially on the
part of women and children. I
think its time women reco-
gnize their right, stand up to it
and call on the Ghanaian go-
vernment to given account for
everything they are responsi-
ble for.
In a nutshell, if the right of the
disabled is actually in practice,
Adongo would have been pro-
tected as a vulnerable person
rather than using a girl to beg
or go as far as impregnating
her. I cry out loud to the
Ghana’s Ministry of Women
and Children’s Affair
(MOWCA) whose main aim is
to promote the welfare of
women and children, des-
ignate government to initiate,
coordinate and monitor gen-
der responsive issues to ensure
equal status for women and
promote rights for children to
help, in making sure that insti-
tutions like; The Domestic Vio-
lence Act, the Convention on
the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), The Inter-
national Covenant on Econo-
mic, Social and Cultural
(CESCR) and other human
rights bodies to actually take-
up their task in the fight for the
child’s and woman’s right. It is
better enforcing these rights
than waiting till the after
mouth of the problems like
that of Ama and perhaps what
to do to Adongo as perpetrator
of the law. Prevention they say
is better than Cure so lets all
be guided.
YOWLI 53
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Sierra Leone:
Assault on Young Girls

Isa Cole
Age: 25
Young Women Leaders
Freetown, Sierra Leone

Sexual exploitation in contemporary Sierra Leone stands a

major challenge that requires a robust approach for chil-
dren to be given an opportunity to grow and gender pa-
rity be reached. Reports have shown that more and more
children are being exploited at home, in schools and in the
community at large. Sexual exploitation related to school
children is an umbrella term, encompassing a variety of
harmful and sexually abusive behaviors and language.

The words “sexual exploitation”

evokes a number of reactions and
feelings. One of the most devastating
is silence – our inability or unwillin-
gness as a nation to speak about this
horrific problem and to bring the
perpetrators to book. Victims suffer
silently as a consequence of the cul-
ture of silence. Victims may be frigh-
tened or intimidated into not telling
people about their experiences. They
may also feel they won’t be believed
or what had happened is their fault.
These feelings may cause them to
hide their pain.
These days, School environment may
by no means be a safe haven for chil-
dren as some teachers do exploit pu-
pils in various ways, especially
sexually. The trends and patterns
have mounted to a crisis level. Num-
ber of rape cases have increased and
a high level of professional miscon-
duct especially by male teachers also.
Young Women Leaders conducted a
research on the “Trends Patterns and
Magnitude of Sexual Exploitation”, in
50 schools with 450 pupils in the
Western Area in 2008. The research

YOWLI
54 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
unearthed a host of issues
faced by school pupils, espe-
cially girls. Among our many
findings, the leading case of
sexual exploitation of pupils
was investigated.
It is works mentionning a lea-
ding case of sexual exploita-
tion of a school girl in the
Western Urban District of
Sierra Leone. The matter is
currently being heard in the
Freetown Magistrate Court.
In this matter, it is alleged that
a teacher, Mr. A. C. sexually
assaulted and kidnapped one
Mamusu Snell, a pupil of one
of the Freetown Secondary
Schools. Mr. A. C. who is tea-
ching at a Secondary School is
also a Counselor of the school
giving him of liberty with the
pupils. He also has an office in
the school where he holds his
counseling sessions.
This matter was reported to
the Police by Mr. B. T. , an
uncle to the school girl T.,
when he discovered that T.
had gone missing for about
two weeks. The matter was in-
vestigated and charged in
court. The reasons why this
case is considered a valid case
of sexual exploitation are as
follows:
The teacher is using his
power to exploit the child
sexually since she is depen-
dent on him for his guidance.
- The counselor, a much stron-
ger man than the girl used
strength as a way of keeping
her prisoner in a small room
for days.
- The issue of abuse: Mamusu
is a child under 18 years of
age, hence having sexual
contact with her is tantamount
to sexual exploitation of a ju-
venile.
- The issue of consent: This
does not exist here as T. is a
minor.
It was further disclosed that, T.
was born out of wedlock and
that her father did not care for
her from her infancy. Very lit-
tle is known of her mother.
During her early childhood,
her father married her step-
mother who despised her. It
was her paternal grandmother
who nurtured her. T.’s grand-
mother, lavished her with
money to make up for the lack
of parental love that her
granddaughter lacked. Even-
tually she became dependent
on money.
Unfortunately the grandmo-
ther died. At this point she
was in a Girls High School.
Alone now, she was once dri-
ven from school for lack of
fees. And she had to turn to
her father, who not only refu-
sed to give her the money but
had her beaten up by his wife.
Consequently, T. missed
school for sometime. Accor-
ding to one of her teachers at
the Girls High School, she
later turned up with the
money for her fees.
After the BECE she could not
make up the grade to remain
at the High School so she had
to go to another School. There
she encountered Mr. A. C.,
who it was learnt makes it his
habit to have his way with the
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
pupils. According to T., Mr. A.
C. took her to his house,
bought her a few things and
locked her in a room, where
he abused her sexually. She
also said that apart from him,
another man also abused her
sexually in the same room at
that same time. When she told
Mr. A. C. that she was pre-
gnant he took her to a doctor
who performed an operation
to terminate the pregnancy.
It was also learnt that at any
time the matter was called up,
everyone except the complai-
nant and the defendant, was
asked to leave the court room.
This prompted a lawyer to
take up the matter to defend
the child.
Mamusu, it was later learnt,
was threatened by Mr. A. C.
that he would kill her if she
continued to testify against
him.
This utterance prompted the
Police to arrest and detain him
at the Prisons. He has since
been released. The matter is
still pending at the Law Court.
Meanwhile Mr. A. C. was
pressured to leave the school
and he is presently teaching at
another Secondary School.
Due to the threats, T. had
since disappeared and no one
knows her whereabouts, with
no one to care for her and
none to pursue her matter. In
the view of Young women
Leaders – Sierra Leone ( the
researcher), this is a case in
which the state should inter-
vene and pursue the matter to
protect the girl’s (women’s)
rights and provide justice.
Otherwise such impunity will
continue to be perpetuated.
YOWLI 55
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Do Not Violate the Rights

of Our Children

Maria Sadick
(23 ; Malawi)

The rights of children are under threat! Just like we

women, there are several declarations and international
charters that endorse the rights of children. However, si-
gning a piece of paper and stating a commitment does not
always translate into action. It is for this reason that
OWACO in Malawi is committed to ensure the rights of
children are mandatory through education and advocacy.
This article will focus on three areas in which advocacy
around children’s rights are being pursued. The first re-
lates to children who own are orphaned.

In 1999 we had a project to setup a showed them without offering any

nursery school for orphaned chil-
dren in Chimwankhunda. This was
one of the first projects of OWACO
whose aim was to provide education
for orphaned children. However,
soon after setting it up we realized
that many of the children were una-
ble to attend the school due to finan-
cial reasons. Moreover no effort was
made by the members of the concer-
ned community to assist these chil-
dren to attain the opportunity being
offered to them. In fact it was quite
disturbing to note the complete di-
sinterest that community members
support. Since accessing education
was paramount, we as OWACO re-
viewed our position and focused on
providing the much needed support
for these children to attain the access
to the education
Our second area of focus is around
early child marriages against which
we advocate. There is a saying “Cha-
rity begins at home’’. Unfortunately,
the violation of children’s rights
usually begins in the homes, as well.
Many villages in Central and Sou-
thern Malawi have annual initiation

YOWLI
56 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
rites called Zinamwali that
aims to teach children about
the responsibilities of mar-
riage and married life. In most
cases, the children (mainly
girls) have barely reached the
legal age of marriage which in
Malawi, is 18 years, and 21
years for males.
After these initiation ceremo-
nies, the children are expected
to act as grown-ups in society,
and as soon after a huge num-
ber of early child marriages
occur. Early marriage comes
at the expense of education,
which most children have to
abandon in order to take up
their new roles as adults, hus-
bands, wives and soon the-
reafter parents in society.
The third area around which
OWACO advocates is general
information and education of
the Malawian children about
their rights, including their
right to education. Children
are classified into four main
groups;
• those who terminate their
primary education prematu-
rely due to lack of finances,
• those who are unable to pur-
sue tertiary education due to
lack of money,
• those who have had no for-
mal education at all and those
who are enrolled in schools
but have no extra-curricular
activities to keep them busy
after classes.
In the case of the first two
groups, we provide financial
support. The individuals with
no formal education are
usually older and have fami-
lies of their own. They provide
vocational training which en-
ables the trainer to making
crafts such as tables, door
mats, brooms, etc. the selling
of these articles allow the trai-
nee to become self sustainable
and derive and income for his/
her family. The last group with
whom we work with are chil-
dren who are enrolled in
school, but do not have after-
care facilities. In this instance
we provide after-school activi-
ties such as reading, watching
educational films and partici-
pating in insightful discus-
sions (particularly on
children’s rights) in order to
help them stay away from so-
cial vices.
The African Commission on
Human and People’s Rights
describes a child as ‘every
human being below the age of
18 years’. It further outlines
the rights of every child in the
African Charter on the Rights
and Welfare of the Child. Ho-
wever, the current conditions
that Malawian children living
in rural areas find themselves
in, leaves a lot to be desired.
It is my hope that all Mala- Queen Ann Zinga led the
wians will be aware of and anti-colonialist struggle in
will support the rights of chil- Angola
dren, especially their right to
education. I believe this is
very important since children
are the future leaders and the-
refore have the power to de-
termine the future state of
events in their societies, coun-
tries and the world as a whole.
It is the responsibility of each
and every one of us to ensure
that every child has equal ac-
cess to education, regardless
of whether they are orphans,
disabled or vulnerable.
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 57
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

THE IMPACT OF CHILD

MARRIAGE

Muna Dol and Nadya Touhami Nadya Touhami

Foundation for Women’s Health Age: 26
and Research (FORWARD) Association Club Mohamed Ali pour La Culture Ouviere
UK Tunisia

Child marriage, also known as early marriage, is defi-

ned as “Any marriage carried out below the age of 18
years, before the girl is physically, physiologically, and
psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities
of marriage and childbearing”. Child marriage
usually refers to two separate social phenomena
which are practiced in some societies.

The first and more widespread practice is that of marrying a young

child to an adult. In practice, it is almost always a young girl married
to a man. The second practice is a form of arranged marriage in
which the parents of two children from different families arrange a fu-
ture marriage. In this practice, the individuals who become betrothed
often do not meet one another until the wedding ceremony, which oc-
curs when they are both of a marriageable age. Which age this is dif-
fers by local custom. In most practicing cultures, this age is at or after
the onset of puberty. Child marriage is always considered as a forced
marriage in most cases, because the decisions about the marriage are
made for underage children without their consent.
Current estimates indicate that approximately 82 million girls aged
10–17 years will be married before they reach 18. Of the 331 million
girls aged 10–19 in developing countries (excluding China), 163 mil-

YOWLI
58 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
lion will be married before
they are 20. Despite many
countries enacting a marria-
geable age of 16-18, custo-
mary marriages are
widespread. Poverty, tradition
and conflict create a high pre-
valence of child marriage in
Sub-Saharan Africa.
The main cause of child mar-
riages is intrinsically linked to
poverty. Where poverty is
acute, a young girl may be re-
garded as an economic bur-
den and her marriage to a
much older man is believed to
benefit the child and her fa-
mily both financially and so-
cially. In communities where
child marriage is practiced,
marriage is regarded as a
transaction, often represen-
ting a significant economic ac-
tivity for a family. A daughter
may be the only commodity a
family has left to be traded
and sometimes girls can be
used as currency or to settle
debts. A girl's marriage may
also take place as a perceived
means of creating stability. In
uncertain times, poor harvest
conditions or war, a family
may believe it is necessary to
ensure the economical 'safety'
of their daughter and family,
through marriage.
In Africa the monetary value
of bride price, or bride wealth,
is linked with marriage. Bride
price is a sum, either in cash
or kind, used to purchase a
bride for her labour and ferti-
lity. In the context of poverty,
the practice of paying bride
price can encourage early
marriage. Young girls, as a re-
source with which their pa-
rents can attain greater to be done to reduce poverty
wealth, are married off at a and increase awareness and
young age for the bride price education amongst the wider
and also as a way for parents community, in order to create
to lessen their economic bur- an equal and prosperous so-
dens. ciety.
It must be emphasized that
child and forced marriage dis-
proportionately affects girls.
They experience the negative
health and social effects of the
practice. In addition, their
marriages are often to signifi-
cantly older men. This creates
further difficulties for girls in
negotiating safe sex and ac-
quiring other decision-making
powers. Overall, the human
rights of child wives are viola-
ted because of their limited
freedom of movement, limited
access to employment, limited
access to health care services
and information, limited ac-
cess to education, and their in-
creased vulnerability to
violence and poverty. Moreo-
ver, because girls brides are
withdrawn from school, the
lack of education and empo-
werment affects the attain-
ment and health levels of their
children. In contrast, a male
child in these countries is still
more likely to gain a full edu-
cation, gain employment/pur-
sue a working life and
therefore they tend to marry
later. In Mali, the girl/boy ratio
of marriage before age 18 is
72:1; in Kenya, 21:1.
Hence it is our view that child
marriage is a gross human
rights violation that perpe-
tuates a cycle of poverty and
disempowers African girls
and women. Therefore, we
submit that more is required
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 59
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Causing your self pain

Nnoli Nwanneka
Age: 28 Lagos, Nigeria

Uwa m o! Uwa m o! [My world, my world]; Anwuo m o! Efuo m o! [I am

dead, I am lost]; Ariri e gbuola m o! [I am dying of grief].
This is the cry of many women at the death of their husbands. It is true that
every marriage will end one day by separation, divorce or death, but no one
ever prepares for death. The death of a spouse severs some of the deepest
emotional bonds established in a lifetime. However, the traumatic expe-
rience, which accompanies death of husbands, tends to be greater on
women than on men when they loose their wives. Whereas the wife imme-
diately becomes the primary suspect for her husband's death, the man is im-
mediately offered an appropriate substitution to comfort him upon the loss
of his wife.

When a woman loses her husband, she goes through physical, emotional
and psychological pain. Many times the one who is to be comforted is ac-
cused, humiliated, dehumananised and suspected of causing herself pain!
I have never been able to understand why it’s the woman’s fault for the
man to die and never the man’s fault when the woman dies. Although
both the widow and the widower experience basically equal pains at the
death of the partner, the Nigerian widow suffers many deprivations,
some of which are inhuman. This discriminatory approach in the practice
of widowhood destabilizes many women. It not only violates the Conven-
tion on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW), some of these traditional practices should not find a place in
any decent and civilised society.

YOWLI
60 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Widowhood practices differ
from one location to another.
However what remains gene-
ral is that in addition to her
loss, the widow is subjected to
the whims of a culture she can
not control and to which she
must submit her self to. The
initial parts of the mourning
period are usually the most
painful. Certain rituals must
be performed within the first
28 days before the widow can
carry out normal activities. In
places like Nanka in Anambra
state, she is not allowed to see
the corpse of her husband. A
woman suspected of killing
her husband is forced to drink
the water used to wash the
husband’s corpse in the belief
that the spirit will strike her
dead! Her hair is shaved (and
pubic hair in some areas) and
burnt. Men are also expected
to mourn their wives, al-
though the expectations
would appear rather minor.
The mandatory seclusion and
restricted mobility of the
widow generally involve the
neglect of personal hygiene
and the denial of many basic
human comforts. This can last
between a period of six
months to one year. She is not
allowed to wear any other
cloth but the sackcloth which
is usually black, though in re-
cent times, some people use
white cloth instead of the tra-
ditional black cloth. She may
not go anywhere there is cele-
bration or stay out till dusk.
In some parts of Igboland as is
in many parts of Africa, the
widow is inherited by her de-
ceased husband’s kinsman
(son or brother). The role is to
bare children if the widow’s
family is considered incom-
plete and to manage the pro-
perty held in trust for her
minor sons. She is under
considerable pressure to have
more children as quickly as
possible particularly if she has
no sons. Many widows may
have to start a new economic
life after the death of the hus-
band. This is because kinship
ties are strong among many
African societies and are often
more emphasised than marital
ties, a widow stands the
chance of loosing access to
property jointly acquired with
her husband. According to
statutory law, a widow is allo-
wed to inherit part of her hus-
band's property and estate
including land. Section 36 of
the Nigerian Marriage Act
provides for the widow in the
following ways:
(a) A widow with children is
entitled to one-third of her
husband's estate;
(b) Where the widow has no
child, she is entitled to half of
her husband's estate.
The above provision indicates
that on paper, a widow is en-
titled to inherit from her hus-
band on his death. But how
does this apply in practice?
Evidence shows that the wi-
dow's rights of inheritance
under the Marriage Act are
completely ignored by the de-
ceased's relatives who regard
the deceased's estate as their
birth right.
In Nigeria, advances are being
made towards the protection
of the rights of women in the
present democratic dispensa-
tion. In 2001, a law was enac-
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
ted in Enugu state which pro-
hibitions the infringement of
widows and widowers funda-
mental rights. The same bill
did not succeed in Edo State
where it was fiercely opposed
by many. One Benin Chief
reacted thus, “the bill will lead
to crisis, if eventually signed
into law by the executive. The
practices guaranteed the pro-
tection of the man (the hus-
band), while alive and it
serves as a deterrent to the
woman or any of the spouses
that is diabolically inclined.
She knows what she will go
through, should the partner
die” (Punch Newspaper).
This is indeed a human rights
challenge and can only be
tackled from a comprehensive
point of view. There is need
for everyone to be involved
for the complete eradication
of every punitive widowhood
practice. The first step to-
wards achieving total freedom
is EDUCATION. Women need
to have affordable access to
justice. Religious leaders and
traditional rulers have a key
role to play at the family and
community level where a
large number of violations
occur. I am convinced that our
collective voices will make an
impact in getting the attention
of the power players who
make the policies for change.
REFERENCES.
Chima Jacob KORIEH; Wi-
dowhood Among the Igbo Of
Eastern Nigeria
Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi (2002);
Widowhood Practices: The
Widows Development Organi-
sation Experience
Punch Newspaper, November
28th 2001
YOWLI 61
 HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Uganda:
Gender and trafficking of
women and girls

Regina Kacwamu
(Uganda)

Human trafficking is the movement of people from one place to

another for purposes of exploitation. It is regarded as modern
day slavery and is a violation of human rights whose conse-
quences extend to health, social and economic spheres of life.
Uganda is both a destination and a source for trafficked women
and girls. In Uganda, trafficking takes two forms; internal traf-
ficking, where young women and girls are taken from rural to
urban areas to work as domestic workers, attendants in bars/res-
taurants/lodges and shops, sex workers, strippers/karaoke dan-
cers and vending. Cross boarder trafficking also happens where
women and girls are moved across boarders primarily for sex
slavery and prostitution.

Like any social issue such as poverty or HIV/AIDS, trafficking is a

gendered issue; that greatly impacts on the lives of poor women
and girls who are lured or coerced into the hands of traffickers
with promises of a good life in cities, marriage, employment and
better education. Although both men and women are vulnerable
to trafficking, women and girls are at higher risk and the impact
is greater on them compared to their male counterparts.

In my view, the root causes of trafficking and subsequent vio-

lence that women and girls face is enshrined in pervasiveness
and attitudes of a patriarchal society that tolerates violence
against women and reinforced by cultural values, globalisation
and gender biases/inequities in society. For instance why would a
parent accept his/her girl child, but not the boy to be trafficked to

YOWLI
62 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
the city for domestic work so-
metimes foregoing education
so that the family can get food
on the table? Why would an
employer (husband in a house
where a girl is working as a
house girl) abuse her sexually
when he has his wife in the
same house? Women and girls
are among the poorest of the
poor and therefore lack eco-
nomically sustainable liveli-
hoods and thus become easy
targets for traffickers.
As much as women and men
are vulnerable, women parti-
cularly engage in prostitution
where exploitation and life
threatening effects are grea-
test. Sometimes they are phy-
sically abused and the gains
from the sex work taken by
pimps and brothel owners. In
my work on children’s rights
in Uganda, I have met chil-
dren trafficked from rural
areas who are employed in
bars as attendants; the bar
owner does not pay them but
they get their daily wage by
enticing customers to have
sex with them for money
which is usually less than
1US$. This derives from the
fact women are seen as sex
objects and therefore can be
exchanged for economic gains
at the expense of their health.
According to research done in
Uganda on trafficking, most
victims face gender based vio-
lence, arising from the exploi-
tative activities they engage
in. For instance, those that en-
gage in prostitution are bea-
ten, not paid and exposed to
HIV infection. Young girls in
domestic service, work long
hours, are physically and
sexually abused by their em-
ployers. This is the same for
girls and young women invol-
ved in karaoke dance and bar
attending. Over 2000 young
women and girls have also
been massively trafficked by
the Lord’s Resistance Army, a
rebel group that is fighting
the Government of Uganda in
the North for sex slavery, do-
mestic service and to act as
wives to rebel commanders.
According to UNICEF, most of
the girls that have returned
from captivity have faced
sexual abuse, forced pre-
gnancy and become infected
with sexually transmitted di-
seases and HIV/AIDS.
Trafficked women and girls
are also traumatised and stig-
matised, as a result loose their
self esteem. Even when they
face reproductive health pro-
blems, they cannot access the
necessary health services and
information because they lack
knowledge on where the ser-
vices are. They also loose out
on the chance of attending
school, meaning that they re-
main illiterate and cannot get
decent employment in future.
More importantly, most vic-
tims do not know that their
rights are being violated. So
the circle of poverty keeps
them engulfed and is transfer-
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
red to the children they pro-
duce. What is more shocking
is that trafficking of women
and girls and the subsequent
violence they face goes unre-
ported and unpunished. Cur-
rently, Uganda does not have
a law on trafficking in per-
sons, although the bill has
been tabled in parliament.
Increasing public education
including life skills training
about trafficking and enlisting
male support in protecting
girls will go along way in
averting this situation and em-
powering women to make
choices on what is good for
them and their children. Im-
proving the economic liveli-
hoods of young women and
girls will also give them the
ability to earn income in safer
ways and not lured with pro-
mises of employment and
good life in cities. Above all,
young women activists need
to pressure governments and
hold them accountable for
protecting the rights of
women and girls by enacting
and enforcing laws on traf-
ficking as well, and building
national values that protect
and support empowerment of
women.
YOWLI 63
 CIVIC & POLITICAL CONCERNS

ZIMBABWE:
Leadership and/or Economy
Spinning Out of Control?

Tomupeishe Maphosa
Age: 26
Hope Africa/YOWLI (Zimbabwe)

Being Zimbabwean, the most common questions and

discussions I am faced with concern Zimbabwe’s eco-
nomy and leadership. Admittedly, the leadership cur-
rently influences the economy; but what can one expect
the leadership to do about an economy that is spinning
out of control? Zimbabwe is entangled in a vicious cycle.
Almost any decision that the leadership makes deeply af-
fects me and/or the next person. Like many Zimbab-
weans, I long accepted that election or no election; so
what? My major hope was simply: what next?

It is difficult to justify whether I be-
lieve in Robert Gabriel Mugabe or
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai; but
what I wholeheartedly know is that I
believe in Zimbabwe. Between the
historic 29 March harmonised elec-
tions and the 27 June presidential
re-run elections, foreign nationals
would mockingly ask “Who is your
president?” Despite the confusion,
obviously Mugabe was and is presi-
dent. Not once did Zimbabwe cease
to exist, nor did any Zimbabwean
cease to strive for her or his country.
Leadership in Africa has proved to
be a challenge. In the colonialists’
language, most of Africa’s leaders
are bad as they are termed despots
and dictators. We continue to be the
‘dark’ continent they believe we are
and it seems we compete with each

YOWLI
64 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
other to prove them correct.
Leadership is essential for any
institution, community and
nation. Most importantly, self
motivated personal leadership
is crucial. For how can you
lead others when you cannot
lead yourself?
Thus, leadership comes with
responsibility. Responsibility
for the people and for one’s
actions. Mugabe has failed to
see that. His ego rules Zim-
babwe ignoring the fact that
he has been in power too long
and he is old. It is time for de-
mocracy to prevail but he will
not let it be so. Instead, he lets
the younger generations
waste away. Natural and
human resources are not used
to the fullest potential. As the
economy deteriorates, ser-
vices such as education and
health deteriorate too. Mu-
gabe has done many wrong
things, but he did not become
a bad leader over night. What
created Mugabe?
The fact is: there is so much to
deal with. The leaders before
him, the leaders around him
and those who hope to be
after him. The leaders before
him, the colonisers, came, saw
and conquered. They took and
they continue to take. What
kind of leaders were they?
Leaders who occupy another
people’s land and give it their
name? Zimbabwe was pre-
viously Rhodesia named after
Cecil John Rhodes, one of the
first white occupiers. Zim-
babwe’s magnificent contribu-
tion to the world’s wonders,
Victoria Falls is named after
the very Queen Victoria in
whose name the white settlers
killed and plundered for per-
sonal benefits. The white oc-
cupiers felt they ‘discovered’
the Falls, despite the people li-
ving around the Falls calling it
Mosi – o – Tunya, a beautiful
and relevant name meaning
‘the smoke that thunders’.
Independence from the Bri-
tish colonialists came in 1980,
but Zimbabwe was faced with
neighbouring South Africa’s
apartheid hostility until 1994.
The existing class and gender
inequalities were exacerbated
by the forced IMF structural
adjustment programmes of
the 1990s, which brought un-
necessary suffering in a coun-
try faced by drought. The IMF
viewed it as a strategy for de-
velopment but it only served
the interests of international
capital, the individual in Zim-
babwe suffered. Mugabe
pointed this out, only to earn
the IMF and World Bank’s
censure.
Mugabe’s reign has had pro-
blems of bad and untimely de-
cisions. 1997 marks the start of
what many people perceive as
Zimbabwe’s decline. Follo-
wing his marriage to a woman
40 years his junior, grants of
non-existent $50,000 were
given to war veterans (and
corrupt individuals who were
never a part of the war of libe-
ration). Money was merely
printed for this purpose. Infla-
tion started…10 years later, in-
flation is still a reality. The
international media has since
labelled Zimbabwe the
‘world’s fastest shrinking eco-
nomy’.
Until 2000, the West viewed
Mugabe as a better leader
compared to other African
leaders. The land occupations
changed that. Mugabe is not
the only leader in the world to
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
hold onto power, but in 2000
he interfered with white inte-
rests – he took land from
white farmers and handed it
to the Black majority. Sud-
denly, the UK had no hold on
Zimbabwe and white interests
from farming, mining and
commerce were threatened.
In 1980, the UK had promised
to give land back to Black
landless Zimbabweans. 20
years later, the land occupa-
tions were inevitable. On the
other hand, Mugabe allowed
the land distribution to go on
for selfish political reasons to
secure his party’s win in the
2000 elections.
The UK and USA have since
sought to punish Mugabe for
reclaiming his people’s land. A
succession of foreign inves-
tors and donor agencies have
pulled out of Zimbabwe. This
in turn, has caused many do-
mestic firms to be declared
bankrupt.
A rash decision claiming to
formalise all business enter-
prises in 2005 saw Operation
Murambatsvina/Restore
Order destroy structures of
micro businesses and unregis-
tered houses. This left families
homeless in the middle of
winter and caused a loss of li-
velihood for mostly women.
This systematic destruction of
property aimed to frustrate
and punish the urban popula-
tion who had consistently not
voted for Mugabe and his
party in the 2000, 2002 and
2005 elections.
This is the context which
moulded a leader. The colonial
context is important as it is
what modern Zimbabwe is
built upon. The UK and US
aim to punish Mugabe for de-
YOWLI 65
 CIVIC & POLITICAL CONCERNS
viating from their plans for
Zimbabwe, but it is the ordi-
nary person like me who suf-
fers. There is a saying that the
personal is political. The per-
sonal definitely has far rea-
ching repercussions in the
moulding of society and cul-
ture. As individuals, our
thoughts and characteristics
have potential to influence our
community. Take my Presi-
dent, for instance, he is deaf to
criticism and stands resolute
in all his decisions. He is led
by his passion for land and
anger against the injustices of
colonialism. This stubborn at-
titude reverberates in any
Zimbabwean as we are hard-
working people who have de-
fied all odds. More so the
women. Not surprisingly, the
food riots of 1998, 2000 and
2003 were begun by groups of
mostly women, some with ba-
bies on their backs.
As always in any African cri-
sis, women pay the price but
try to rise above the suffering.
Women have devised survival
strategies to compensate for
low wages, rising prices and
declining employment oppor-
tunities. Women are involved
in supplementary activities to
augment meagre salaries and
generate money. These activi-
ties include selling vegetables,
basic food stuffs and clothing.
There has been a significant
increase in cross-border tra-
ding as women travel to Zam-
bia, Mozambique, South
Africa, Dubai and China in a
desperate attempt to fend for
their children, family, commu-
nity and country. Some leave
their families to work in me-
nial jobs in the UK hoping to
send money back home. This
has serious social and cultural
repercussions as children are
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66 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
left without parental care.
They often struggle through
school and are prone to abuse.
Sex work also occurs when
crossing borders. The spouse
left at home may also be un-
faithful, thus complicating the
HIV pandemic and proving
the strong link between HIV
and poverty.
Women in Zimbabwe and
Africa as a whole have been
brought to the fore with re-
gards to the micro-economic
level. Their influence of the
macro-economic level will
only be felt if they are present
in the leadership of the nation.
Continued criticism of the cur-
rent leadership has shown
that one cannot separate lea-
dership, the person, his ac-
tions and his experiences. Not
surprisingly as we live in a pa-
triarchal society, the person
(leader) is a man. Definitions
of manhood and leadership
include diplomacy, oratory
skills, education, money, cha-
risma, and the number of sup-
porters. And then what?
My involvement with women
leadership and particularly
young women’s leadership,
has however, led me to find al-
ternatives. What I am looking
for is that unbreakable thread
of moral fibre that gently but
firmly weaves through and
holds together womanhood
and leadership. These quali-
ties include integrity, honesty,
truth, hard work and fairness
which are proving to be ab-
sent from the men and male
leadership in Zimbabwe and
Africa.
Men are finding leadership
burdensome. The expression
‘are you man enough?’ no lon-
ger holds water as too much
‘man’ has lowered the esteem
of the leader. Being a man
wrongly encompasses notions
of violence, abuse of power,
corruption, adultery and miso-
gynism. The definition of
manhood needs to remove all
this and instead seek for dee-
per and wider positive mea-
nings that build boys into
democratic citizens who are
responsible, respectful and
self respecting sons, brothers,
fathers, sexual partners and
leaders.
In 2006, African Feminists
adopted the Charter of Femi-
nist Principles for African Fe-
minists. The charter states that
as ‘feminist leaders we are
committed to making a critical
difference in leadership,
based on the understanding
that the quality of women’s
leadership is even more im-
portant than the numbers of
women in leadership’. A
strong emphasis is placed on
disciplined work ethics guided
by integrity and accountability
at all times. Not only do femi-
nist leaders seek to conti-
nuously expand their
knowledge and information
base but they strengthen multi
generational networks crea-
ting time to nurture, mentor
and provide opportunities for
young feminists in a non-ma-
tronising manner.
Women should no longer be
token figures in men’s quota
systems. African Feminist
Leadership encompasses the
true values of any good leader.
The qualities of an African fe-
minist allow her to be able to
manage the African complexi-
ties of ethnicity, language,
ideology, colonial legacies and
geographical differences.
HALTE AUX POLITIQUES DE PRIVATISATION !!
Le Sénégal n’est pas à vendre

Cheikh Amadou Tidiane Diémé

(28 ans journaliste ; Senegal)

Le Sénégal possédait l’un des secteurs publics les plus

développés en Afrique au Sud du Sahara. Des raisons
historiques liées à la colonisation, mais également des
raisons idéologiques, politiques et sociales expliquent le
développement d’un large secteur public. Sur le plan
économique et social, tout ce qui a été accompli par le
Sénégal jusqu’au début des années 1980, l’a été en
grande partie grâce au secteur public. Aujourd’hui, les
échecs subis et les reculs constatés dans maints do-
maines sont largement imputables à la privatisation im-
posée par la banque mondiale et le FMI.

L’avènement des programmes d’ajus- le secteur privé gère mieux que le

tement structurel (PAS), imposés par
la Banque mondiale et le FMI, à partir
du début des années 1980, commence
le démantèlement systématique du
secteur public, soit par la liquidation
pure et simple des entreprises sous le
contrôle de l’Etat, soit par la privati-
sation. Toutes ces formes de vente
étant accompagnées de pertes mas-
sives d’emplois.
Cette marchandisation vise à transfé-
rer des multinationales pour contrô-
ler l’économie mondiale. Selon eux, «
secteur public ». Dans les faits, ce
mythe ne résiste pas à l’expérience
historique. Par exemple, l’on sait que
la reconstruction de l’Europe de
l’Ouest après la seconde guerre mon-
diale a été essentiellement le fait
d’entreprises publiques très perfor-
mantes.
Pour mieux faire accepter, la banque
mondiale avance l’idée selon laquelle
« le démantèlement du secteur public
par la privatisation des services es-
sentiels, l’eau et l’électricité va contri-

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 CIVIC & POLITICAL CONCERNS
buer à la lutte pour la réduc-
tion de la pauvreté ».
Mais la réalité quotidienne
montre que les privatisations
ont partout accentué la pau-
vreté, par la combinaison de
pertes massives d’emplois, du
renchérissement des produits
ou services et de pertes sèches
pour l’Etat, accentuant ainsi la
dégradation du service public,
en particulier de l’éducation et
de la santé.
L’expérience de l’Afrique et
d’autres pays du Tiers Monde
montre que les privatisations
ont accentué le fossé entre ré-
gions « développées » et ré-
gions peu développées,
notamment entre les zones ur-
baines et rurales. Un tel men-
songe tend une fois de plus à
masquer la réalité derrière les
privatisations qui ne sont rien
d’autre qu’une entreprise de
spoliation de nos pays au pro-
fit d’une poignée de sociétés
transnationales.
C’est en avançant de tels
mythes que la Banque mon-
diale et le FMI ont réussi à
vendre aux pays africains la
supercherie des privatisations,
amenant ainsi ces pays à tout
mettre sur le marché, y com-
pris leurs ressources natu-
relles.
A noter qu’il existe plusieurs
types de privatisation, mais en
Afrique celle qui a été privilé-
giée par le FMI et Banque
mondiale est la cession de ca-
pital par l’Etat au profit d’un
repreneur, le plus souvent
étranger. L’Etat n’a plus aucun
contrôle -ou n’a qu’un
contrôle symbolique- sur la
société et laisse toute la liberté
YOWLI
68 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
aux nouveaux « propriétaires »
d’agir à leur guise. C’était une
exigence de la Banque mon-
diale qui voulait ainsi éviter «
toute interférence de l’Etat »
dans la gestion de la société.
On en connait les consé-
quences désastreuses au-
jourd’hui ! Même constat avec
les privatisations post-déva-
luation et la situation actuelle.
Avec cette dévaluation, impo-
sée aux dirigeants africains
impuissants, s’accélère le pro-
cessus de privatisations. L’Etat
sénégalais avait complètement
capitulé devant la Banque
mondiale et le FMI et accepté
la privatisation des entreprises
ou services autrefois qualifiés
de « stratégiques ». C‘est ainsi
qu’à partir de 1994, certaines
toutes les entreprises les plus
importantes du pays, ainsi que
les mines, l’eau, l’électricité,
les banques et assurances se-
ront mises sur le marché.
Au désespoir des sénégalais
les privatisations n’ont pas
contribué au développement
économique et social du pays.
Au contraire, elles ont contri-
bué à affaiblir la capacité pro-
ductive du pays.
Elles devaient dit-on stimuler
les investissements et par
conséquent la croissance éco-
nomique et l’emploi. Mais de-
puis la privatisation de la
SONATEL, aucun investisse-
ment étranger important n’a
eu lieu. Quant aux emplois, le
Sénégal en a plus perdu que
gagné, du fait de la suppres-
sion massive d’emplois qui ac-
compagne toujours les
privatisations. En outre, les sa-
laires versés aux nationaux
sont dérisoires par rapport à
ceux qui sont versés aux expa-
triés.
En plus des pertes d’emplois
et des revenus liées aux priva-
tisations, celles-ci accentuent
les inégalités sociales par une
plus grande difficulté d’accès
aux services ou aux produits
du fait de leur renchérisse-
ment. Dès lors, on peut sans
risque de se tromper affirmer
que les privatisations sont un
des facteurs principaux de
l’explosion de la pauvreté ab-
jecte au Sénégal, comme ail-
leurs en Afrique
sub-saharienne
Sur le plan politique et stra-
tégique, les privatisations sont
synonymes de perte de souve-
raineté nationale et de
contrôle sur le processus de
développement de notre pays.
En effet, il faut garder à l’es-
prit que les privatisations sont
imposées par des forces exté-
rieures et qu’elles vont à l’en-
contre de nos intérêts
fondamentaux. En outre, les
de secteurs stratégiques par le
capital étranger face à un Etat
qui se transforme graduelle-
ment en gardien des intérêts
étrangers.
Les privatisations et les toutes
les autres politiques imposées
par les institutions financières
internationales sapent la dé-
mocratie et menacent les
droits humains et poussent le
Sénégal vers l’abîme.
Continuity in Leadership:
The Case for Mentorship

Enala Mumba
Age: 27
Kwa Zulu Nata University
South Africa

The need for exceptional leadership cannot be emphasized

enough, but more so, of crucial importance is its continuity in
any form of organisation or society. Leadership is needed to
provide vision and direction for an organisation and many
other times has proved as an essential function for any orga-
nisation to succeed. Corporate organisations respect what
leadership stands for and will spend whatever resources ne-
cessary to attract persons of the right calibre, qualifications
and passion to take their organisations to the next level, a
process they call Succession Planning. For many pressure
groups and Non Governmental Organisations working to see
social justice prevail, leadership has proven to be core to
their success even in the midst of meagre resources and day
to day business and this legacy needs to be given a platform
necessary to ensure continuity.

One effective way an organisation sation. To do this effectively, leaders

can ensure continuity of leadership
is through mentorship. Mentorship
is a process where you assign mem-
bers of the organisation who show
leadership potential to be trained
and groomed (formally and infor-
mally) by sound and experienced
leadership figures within the organi-
in office need to keep an eye for ex-
ceptional skill and leadership poten-
tial and work at providing
opportunity to develop and enhance
it. Mentorship works well because
mentees already identify with the vi-
sion of the organisation and the
Mentor providing the training is res-

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 CIVIC & POLITICAL CONCERNS
pected for their skill. Mentor-
ship may also prove less
costly compared to other
forms of succession planning
or leadership continuation.
At a time when most NGOs
are being run with founders
providing executive leader-
ship, it is necessary to men-
tion that in providing
direction, vision and passion,
leaders should not become
the centre piece such that the
organisation only revolves
around them and if they are
not around nothing gets
down. Even if the
leader/founder was to resign,
join the corporate world or
even die, the cause they were
fighting for should not die
with them because they em-
powered and raised formida-
ble leaders in the
organisation who grasped
their vision, has ability to take
over and competently run the
organisation and take over
from them. It is a shame to
see organisations that once
were the talk of town because
of their hard work in ensu-
ring social justice and getting
things done dwindle due to
failure when leadership ex-
changed hands.
For mentorship to be success-
ful, an organisation needs to
set an environment conducive
for growing leaders and one
of those important things is to
ensure members build a
sense of ownership of the or-
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70 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
ganisation. People need to
know the success of the orga-
nisation is their business, that
their contribution counts and
that they will be involved in
decisions that affect them.
The moment organisation
members begin to feel they
are being “used” and that
their leaders are not interes-
ted in developing them, the
ground is unhealthy to do any
real mentoring work because
they already cannot see their
future in the organisation and
most likely will be looking for
a better organisation where
to take their efforts.
It is important that organisa-
tions embark on leadership
training and mentorship pro-
grammes, they are a sign of
strategic growth, organisa-
tion continuity and progress.
Progressive change and lea-
dership is seldom a game of
chance, it is usually a result of
a well thought of process that
many times even costs
money. So when you hear of
training programmes that will
further develop your staff and
conferences that provide a
platform for networking,
open wide that door of oppor-
tunity and let your staff deve-
lop because at the end of the
day, your organisation will be
first to reap of those benefits.
I must also mention here that
just letting your staff train
and develop must not only be
in word alone, create room
for them to pass on the know-
ledge as well as use that new
skill/knowledge in the organi-
sation. It is hypocritical to say
you are raising leaders when
you do not give them plat-
form to exercise that skill. A
simple yet very practical way
of doing that is by delegating
tasks and responsibilities, not
doing everything yourself
(otherwise stress will catch up
with you soon!). In this way,
even when you the leader in
office are not there, the orga-
nisation can still run
smoothly, not crumble.
People are an organisation’s
greatest asset and in our
“type of business”, affirma-
tion is becoming important
when you are providing lea-
dership. This is so because it
is in us to want to be appre-
ciated for your efforts. People
want to hear that someone es-
pecially in a leadership role
sees potential in them and ex-
presses belief in their capabi-
lities and sometimes that can
come as a pat on the shoul-
der, a card, or just an every-
day ‘praise word’ to let them
know you appreciate to have
them in the organisation.
Another great asset in the or-
ganisation that we often tend
to overlook are people who
work in the background but
whose work is crucial to an
organisation. Even these peo-
ple need to be recognised and
developed in their respective
fields or service they are in.
Role of Youth in
Leadership

Nomsa Ingwe
(Zambia)

I sit down today and ask myself "what is

my role in the leadership of my country,
or am I supposed to play any role?" And
what form of leadership do I want any
way? Do I want one that will empower
me economically, socially and/or politi-
cally?

What is the reality for many young
people in Zambia today? Am sad-
dened to find that in most countries
including mine, young people are
classified as beginners or tomor-
rows future leaders who do not
need to concern themselves with
current issues affecting them in the
communities they live in or the na-
tion at large. Youths in Zambia and
the world over are used by political
parties to fight and wound the op-
posers during elections, they are
used as stone throwers to frustrate
and let down the efforts the oppo-
sing side in political and gover-
nance debates. Youths are forced
into military camps and are raped
during war and in conflict areas as
in the case of Democratic Republic
of Congo and other war torn coun-
tries. The abuse of Youth in violent
conflict and political instability si-
tuations are so immense and yet,
the issue of youth leadership is as-
sumed not to be for the present.
Hence the absence of youth leaders

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 CIVIC & POLITICAL CONCERNS
in particular the Female
Youth not being represented
and not participating in the
formulation and implemen-
tation of laws and policies
that will Govern them. Youth
participation is a critical
priority, as the situation in
Zambia and many African
countries have created
conditions that do not favour
young people. Some of the
problems that impede on the
effective participation are
mainly due to inequalities in
social, economic and political
arena and inadequate oppor-
tunities for education and
training. Additionally the
failure to respect the human
rights of young people as ac-
tive citizens has created diffi-
culties in young people
absence in political leader-
ship. Poor or no access to
quality health care services is
a huge challenge to the ever
much talked about HIV/AIDS
epidemic, as the most affec-
ted age group are the young
people who are not availed
the facilities and information
on the various known facts
about the epidemic and
other diseases.
The issue of economic pros-
perity and good governance
both affect the welfare of not
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72 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
only the Young people but
the whole population. The
poverty levels that exist in
Zambia and in many African
countries is directly affected
by the prevailing social cli-
mate. The levels of youth
unemployment are so high
that young people engage
themselves in vices that do
not contribute to their well-
being. The lack of quality
education facilities, has
contributed to the increased
levels of illiteracy among the
young people which has de-
railed their participation in
the development process of
the country. Gender dispari-
ties have also been a major
concern in society, with fe-
males lagging behind males
in educational attainment,
agricultural employment,
participation in politics and
government.
Governments and stakehol-
ders including young people
in Zambia and the world
over need to realize that our
participation in the planning
and implementation of the
country's development
agenda is now and not the
future. Young people de-
mand to play a major role in
ensuring that the so called
"Mentors" or "Elders" who
still want to hold on to the
power or leadership that be-
longs to all of us, are aware
that we hold them accounta-
ble for the so many policies
they put in place that fail to
empower young people.
It is or this reason that the
WE need to strongly advo-
cate for the so called PEO-
PLES GOVERNMENT to not
only sign international decla-
rations and conventions for
the sake of pleasing the rest
of the world..but domesticate
them so that hey are made
accountable for the services
and conducive environments
they do not provide.
Youth participation in the
Economic, Civic and Social
development is vital for the
progression of an country.
Youth involvement is an im-
portant means to overcome
disrespect and marginaliza-
tion of young people that
when done right, can contri-
bute to a positive change in
society.
STAND UP...SPEAK OUT
and BE HEARD...!!
A la dérive

Yacine Ndiaye Sow

(Senegal)

Le Sénégal possédait l’un des secteurs publics les plus

développés en Afrique au Sud du Sahara. Des raisons
historiques liées à la colonisation, mais également des
raisons idéologiques, politiques et sociales expliquent le
développement d’un large secteur public. Sur le plan
économique et social, tout ce qui a été accompli par le
Sénégal jusqu’au début des années 1980, l’a été en
grande partie grâce au secteur public. Aujourd’hui, les
échecs subis et les reculs constatés dans maints do-
maines sont largement imputables à la privatisation im-
posée par la banque mondiale et le FMI.

Si permettre à des jeunes citoyenneté ?

venant de toutes les régions
du Sénégal de l’Afrique et
de la diaspora de pouvoir
échanger, partager, utiliser
et à leur tour transmettre
des expériences, des
connaissances et des outils
nécessaires à la mise en
place d’un leadership effec-
tif n’est pas un geste ci-
toyen. Qu’est ce donc que la
La citoyenneté ne se limite
pas seulement à ce qu’on
nous a appris en éducation
civique mais cela comprend
également toutes entre-
prises qui tendent vers un
certain genre de développe-
ment social. Par développe-
ment social j’entends tout ce
qui mène vers un mieux être
des populations. Mais en

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 CIVIC & POLITICAL CONCERNS
même temps on se de-
mande bien où est la so-
ciété civile car, lorsque le
courant est coupé , qu’il
n’y ait pas d’eau dans cer-
tains quartiers pendant
six jours.
Ce qui est dommage, c’est
qu’au lieu de parler de tout
ce qui ne va pas , on viens
nous distraire avec des
concepts du genre « plan
Jaxaay, plan Yakalma, plan
pluie provoquée, plan
Reva » quand la popula-
tion meure de faim et que
les femmes font des kilo-
mètres à la recherche du «
gaz précieux », que les
gens ne vont plus au tra-
vail faute de carburant ,
que les factures d’électri-
cité subissent des hausses
allant de 5% à 25% comme
dernièrement. On nous rit
au nez avec la dernière
trouvaille : la Goana. C’est
à se demander pourquoi
avoir fait toutes ces années
d’étude, pour vivre un re-
make de « la cigale et la
fourmi » version drama-
tique.
Qu’en est il de la pléthore
d’experts que nous avons
sans compter les consul-
tants et autres théoriciens
en toutes matières, qui
sont les premiers installés
autour d’une table pour les
questions relatives aux au-
tres pays en guerre ou
dans une crise profonde,
lorsqu’il s’agit du Sénégal,
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74 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
tout le monde s’inscrit aux
abonnés absents. Lorsque
dans les discussions dans
les salons, je m’offusque
du fait qu’on se limite à en
parler seulement à huit
clos, on me rétorque dans
une ambiance bon enfant
que la convocation à la
DIC (division des investi-
gations criminelles) arrive
très vite au pas de la porte.
Pourtant, il est loin le
temps du « parti unique »
où des militants se fai-
saient mettre en prison à
tout va, y était torturés à
mort, les femmes étaient
mises en garde à vue pour
que leurs maris se rendent
et faisaient des fausses
couches en prison. En ce
temps là, la poursuite
d’une idéologie, la convic-
tion en une idée de déve-
loppement et de
changement, avait non
seulement un sens réel
mais aussi une profonde
signification. Si au-
jourd’hui la démocratie est
à ce niveau, c’est parce
que ces gens-là se sont
battus pour qu’on en soit
là.
De nos jours, la tendance
est à l’attentisme, sinon
comment expliquer qu’un
hôpital ultramoderne soit
mis sur pied dans un petit
village de quelques cases
qui se trouvent à la fron-
tière du pays pendant que
le second hôpital du Séné-
gal tombe en ruine et que
personne ne marche,
n’écrit, ne reflètent le sen-
timent des populations.
Les écoles d’excellence
sont vendues, les Sénéga-
lais se contentent de créer
des associations de lutte
contre la vente de cette
école là, la vente sera si-
gnée en douce. Mais la
pratique usuelle consiste à
recevoir l’association ou
son président et de lui fi-
nancer un certain nombre
de projets,( on va dire ça
comme ça) pour que l’as-
sociation dans les se-
maines qui suivent
l’audience se dissolve par
une
discorde
Je pense qu’unfinancière.
bond en
avant pourrait être fait si
on arrêtait de ne réagir
que lorsque l’on est direc-
tement concerné par la
cause en question.
Soyons plus patriote et di-
sons « stop aux abus », car
sinon, un de ses jours un
étranger risque de frapper
à votre porte et vous mon-
trer un acte de vente de
votre domicile qui lui aura
été vendu sans votre ac-
cord. Vous auriez subi des
décisions arbitraires et des
octrois abusifs en vous di-
sant que ça n’arrive qu’aux
autres. A vos pancartes, ne
prenez plus les barques
tant qu’à y rester que ce
soit au pays et pour la
bonne cause.
 MINI YOLEES

THE MINI YOWLEES

SPEAK OUT
LES YOWLI CADETS PARLENT

Filles et garçons égaux

Aïssatou Ba L’école pour les filles !
Il y a des filles à qui leur Sokhna Fadilatou Tine
mère dit : « Vous n’irez pas Les garçons sont plus nom-
à l’école, parce qu’il y a breux que les filles à l’école,
beaucoup de travail à la parce que les parents les y
maison !» Et les filles se amènent et laissent les filles
faire tous les travaux à la
mettent à faire tout le travail domestique et, ce
maison : laver la vaisselle, faire la lessive et pré-
n’est pas normal. On doit laisser les filles aller à
parer le petit déjeuner pour les garçons qui vont
l’école comme les garçons !. Il y a des messieurs
à l’école. Ce n’est pas normal, les filles ont les
qui ne frappent pas leurs garçons, mais qui frap-
mêmes droits, arrêtez la ségrégation !
pent leurs filles et ça, ce n’est pas normal !
Les filles et les garçons doivent être égaux, les
droits des enfants sont pour tous les enfants de la Enfants de la rue
terre ! Alioune Seye
(Ecole les Pédagogues ;
Droit à l’égalité Classe : 4eme)
Ndiémé Guèye Enfants de la rue,
Vous qui êtes loin de vos pa-
Les filles et les garçons ont rents, je songe à vous.
les mêmes droits pour aller A vos petits corps meurtris
à l’école. Mais certains pa- par la méchanceté et les violences d’adultes in-
rents croient que les gar- conscients ; l’espoir du pays c’est vous.
çons seuls doivent aller à Nous savons bien que vous vivez durement
l’école. Et ils croient aussi que les filles doivent mais tout finira bien, car nous, les Minis YOW-
rester à la maison pour faire des travaux comme LIs, nous sommes formés pour vous aider, en
: préparer les repas, faire la vaisselle, laver le étant vos porte-parole auprès des autorités et
linge, s’occuper des petits frères. Mais les gar- personnes compétentes.
çons aussi doivent travailler à la maison, comme Du courage, les Minis YOWLIs sont là pour
: nettoyer l’enclos des moutons, faire le grand vous !
ménage de la maison et la repeindre.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 75
 MINI YOLEES
Mariage précoce
Wedji (Ecole Pikine 7 A )
Un jour, je me promène dans
mon quartier. Il fait frais, et,
soudain, je vois une fille de
15 ans qui court dans la rue.
Je l’appelle tranquillement
dans un endroit calme et je lui demande son nom.
Elle me dit qu’elle s’appelle Mariama Diop. Je lui
ai demandé pourquoi elle courait dans la rue. Elle
m’a dit que ce sont ses parents qui voulaient la
forcer en mariage avec un homme de 95 ans, mais
elle ne le veut pas et elle a un autre copain qu’elle
aime. Je l’ai laissée jusqu’au lendemain matin et
mon père l’amène pour discuter avec ses parents.
Ils se sont fâchés, parce que les parents de la fille
ont dit que c’est la tradition dans leur famille et
qu’il n’a pas à s’en mêler. Mais mon père les a si
bien convaincus que le mariage n’a plus eu lieu.
Depuis ce jour là, personne dans le quartier n’a
forcé son enfant pour un mariage précoce parce
que la police les surveille.
Laissez-les jouir de leur enfance
Ndèye Fatou Diop
Les jeunes filles sont souvent forcées par leurs
parents à se marier trop tôt à cause des viols,
des menaces sexuelles et surtout la pauvreté.
Cette obligation n’est pas bonne pour leur édu-
cation, elles peuvent avoir un enfant très tôt,
elles pourraient être malades, elles peuvent
même en mourir. Elles pourraient être pertur-
bées par ce mariage et triste de se marier à son
âge.
Les jeunes filles ne doivent pas se marier avant
au moins 18 ans car c’est néfaste pour leur
santé.
SOS pour les enfants de la rue
Aidez-les, s’il vous plait !
Anta Bèye
La violence des enfants de
la rue est un problème que
rencontrent les enfants qui
vivent dans les daaras.
Il y a des personnes comme
les maitres coraniques qui
maltraitent des enfants. Ils
exigent aux enfants d’ame-
ner mille francs chaque jour et s’ils n’amènent
pas cette somme ils les frappent. Les enfants
qu’on viole dans les rues viennent souvent des
villages. Les enfants de la rue ont des parents
comme nous. Leurs parents doivent respecter
leurs droits comme le droit à l’éducation, à la
YOWLI
76 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
santé, aux loisirs, à l’égalité et à un environne-
ment sain.
Pour lutter contre la violence faite aux enfants
de la rue il faut les aider à se nourrir et être en
bonne santé.
13 ans :
c’est interdit, svp
Ndiémé Gueye
Le mois dernier, quand
nous nous promenions tran-
quillement dans notre quar-
tier, nous avons vu une
femme qui voulait marier sa
fille de 13 ans. L’enfant court et on lui demande
pourquoi elle courrait ainsi, elle nous répond
que sa mère voulait la marier et puisqu’elle ne
voulait pas de ce mariage, on l’amène dans notre
maison, et dès le lendemain ma mère l’amène
chez elle et dit a ses parents qu’un enfant de cet
âge doit aller à l’école mais ne doit pas se marier
et que la loi l’interdit.
L’excision des filles, c’est horrible
Khardiata Diallo
L’excision c’est la circonci-
sion des filles. Elle est très
fréquente en Casamance, la
partie sud du pays. La se-
maine passée, j’ai vue une
fille qui pleurait, je lui de-
mande : pourquoi pleures-
tu ? Elle me répond que c’est sa grand-mère qui
voulait l’exciser et c’est pourquoi elle a couru
toute seule dans la forêt. Je lui dis que la forêt
n’est pas sûre et l’emmène à la maison ; puis
nous allons à la police pour dénoncer ce fait
parce qu’il y a une loi qui interdit l’excision.
Je pense que l’excision n’est pas bonne car plu-
sieurs filles sont mortes à cause de cela et on
peut attraper beaucoup de maladies comme le
sida et le tétanos à cause de l’infection.
Souvenirs de Gorée
Adama NIANG
A l’issue de notre visite à
Gorée, nous avons vu beau-
coup de choses. C’est ce qui
nous a poussés tout au long
de notre séjour là-bas à
vouloir détailler les souve-
nirs. Nous avons vu les plages, les restaurants, le
marché, le terrain de football, le musée de
l’IFAN (Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire),
celui de l’université Cheikh Anta Diop et la Mai-
son des esclaves. Nous avons vu aussi le Musée
de la Renaissance de Gorée, le Musée de la
Femme (Henriette Bathily) et enfin la Maison
d’éducation Mariama Bâ. A l’intérieur de la Mai-
son d’éducation, nous avons vu des réfectoires,
des dortoirs, des toilettes, des salles de classe, la
cuisine, et la grande salle de conférence, où
nous avons vécu pendant un mois.
Vraiment nous avons vu beaucoup de
choses à montrer et on n’oubliera jamais
notre séjour à Gorée.
Non au mariage forcé
et précoce
Coura Seck
Si on force les enfants à se
marier très tôt elles risquent
de tomber malades voire
même enceintes et peuvent
perdre facilement leur bébé.
Certaines peuvent aller
jusqu’à en mourir.
Il y a des parents qui donnent leurs filles en ma-
riage parce qu’ils n’ont pas d’argent pour subve-
nir à leurs besoins. Ils cherchent un mari riche
pour leur enfant à cause de l’argent. Cette pra-
tique n’est pas bonne parce que c’est un ma-
riage forcé.
Erreur évitée
Aïssatou Bâ
Dans mon quartier il y avait
une fille nommée Binta. Elle
était très jolie. Elle était en
classe de CM2. Je l’aimais
beaucoup parce qu’elle était
ma meilleure amie, et, elle travaillait bien en
classe. Un jour, pendant les grandes vacances,
après avoir réussi ses examens elle vient chez
moi pour me rendre visite. Elle était un peu
triste. Je lui demandais pourquoi. Elle me répon-
dit que sa mère et son père voulaient la donner
en mariage à un vieil homme et qu’elle ne vou-
lait pas se marier. Je lui dis de se calmer et de
passer la nuit à la maison. Le lendemain j’expli-
quais à ma mère le problème et elle l’amena chez
elle pour discuter avec ses parents. Ma mère les
a informés qu’au Sénégal, il ya une loi qui inter-
dit les mariages précoces. Elle leur dit que s’ils
la forçaient à se marier, la police viendrait les
chercher. Depuis ce jour, Binta est retournée
chez elle et continue ses études avec succès.

Poverty in Senegal
In Senegal we have to raise a lot of money to decrease the
poverty there. There are some people in Senegal that do not
have money and send their children to koranic schools or
daaras. There are also some lost individuals who are poor
and steal from other people.
Makha Fall
(Senegal)
There are some girls that who are poor and play porno or
prostitute themselves. To stop these horrors from happe-
ning we have to work as one nation, one people, and the
rich helping the poor. I am not just saying raising money is
the only way to stop poverty. Giving homeless people a
place to stay and giving your child a good education is ano-
ther way. I say good education because if your children
have a good education they will have a better future.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 77
 MINI YOLEES

Mariama Bâ, pionnière de la lutte pour l’amélioration de la condi-

tion féminine

Yaye-Fatou Diop
(Senegal)

Mariama Bâ, marraine de l’école où se passe le YOWLI 2008 et qui porte son nom, est
née en 1929 et décédée en 1981. Elle a été élevée dans un milieu musulman tradition-
nel par ses grands-parents à la mort de sa mère. En 1943, elle a été scolarisée à l’Ecole Nationale de Ru-
fisque où elle obtient de brillants résultats. Elle quitte l’école en 1947 avec un diplôme d’enseignement. Pour
des raisons de santé, après douze ans d’exercices elle demande sa mutation à l’inspection régionale de l’en-
seignement.

Après son divorce, elle s’engage dans beaucoup d’associations féminines, se bat pour l’éducation et les
droits des femmes, fait des discours publics et écrit des articles dans des journaux locaux en faveur des
femmes. Elle incarne la femme musulmane moderne.
En 1980, elle reçoit le prix Noma, récompense décernée au meilleur roman d’un écrivant africain à la foire
du livre de Francfort pour son premier roman « Une si longue lettre ». Ce roman a été écrit sous forme épis-
tolaire. Le livre est une correspondance entre deux jeunes femmes sénégalaises qui s’interrogent sur leur
vie. Ce roman soulève les problèmes de polygamie, caste, exploitation des femmes. Son second livre « Un
chant écarlate » apparaît peu de temps avant sa mort.

Elle a été l’une des premières femmes à agir pour l’amélioration de la condition féminine. La femme sénéga-
laise d’aujourd’hui lui doit beaucoup.

Yassine Sarr Fatou Sarr

I am Yassine Sarr, I
was born in Atlanta,
Georgia, I came to Se-
negal thirty days ago
to do a program called
Yowli. I have class
Monday through Sa-
turday. I have come to Goree Island to
learn. Here at Goree Island we learn lots
of things such as poverty, and about kids
who are less fortunate than us. We talk
about how we can help them. We also go
on field trips during the week-ends. Yes-
terday, I went to a market to take pic-
tures. I learn a lot of wolof from my
cousins Makha Fall and Alioune Seye. My
experience here is always growing every
day.
Senegal is one of the most
beautiful places I’ve been to. It
is against the Atlantic Ocean
just like America. It doesn’t
have all of the stuff fancy tech-
nology. Instead the cars o on
every direction even on the
sand, however I have not seen a car accident
since I got here. Senegal is close to Goree Island
and there are boats that come from Dakar to
Goree. Their names are Beer and Coumba Castel.
When going to the city, there is a lot of traffic, ho-
wever it slows down a t night. In Senegal, people
mostly speak Wolof but they also speak French
here.
Senegal is a very hot place because it is near the
equator, so it is easy to get sick there. There are a
lot of mosquitoes, bugs and creatures in Senegal
but it is still a wonderful place to be in

YOWLI
78 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Responsabilité des religieux dans la
formation de jeunes leaders au Sénégal
Si l’Islam est en pleine expansion, il
n’en est pas moins affecté par des
manifestations contextuelles liées à
la manière dont les peuples isla-
miques explorent des tentatives de
réponses aux mutations sociales et
politiques qui les affectent. Il en est
ainsi du phénomène de la consécra-
tion de leaders sociaux, de vedettes
ou de politiciens au grade de
Cheikh, que nous analysons ici sous
l’angle de la rationalité politique et
sociologique, et en privilégiant la
compréhension de la relation entre
ce phénomène et la question de la
jeunesse telle qu’elle se pose dans
notre pays. les jeunes sont frappés
Au Sénégal,
de plein fouet par une crise pluridi-
mensionnelle.
Avec l’islamisation de l’Afrique oc-
cidentale, la notion de Cheikh s’in-
tègre dans la hiérarchisation
religieuse musulmane pour des-
igner le fondateur de la confrérie et
ceux qu’il a élevés à ce grade pour
leur fidélité, leur dévotion, leur éru-
dition et leur sobriété. En effet,
l’histoire religieuse du Sénégal, re-
gorge de saints dont les figures em-
blématiques qui ont été à la base de
la création ou de l’expansion des
confréries qadr, tijanes, mourides et
layènes. Dans le contexte sénéga-
lais, le titre de Cheikh dès qu’il est
acquis, est souvent hérité de père
en fils, et celui qui parmi les des-
cendants du guide, exerce les res-
ponsabilités de khalife, hérite aussi
du privilège souverain de nomina-
La prolifération
tion des talibés méritants àdes
ce cheikhs
titre.
semble intimement liée à l’expan-
sion des mouvements religieux de
jeunes. Il en est ainsi du Mouve-
ment Moustarchidine, du Mouve-
ment Mondial pour l’Unicité de
Dieu, et des talibés de Cheikh Be-
thio Thioune, pour ne citer que les
plus en vue. En général, les jeunes
adhèrent à ces mouvements par hé-
ritage, par conviction, mais aussi
par besoin d’intégration écono-
mique, sociale et politique. L’expan-
sion de ces mouvements religieux
de jeunes coïncide avec l’aggrava-
tion de la pauvreté qui devient de
plus en plus juvénile, et la stagna-
tion ou la régression de la capacité
des partis politiques et des organi-
sations formelles de la société civile
à convoyer le dynamisme et le vo-
lontariat des jeunes confrontés au
chômage, au désœuvrement et à
l’incertitude. Cette insuffisante ca-
pacité des secteurs politiques et ci-
viques à servir d’espace
d’épanouissement et d’intégration
des jeunes les plus défavorisés ren-
force la résonance politique, écono-
mique, et sociale des mouvements
religieux dont la vocation ne se li-
mite plus à être la voie d’accession
au paradis, mais intègre de plus en
plus la résolution sur terre des pro-
blèmes sociaux auxquels sont
confrontés les talibés.
Cette résonance grandissante des
confréries implique une ouverture
vis-à-vis des entrepreneurs poli-
tiques et sociaux et des grandes fi-
gures de la scène politique
sénégalaise qui peuvent y occuper
des positions de leadership. Ceci
nous pousse à attester que ces fi-
gures publiques (chanteurs, lut-
teurs, hommes politiques) aient
adhéré à ces confréries pendant
une période suffisamment longue
en y investissant leur renommée et
leurs ressources propres. Il est
d’autant plus étonnant que leur no-
mination, n’entraîne pas une rup-
ture fondamentale dans leur
trajectoire de vie ou leur carrière,
de sorte à rapprocher leur attitude
en public à celles des vénérés
Cheikh Oumar Tall, Cheikh Abdou-
laye Niass ou Cheikh Sidy Lamine
Kounta qui constituent des réfé-
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
Selly Ba
Age: 26
Senegal
rences dans les confréries concer-
nées.
C’est sous ce rapport à l’or-
thodoxie que certains commenta-
teurs considèrent que le
phénomène de « cheikhisme » en
cours dans les milieux confrériques
sénégalais, est une instrumentalisa-
tion de certaines figures publiques
en vue d’un maillage de la jeunesse,
dans le but de renforcer les rela-
tions de clientélisme avec le pou-
voir politique. S’il en est ainsi, le
projet de réalisation d’une société
dans laquelle la jeunesse sénéga-
laise pourrait s’épanouir est déjà af-
fecté par des lacunes profondes
qu’il convient de corriger. C’est
donc le lieu de se poser au moins
les deux questions suivantes :
1. Quelles sont les opportunités que
le militantisme confrérique offre
aux jeunes pour leur permettre de
répondre de manière citoyenne et
responsable aux défis qui les inter-
pellent ?
2. Quelle est la part de responsabi-
lité des guides confrériques, des
politiques et des intellectuels dans
l’instrumentalisation des jeunes par
le vecteur religieux ?
YOWLI 79
 LEADERSHIP

Education:
An Essential Element in
Youth Leadership

Jemila Abdulai
(Ghana)

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
These words by William Shakespeare meant little to me
as I sat on the plane on my way to the United States in
September 2005. But a good two and a half years later,
and with a substantial number of life-changing expe-
riences on hand, these words have formed the core of
what has become my educational and life experience.

I have always been an individual with decades ago. Consequently, despite

a wide variety of interests and as
such I prefer to operate in an educa-
tional setup that allows me the flexi-
bility to explore and brainstorm.
Fortunately or unfortunately, I had to
leave the shores of my homeland in
order to find such an academic setup.
Ghana has one of the best educatio-
nal systems in Africa and has paved
the way for young Africans to realize
their dreams and contribute substan-
tially to society. The unfortunate as-
pect of this ‘success’ story is the fact
that the country is operating an edu-
cational system that was put in place
the fact that there are educational fa-
cilities in place, many youth complete
their secondary and tertiary educa-
tion without the skills, knowledge or
exposure necessary to take up posi-
tions in society as leaders and agents
of change. The simple explanation for
this is the fact that the educational
system in Ghana does not meet the
current needs of the Ghanaian so-
ciety.
Mount Holyoke College is a private
women’s liberal arts college in the
United States. It is also a turning
point in my life, perceptions, unders-

YOWLI
80 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
tanding of global issues, and
most especially in my compre-
hension of the power of
choice. In many African socie-
ties there is the widespread
idea that only ‘elders in so-
ciety’ can take important deci-
sions or make substantial
contributions. These notions,
as well as many other misper-
ceived ideologies, contribute
to our inability to effect sustai-
nable developmental change
on our continent. We would
rather listen to and implement
the directives of foreigners
than listen to what the people
and youth – who coinciden-
tally form a greater percen-
tage of our respective
populations – have to say.
There have been past efforts
aimed at introducing liberal
arts components such as criti-
cal thinking into the educatio-
nal systems of African
countries. But these efforts
have been thwarted with the
excuse that we are imbibing
western culture and values,
and that providing a platform
for young people to question
authority is akin to providing
youth with the tools to stage a
rebellion. Unless we take a
strong stand to involve young
people and set up institutions
that encourage critical-thin-
king among youth, we will re-
main in the cancer of our
current situations.
Is it possible to think outside
the box and operate outside of
what has been the norm in so-
ciety for centuries? The ans-
wer to that question rests in
our own backyard. In March
2002, Ghana’s first liberal arts- as young leaders to inform
based university started ope- ourselves and examine our si-
ration with a pioneer class of tuations so as not to be tricked
30 students on a small campus into thinking that we have no
in Accra. What started as a choice in a matter. Deciding
mere dream of Patrick Awuah not to choose is choosing.
- a US-based Ghanaian citizen Thirdly, we need to work to-
and former Microsoft em- wards being the change we
ployee – is a shining, real-life want to see. Finally and most
example today of the possibili- importantly, no contribution is
ties available to us as Africans too small. Strive at being the
and the power of young peo- best you can be and doing the
ple in society. Ashesi Univer- best you can do. So long as
sity has made great strides in there are young people wor-
advancing education in Ghana king towards a positive goal,
and has formed strong and the hope of Africa and the
important partnerships with Diaspora continues to burn
other educational institutions strong.
and agencies across the globe.
Some members of Ashesi’s
first graduating class went on
to set up Dream Oval - a com-
puter software development
firm that is making important
contributions to the informa-
tion technology sector in
Ghana.
The Ashesi example is one of
many and has received inter-
national recognition. It is my
fervent desire that there will
be a replication of the Ashesi
experience not only in Ghana,
but across the African conti-
nent and in the Diaspora.
In order for this to happen ho-
wever, we need to realize four
things as young leaders.
Firstly; we need to realize that
we do have the power to
contribute to and change our
current situations. We are the
masters of our own destinies.
Secondly, we ought to remem-
ber that we always have a
choice regardless of obstruc-
tions. It is our responsibility
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
YOWLI 81
 LEADERSHIP
I will not be moved
Whittle Titian-Rose
Age: 25
University of Caen, France
Trinidad/Tobago/France
Flames – burning.
Blood spilling
Hearts breaking.
Feel the disconnect, the severance of ties between
spirit, mind and body.
Trapped.
Trapped, by the absence of wholeness.
Trapped,
Inside a box, too small, too narrow to contain human
life.
I am a believer in humanity. I am a believer in living and ex-
pressing one’s self freely. I also believe that every man,
woman and child has the capacity to co-exist in harmony,
regardless of race, political views, age, class, sexual orienta-
tion and religion. Today’s reality however, proves the oppo-
site. In the Caribbean, let alone my country Trinidad and
Tobago and the neighbouring island of Jamaica, people are
verbally abused and attacked because of their “homosexual
conduct”. The Jamaican newspaper, the Gleaner
clearly states:
“In the Caribbean being open about homosexuality is suici-
dal or an invitation to serious violence.”
I am puzzled. Generation, upon generation has seen strug-
gles to end discrimination of many kinds. 1945 brought
adult suffrage to Trinidad, 1970’s the black power move-
ment. The definition of our rights as human beings was rati-
fied in 1946 however, with one major oversight. No mention
is made about these rights without distinction based on
sexual orientation.
Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Human Rights Declaration state the
following:
“All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights…
without any distinction of any kind such as race, sex, colour,
language, religion, political or other opinion. Everyone has
the right to life, liberty and security of person. “
Bearing all this in mind, I dare question: to which direction
should we look, in this year 2008?
Avoiding discussions on sexual orientation only fosters
ignorance and fear. There needs to be a universal unders-
tanding that in our current society, sex, sexuality and self es-
teem go hand in hand. A person who feels prosecuted
because of his/her sexual orientation is unable to have a
healthy self image. This in turn affects their self-esteem.
One might ask the question, what is self-esteem? It is the
YOWLI
82 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
way we feel about ourselves. If we are bogged down by fee-
lings of guilt and have a poor self image it is almost impossi-
ble for us to make decisions that are healthy and safe.
Despite the many incidents of gay bashing, the Caribbean
governments are lacking in responsiveness to this issue.
Local Caribbean music hums freely gay bashing lyrics:
“Boom bam bye in a batty boy head” a song advocating or
indicating the consent to shoot a gay man in his head.
Artists that promote such violence still walk freely without
any reprisal. If, in that rare occasion, perpetrators of this ly-
rical violence are taken to court, the outcome is never equa-
led to the violence perpetrated. In June 2004, a case was
reported against Jamaican artist Buju Banton along with
five other men. They were charged with trespassing and
violently assaulting a middle aged homosexual male in his
own compound. International human rights groups filed
complaints. The end result is as follows: Banton was char-
ged in the Fall of 2005, but the case was dismissed soon
after because it lacked evidence.
Human rights activists in Trinidad are pushing for a draft
policy in Parliament, in an effort to open up the debate on
sexual orientation. At the moment, the process is slow and
tedious. Despite being a secular state, religious bodies are
still major forces of influence. I urge our government, of Tri-
nidad and Tobago, to ignore the ranting of such fundamen-
talists and work on ensuring that justice prevails in the
country.
“Repressed taboos should be replaced by more balanced
objective views of sexuality based upon a sensitive aware-
ness of human behavior and human needs. “ Every human
being has his or her own rights and responsibility, it is the-
refore of utmost importance that these rights are promoted
and upheld.
“NO!
I will not still my voice
I have too much to claim
When you see me
Marching in the sun
Walking in your ranks
Know that I look for fire
I have learnt from books of men hungering in a room wi-
thout light
Who did not die, since death was far too poor
Hearts healing, peace flowing, love in abundance of love.
Who did not sleep to dream
But dreamed to change the world.”
Women’s’ Leadership and Political Participation:
The South African Ambiguities
Every year the 9th of August, which is
Women’s Day in South Africa is reco-
gnised and celebrated by the South
African government and public as a
tribute to women and the role they
play in society. In 1956, on this very
day, thousands of women marched to
Pretoria to hand over their petition to
then President of the country deman-
ding that the rights of all women be re-
cognised and respected. They also
registered their contempt for the apar-
theid regime that governs South Africa
during this time. Is it surprising to
note that 60 years later, despite the pu-
blic holiday and history of women
marching for their rights to be reco-
gnised and respected, women are still
fighting. Sadly, this is true for many
women around the world. The aim of
this article is to inspire young women
to advance the struggle through the
use of existing platforms such as the
Beijing Platform, CEDAW.. With a new
impetus, positive attitudes and a bur-
ning desire for change, young women
should rise up to the challenge, by
Things
taken uparethealways
batoneasier saidand
and run then
win
done, but
the race. if women are serious about
advocating for change that advances
women’s’ rights, then processes of re-
flection are required. During elections
a certain political party wins and then
nominates their preferred candidates
to fill government positions. These fo-
rums of are the core decision making
sectors for society. If women, and
young women in particular are not re-
presented in these spaces and do not
participate in these processes, there
will be no-one to influence policies.
Women are the only ones who can
change this by building solid and se-
cure constituencies. As true leaders
they need to represent the interests of
those they serve, who in turn would
support them to advance these inte-
rests. These constituencies can be built
through information focal points per-
taining to specific interests. The disse-
mination of information and best
practices and knowledge learnt at
conferences, amongst constituents is
paramount. Networking with grass-
“Advocating, lobbying, petitioning and confe-
rencing are never going to be enough to ad-
vance the women’s’ agenda. Real action is also
necessary. It is up to us as Young Women to
take our plight to the next level.”
roots organisa-
tions and com-
munity based
organisations
to be closer to
the realities on
the ground is
also critical to
influencing po-
Kgomotso Mmalegae Moalusi
(South Africa)
licy shifts that
are in line with
peoples needs.
Informed peo-
ple are more
aware and bet- How they ensure that other supportive
ter equipped to of their decision?
organize themselves and advocate for
their cause. Similarly the empower- • In addressing the plight of empowe-
ment of women and young women in ring Young Women and Women, can
particular will have the same positive our women leader’s side step political
result. So, what do we need to do at differences and engage in inter-party
At the Political party level we need to dialogues to develop a common stra-
the political level to achieve this?
ask a few important questions: tegy around women issues?
There are issues that affect women re-
• Are the women who sit in these
gardless of our diversity; i.e. educa-
spaces and positions truly represen-
tion, socio-economic status, access to
ting our interests, will they advance
health care and water, abuse, family,
our cause bearing in mind our diver-
employment etc.
sity?
Are we, as the stakeholders willing,
What are their views on gender, femi-
able and ready to do the work neces-
nism and other social issues?
sary to take up these positions and to
What direction they plan to follow?
provide the support and guidance to
How do they plan to assess their pro-
our women leaders?
gress? (In other words what do they
Before we “rise up in arms” against
stand for, who are their specific res-
our women leaders and government,
pective constituencies and how do
where do we stand on the plight
they account back to them.)
• Who selects these women to repre- of empowering women and the girl-
sent us in various parties? child?
Who exactly makes up the selection Can we also become accountable and
panel? active participants in advancing their
Who decides on the criteria for these cause, or are we merely asking of
women to be our representatives? and others what we ourselves refuse to do
for our
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes women-kind?
femmes au leadership
YOWLI 83
Panafricanism /African diaspora
Keepers of our own dignity
Joan Dogojo
(Suriname)
It was the 30th of July 2003.
The Anthony Nesty Sporthall in
Paramaribo, Suriname did not
have enough space to accom-
modate everyone. More than
3000 people came to witness
Miss Alida, an African Heritage
pageant; prior to the 140th cele-
bration of the abolition of sla-
very in Suriname.
That year I was crowned Miss
Alida. When the traditional
crown was given to me the
thought of Alida came into my
mind.
The story of Alida is a painful
one: She was a young slave
whose breast was cut by a jea-
lous “mistress” and given to
“the master” as a meal because
he used to fancy her breast.
Another story was the idea be-
hind the koto. The koto was pri-
marily created by the slave
mistresses to hide the curves of
black slave women in Suri-
name. Now the koto is the tra-
ditional wear of an ethnic
group in Suriname.
For fourteen years this pageant
was held to help the Afro- Suri-
name people celebrate their he-
ritage and empower young
girls to be proud of their heri-
tage; and also because the koto
made us look even more gor-
geous. This might be one of the
YOWLI
84 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
ways in which the African Dias-
pora is trying to preserve their
culture and heritage. An impor-
tant element of the African cul-
ture and heritage is the African
identity and how it relates to
our professional and social lives
when we engage with others.
Suriname is situated at the Nor-
thern Coast of South America
between Guyana, French
Guyana and Brazil. Suriname
has a population of approxima-
tely 500.000 of which 47% are
Afro descendants. The census
of 2005 identified two groups of
Afro- descendants; the Stads-
creolen, who are the descen-
dants of the slaves who ones
who stayed in the city during
slavery; and the Boslandcreo-
len/ Maroons who are the des-
cendents of that group of the
African people that were forci-
bly transported to Suriname in
the 17th and 18th century for
working on the coffee-, sugar-
and cotton plantations, but who
refused to accept slavery.
There are six politically autono-
mous Maroon nations: Ndyuka
or Okanisi, Saamaka, Pamaka,
Matawai, Aluku or Boni and
Kwiinti, each with an ordered
structure based on those of
their African heritage. They
were mainly originating from
the present Ghana, Togo,
Benin, Cameroon and Angola.
Currently the Maroons are the
third largest ethnic group in
Suriname. They managed to
preserve their culture, a culture
with rich African elements. Ho-
wever with globalisation a
number of foreign companies
have settled in the interior. This
makes it extremely difficult for
these communities to maintain
their culture as they have until
present.
Upon examining the necessary
elements of humankind when
engaging with others one may
mention identity. The Western
media is colonizing us that so-
metimes it becomes difficult to
find your own individuality.
There needs to be a balance. In
this century of globalisation it is
more than important to expose
young people from the Dias-
pora to the African continent.
The question of who we are
might be answered in this pro-
cess. The Africa we know from
the media is synonymous with
pity, bitterness and hopeless-
ness. That leaves you with a
feeling of gratitude that the
West managed to rescue your
nation from the harshness of
Africa.
The core of identity comes from
being content with who you are
as a human being and accep-
ting yourself as a whole. Once
you know where you come
from you might know who you
are, where you are going, as
built onto your sense of dignity
in what you represent
.
In the final analyses it is about
the wounds that were created
during slavery, and how to cope
with them as many of them
were not healed. Africa must be
more proactive in telling her
story, the heritage of her people
so that we can unite and toge-
ther create a world where black
people can stop trying to sur-
vive and start to live as full citi-
zen and proud keepers of their
own dignity.
Racism:
The Novelties of A Common
Experience

Mafoane Odara Poli Santos

Age: 30 Brazil

"Racismo à brasileira" (racism the Brazilian way) or "covered ra-

cism" is sustained by an inheritance of the slave system. Even after
120 years of its official ending, it still exercises its daily influence in
the society and in the world of the worker. Furthermore, that in-
fluence is recreated and intensified over time. This cycle of disad-
vantages and prejudices is cumulative and several of the inequalities
observed between Whites and Blacks continue to perpetually in-
crease instead of decrease.
Carlos Moore, a Cuban black intellectual, who specializes in affirma-
tive action in Latin America, has the explication. Moore argues that
democracy in its more general sense will not have a sustainable an-
chor in Latin America, an area of authoritarian tendencies, without
the demolition of the model of racial relationships.

Data on inequalities in Brazil

In terms of numbers, Telma Marotto, journalist from São Paulo, sug-

gested an innovative way of reading statistics about racial relations
in Brazil. She showed that Blacks -- defined by the government and
nongovernmental organizations as people who describe themselves
as either ``preta'' (black) color or ``parda'' (brown and inter-race)
color -- make up almost half of the population. Of the nation's more
than 187 million people, 92.7 million are black and 93.1 million are
white; Asians, Indians and those who haven't declared a race make
up the rest. On average, they earn little more than half as much as
whites, 578,2 reais (361 US$) a month compared with 1087,1 reais
(679,35 US$), according to a report based on 2006 data by IPEA -
Institute for Applied Economic Research, a government group in
Brasilia.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 85
Panafricanism /African diaspora
Black women are particularly
disadvantaged. According to a
study by IPEA and the United
Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM) using 2003
data, Black women earned 70
percent less than White men,
35 percent less than Black men
and almost 18 percent less, on
average, than White women.
Few Blacks make it into mana-
gement. They account for an
estimated 3.5 percent of the
executives, 17 percent of the
managers and 17.4 percent of
the supervisors at 500 major
companies, according to the
Instituto Ethos (Ethos Institute),
a Sao Paulo-based business
group that seeks to promote so-
cial responsibility. In compari-
son, in the U.S., Blacks make up
about 13.5 percent of the popu-
lation and hold about 6.3 per-
cent of the management jobs,
according to U.S. government
data.
The Education area is a sector
in which Black Brazilians have
a big gap in comparison with
White Brazilians. According to
IPEA, in the last decade, social
and economic indexes have im-
proved in the education and
health sectors but the gap bet-
ween races have not changed.
For example, 7 out of 10 Afro-
Brazilians children do not
conclude middle school compa-
red to 4 White-Brazilian chil-
dren out of 10 White-Brazilian
children; Afro-Brazilians aged
25 years old average about 2.3
fewer years of schooling than
the White.
At the Universidade de São
Paulo, one of the best public
universities in Latin America,
for example, 13.4 percent of the
students registered in 2007
YOWLI
86 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
were Black, up from 12.5 per-
cent in 2006. President Lula, 62
years old, a founder of the Wor-
kers' Party, has expanded edu-
cational opportunities for
Blacks since taking office in Ja-
nuary 2003. Lula by pressing
for Black Movement promulga-
ted law number 11.645 which
obliges the official system to
teach Afro-Indians Brazilian
history. In addition, he initiated
a scholarship program to help
the poor attend private univer-
sities. He supported affirmative
action to ensure the entry of
blacks into federal universities
called ProUni.
New racism: invisible barriers
No factor, other than the use of
discriminatory criteria based on
skin colour of individuals, may
explain the systematically unfa-
vourable indicators concerning
Black workers, whatever aspect
is considered. However legal
efforts to guarantee civil rights
for Blacks have been slow in
coming. All researchers have
proven that Black people are
discriminated against in com-
parison with White people but
this data about inequalities
aren't enough for changing the
reality of Black people.
Who is part of black race in
Brazil? Nowadays, the racist
system has created other invisi-
ble barriers to obstruct deve-
lopment of Black Brazilian
people. The first way is the use
of biology debate to justify sta-
tus quo about inequalities
based on race. According to
some Brazilian geneticist re-
searchers, most people across
all races have more genes from
Europe than from Africa. For
this reason the debate based on
race is fragile. But they don't
want to accept that the term
race was created for social
control purposes and it is an
empty word, fulfilled by the
existence of racism. As long as
racism exists, “race” as a
concept and an ideology will
continue existing!
The second way is to try de-le-
gitimize affirmative action by
showing unsuccessful cases.
Alan da Cunha, 19, and his
identical twin brother, Alex, re-
gistered last year to enter Uni-
versidade de Brasília, the public
university in the country's capi-
tal that sets aside 20 percent of
its seats for Blacks. Their father
is Black and their mother is
White. The twins are what
might be called light-skinned.
During the selection, Alan was
considered Black and admitted
and Alex, White and he was not
admitted. The media showca-
sed this extraordinary event se-
veral months during to
emphasize the downside of ins-
titutional racism. But mains-
tream media did not show how
many Black people benefited
the existing system and how
many people had their rights
ensured.
Ultimately, Black people in Bra-
zil need to continue breaking
through to these invisible bar-
riers that obstruct their deve-
lopment and prevent
affirmative action real expan-
sion across the Brazilian so-
ciety. They need to become
more conscious about this pro-
blem and work to attract more
partners to fight against it and
its devastating impact on our
people.
Haïti:
Femmes en état de siege
Marie Soudne Rivette
(Haiti)
Le niveau de pauvreté d’Haïti a
grimpé en une courbe ascen-
dante durant les trois dernières
décennies, en raison notamment
des crises politiques récurrentes,
d’une récession économique et
de l’anéantissement des institu-
tions de l’Etat.
Les chiffres sont alarmants et les
indicateurs sont au rouge pour
toutes les sphères de la vie natio-
nale. Une analyse géographique
de l’extrême pauvreté en Haïti,
montre deux caractéristiques
particulières :
• les clivages entre la ville et le
milieu rural :
o l’incidence de la pauvreté ex-
trême en milieu rural où elle est
de 80%, contre 65% en milieu ur-
bain et 22% dans l’aire métropo-
litaine de Port-au-Prince.
o la mortalité infantile est plus
faible en milieu urbain qu’en mi-
lieu rural soit 58% contre 76%.
o la concentration des investisse-
ments dans les milieux urbains
renforce la marginalisation des
zones rurales.
• les disparités sociales entre les
hommes et les femmes.
o le taux de pauvreté extrême est
de 53% pour les ménages dont
l’apporteur principal est un
homme contre 58% pour les mé-
nages où l’apporteur principal est
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
une femme.
o En milieu urbain, l’écart du ni-
veau de pauvreté entre les
femmes et les hommes est parti-
culièrement grand (17% et 29%
dans l’aire métropolitaine et 48%
et 64% dans les autres milieux
urbains).
En effet, Les femmes en Haïti
sont victimes d’un ensemble de
disposi¬tions économiques, so-
ciales, juridiques et politiques qui
exacerbent l’extrême pauvreté.
Elles sont ainsi les plus pauvres
parmi les pauvres, avec une
degré de vulnérabilité plus élevé.
Des données ventilées par sexe et
des analyses approfondies
étayent cette assertion.
Premièrement, en termes d’occu-
pation et de sources de revenus
le profil des femmes est différent
de celui des hommes :
• Dans la paysannerie, où se
trouve concentrée près de 80%
de la popula¬tion globale, les
femmes représentent 48% du
nombre total des agriculteurs.
Elles travaillent la terre et prati-
quent l’élevage mais, en plus,
elles sont fortement présentes
dans les activités liées à la com-
mercialisation et à la transforma-
tion.
YOWLI 87
Panafricanism /African diaspora
• Le secteur des services est
dominé par les femmes à 73%
; elles sont largement majori-
taires dans le secteur informel.
Cependant, leur salaire est in-
férieur de 40% à celui des
hommes.
• Dans le secteur industriel,
leur présence est plus impor-
tante que celle de l’homme
dans cer¬taines branches :
trieuse de café, ouvrière des
filatu¬res de coton, coutu-
rière, ou brodeuse dans les
maisons de confection...
o Elle constituent l’essentiel
(70%) des forces ouvrieres
dans les manufactures d’as-
semblage.
o elles occupent en général les
métiers et professions consi-
dérés traditionnellement
comme féminins et qui appor-
tent peu de revenu : secré-
taire, infirmière, institutrice,
On y compte un certain nom-
bre de membres de profes-
sions libérales, mais toujours
nettement inférieur à celui des
hommes.
o Elles constituent l’armée des
travailleuses à la pièce et des
travailleuses à domicile, dont
les conditions de travail sont
dénoncées par les défenseurs
et défenderesses des droits
humains.
o Les femmes représentent le
majeur partie de la domesti-
cité, et cela dès le très jeune
âge, où leur condition s’appa-
rente souvent à l’esclavage.
• Le commerce interne est as-
suré en majeure partie par les
femmes. Dans cette catégorie
elles sont 9 fois plus nom-
breuses que les hommes.
YOWLI
88 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Madan sara et re¬vendeuses
parcourent le pays pour écou-
ler les produits agricoles et ra-
vitailler les marchés ruraux et
urbains. A leur tour, les paco-
tilleuses vendent les produits
de consommation courante
importés ou de fabrication lo-
cale. Ces marchandes jouent
un rôle clé dans l’organisation
de la vie des masses popu-
laires.
Deuxièmement, les femmes
sont particulièrement expo-
sées aux risques sociaux et
d’autres formes d’oppression
sociale attachées spécifique-
ment à la condition féminine :
• La non-reconnaissance
de leurs droits sexuels et de
reproduction, les limitations
dont elles souffrent aggravent
leur situation de pauvreté et
leur vulnérabilité. L’écrasante
majorité des femmes haï-
tiennes ne bénéficie d’aucune
sorte de protection sociale et
ne beneficie pas au droit à une
maternité librement consentie
(éducation sexuelle, informa-
tion sur la contraception, droit
à l’avortement).
• L'indice de participation des
Femmes dans les hautes
sphères de prise de décision
politique, économique et so-
ciale, reste très faible (7.28%
de femmes cadres). Pourtant,
en dépit de ces circonstances,
les Femmes se retrouvent
dans la majorité des cas, chefs
de ménages et doivent pour-
voir à leur famille.
• Les femmes sont discrimi-
nées dans le système éducatif,
no¬tamment à la campagne
où seulement 1 enfant sur 11
va à l‘école. De ce nombre les
petites filles ne représentent
que le 1/3, et ce sont elles sur-
tout qui abandonnent préma-
turément l’école pour garder
les plus jeunes. Le nombre
d’analphabètes est plus grand
parmi les femmes que parmi
les hommes. De plus l’école et
la famille vé¬hiculent une
idéologie qui perpétue la sou-
mission de la femme et les dis-
criminations à son égard.
• Une autre forme d’exploita-
tion de la femme est la prosti-
tution qui a pris une ampleur
considérable par suite de l’ag-
gravation de la misère. Cette
exploitation alimentée par un
tourisme corrupteur et la pré-
sence des militaires étrangers.
Les fillettes de 10 à 12 ans ne
sont points épargnees et sont
parfois sujettes a une véritable
traite.
• La multiplication de nom-
breux cas de violences perpé-
trés contre les femmes et les
filles et assumées publique-
ment est une tendance qui
s’affirme de plus en plus dans
la société haïtienne. La plupart
des femmes sont battues, mal-
traitées, violées, tuées et ne
sont pas prises en considéra-
tion. Elles ont été victimes de
la généralisation de l'impunité
qui a prévalu et prévaut en-
core dans le pays : les cas de
viols, de violence à leur en-
droit se sont multipliés et les
auteurs ne font l'objet d'au-
cune poursuite judiciaire.
Cette situation a été aggravé
avec les chaos et le non droit
des quartiers populaires ou les
femmes, les marchandes am-
bulantes et les « Madan Sara
» étaient littéralement violen-
tées et violées par les gangs
armés chez elles, dans les
marchés et dans les rues. On
se rappelle encore avec une
acuité traumatisante des cas
de femmes qui ont été enle-
vées, violées, maltraitées et
certaines fois tuées après que
leurs ravisseurs aient sollicité
des parents de ces dernières
des sommes mirobolantes.
Enfin dans la législation, une
série de dispositions confirme
la situation d’infériorité faite
aux femmes dans la société
haïtienne. La femme mariée
est considé¬rée comme mi-
neure. Les procédures de di-
vorce lui sont défavorables.
L’avortement est pénalisé
comme un crime.
Toutefois plusieurs avancées
dans la défense des droits so-
ciaux et politiques des femmes
et l’égalité entre les sexes peu-
vent être constatées ces der-
nières années. Certaines
initiatives des ONG et du Gou-
vernement laissent entrevoir
une volonté d’accompagne-
ment de la femme haïtienne.
Cependant, de nombreux fac-
teurs structurels et culturels
font obstacles aux nombres
initiatives lancées en direction
du respect des droits des
femmes et limitent leur im-
pact. Notamment :
• La faiblesse des institutions
de l’état plus précisément la
corruption qui ronge le sys-
tème judiciaire ;
• Le grave déficit que connaît
Haïti en ce qui a trait à l’exer-
cice intégral des droits civils
et politiques pour les femmes.
• l’absence d’un cadre global
d’intervention pour enrayer
les discriminations contre les
femmes et promouvoir l’éga-
lité entre les sexes. Les petits
projets pillulent et ont ten-
dances a implémenter des ac-
tions spécifiques pour les
femmes dans la conception
IFD
• la concentration et la centra-
lisation des investissements
publiques.

Editorial Team
Chief Editor: Yassine Fall
Jemila Adbulai - Ghana
Yaganoma Baatuolkuu - Ghana
Moiyattu Banya - Sierra Leone
Salimata Bocoum - Senegal
Liliane Braga – Brazil
Aissatou Cisse
Hameda Deedat – SOUTH AFRICA
Binetou Fall - Senegal
Rachel Gaicchero - Ethiopia
Regina Kacwamu
Joan W. Karanja - Kenya
Kgomosto Maolusi - South Africa
Nana, Ghana
Adji Samb - Senegal
Mafoane Odara Poli Santos – Brazil
Sophie NZinga Sy - Senegal
Agnes Thomasi - Gambia
Angela Wainaina - Kenya
Titian-Rose - Whittle - Trinidad & Tobago
Mariama Williams, Jamaica

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 89
Panafricanism /African diaspora

Educação para quê e para

quem?

Érica Ferreira Viviane de Jesus

Age : 28 Age: 30
YOWLI (Brazil) ActionAid Brasil (Brazil)

Ao pensarmos no processo de globalização devemos compreen-

der a relação entre tempo e espaço e de que maneira as ações hu-
manas se modificam e se reproduzem nos diferentes lugares a
partir da ótica do sistema capitalista atual.
Nessa perspectiva as transformações sociais são insuficientes,
pois a ação do Estado torna-se insatisfatória e o seu papel de
transformar e promover instrumentos de ações políticas para os
cidadãos é transferido para as ONGs – Organizações não-gover-
namentais – e instituições privadas que se apropriam da ineficá-
cia do Estado e acabam apoderando-se de políticas públicas
relativas à educação, saúde, moradia, cultura e lazer.
O lado positivo desse fenômeno é que, nele, encontram-se insti-
tuições, organizações e movimentos sociais brasileiros que têm
compromisso social com as questões de gênero, raciais, educa-
ção e de mobilização popular. Como o Instituto Sócio Educativo
Steve Biko, em Salvador/ Bahia, e o MSU – Movimento dos Sem
Universidade – em todo Brasil.
A Biko, como é conhecida a instituição, é a primeira experiência
de curso preparatório para o vestibular para jovens negros po-
bres no Brasil. A instituição surgiu da necessidade de garantir o
direito dos jovens negros ao acesso à educação e ao empodera-

YOWLI
90 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
mento dessa parcela da popu-
lação da juventude negra. Já
são 15 anos de existência da
Biko e, nesse período, cente-
nas de estudantes negros
foram inseridos em Universi-
dades públicas e privadas.
O MSU é um movimento so-
cial, cultural e popular com
grande destaque nas áreas
educacionais e da luta por di-
reitos, principalmente de estu-
dantes afro-descendentes e
pobres quanto ao acesso e
permanência nas universi-
dades públicas e de qualidade
de todo o Brasil.
No livro “Por uma outra glo-
balização”, o intelectual negro
brasileiro Milton Santos –
geógrafo e pai da geografia
crítica no mundo –, diz que
“...a globalização proporciona
males que tornam difícil a vida
das mulheres e homens.
Impõe a tirania do dinheiro,
informação que domina o
mundo e a produção de mer-
cadorias.”
Tal análise nos faz pensar
ainda mais sobre os efeitos da
globalização no Brasil, quando
se revelam dados de que a
cada cem mil jovens brasilei-
ros que morrem assassinados
68,40% são negros, contra
34,10% de brancos. Que 71%
dos jovens abaixo da linha de
pobreza são negros; 73% dos
jovens analfabetos são negros;
69% dos desempregados jo-
vens são negros e 70% das
mães solteiras são negras, de
acordo com os dados do
PNUD e da UNESCO.
A pergunta do título permite
fazer uma reflexão sobre
como propocionar uma edu-
cação onde os excluídos, prin-
cipalmente mulheres negras e
homens negros brasileiros,
possam ter garantido o direito
a uma educação de qualidade
e porque o atual modelo de
exclusão social global não per-
mite que sejam cidadãos de
fato. Afinal, não existem cida-
dãos num espaço onde todos
não o são. Então para quê e
para quem é a educação?
É para todas e todos, a fim de
garantir a cidadania plena. A
história da estudante Joyce
Ferreira, moradora da perife-
ria de Taboão da Serra, região
metropolitana da grande São
Paulo, é um exemplo. Filha de
mãe empregada doméstica e
pai polidor de carros, ambos
negros e pobres, Joyce teve a
possibilidade de cursar o en-
sino fundamental e o ensino
médio em escolas públicas de
qualidade no Estado mais po-
puloso e desigual do Brasil.
Mesmo assim, ela precisou
fazer curso preparatório para
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
a prova do vestibular durante
três anos e, assim, conseguiu
ingressar no curso de História
da UNIFESP – Universidade
Federal de São Paulo.
Joyce é uma cidadã que pôde
ultrapassar as barreiras im-
postas pelos modelos de ex-
clusão neoliberal, lutando pela
garantia do direito ao acesso à
educação pública de quali-
dade para todas e todos ao
continuar atuando no MSU
após o seu ingresso na univer-
sidade. Esse exemplo de-
monstra que uma outra
globalização é possível. É pos-
sível uma transformação so-
cial fortalecedora, que
promova a dignidade humana
e empodere cidadãs negras e
cidadãos negros para que
possam experienciar também
a mobilidade social.
Os movimentos sociais visam
sociabilizar mulheres e ho-
mens por uma educação po-
pular, onde cidadãos se
auto-afirmam como sujeitos
de direitos. Trata-se de uma
proposta de transformação
social que fortalece a partici-
pação dos excluídos face à po-
lítica neoliberal que se estende
do século XX aos dias atuais.
O acesso a uma educação de
qualidade se faz na construção
da cidadania plena. De acordo
com o educador Paulo Freire
em seu livro “Pedagogia do
Oprimido”, a prática da edu-
cação libertadora somente
será permitida se o oprimido –
o excluído – tiver condições
reflexivas de descobrir-se e
conquistar-se como sujeto de
sua própria destinação histó-
rica.
YOWLI 91
Panafricanism /African diaspora

African Youth Living Abroad:

Investing in our Continent

Moiyattu Banya
(23; Sierra Leone)

I can never turn my back on my homeland because I have

very strong ties to this place. Living in the United States for
10 years since the war in Sierra Leone, has changed my life.
To be so far removed from ones home, allowed me to foster a
sense of value for the place I once dwelled in. I learned that I
have an obligation to give back to my country, and to be a
key part in rebuilding the infrastructure of what the war des-
troyed. Many Africans come to the United States to find a
better life. Too many of us have set up permanent lives and
do not look back. The concept of brain drain has been occur-
ring for too long and we as African youth must put a stop to
it. As we form our identities in other societies, we must help
those that we left behind. Though there are challenges that
we face, there are ways to overcome those challenges that I
personally have found useful.

YOWLI
92 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
Imagine being asked questions such as
“do you live in trees in Africa?”, “do you
guys wear clothing?” At age 12, first arri-
ving in the United States, it was very hard
to handle such situations. The most hurt-
ful part about the situation was that I ex-
perienced these comments from
African-Americans. I rationalized over the
years that African-Americans have been
cut off from the African continent for cen-
turies; and should not be blamed for such
comments but be encouraged to recon-
nect back to their roots. My sense of
value and self worth developed as I be-
came involved with my Sierra Leonean
community. In college, I developed a
strong liking for choreographing diffe-
rent forms of African dance, was involved
in African student unions and took many
political and history classes relating to
Africa and black relations. I yearned to
give back, however there were many
challenges I faced.
When I mentioned what I wanted to do to
some family and community members,
they snorted up their noses in disgust and
stated to me that Africa was a lost cause.
Buying a flight ticket to Sierra Leone was
very expensive. I was not able to go
home, especially in the process of paying
for college expenses through summer
jobs. Another challenge that I experien-
ced was finding organizations that shared
my vision. I became angry and puzzled,
when I attended numerous United Na-
tions Conferences, and found that youn-
ger white women were more favoured to
do work in Africa. I struggled to think,
how do I begin to link up with organiza-
tions in my country, and in the United
States and where was I going to start. It
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
was very hard over the years but I never
gave up and stayed positive. I knew that
since I had the opportunity to leave my
country for a purpose and I was willing to
work hard to fulfil that purpose.
One thing I found that helped was staying
around positive people, and those with si-
milar agendas of doing work in Africa.
Becoming educated about the political
and economic issues in your country and
overall continent is also very important.
Another action I took was getting invol-
ved with our communities abroad, be-
cause forming alliances are always a
more powerful force for change. I urge
youth to be involved with non profit orga-
nizations and United Nations conferences
that focus on a particular area of interest.
Programs such as study abroad, interna-
tional conferences such as YOWLI are
useful because they allow for strong net-
working opportunities, and create lear-
ning opportunities as well. These
approaches worked for me and I recom-
mend them as well to other African youth
who are interested in rebuilding our so-
cieties.
As I look forward to finishing my last year
of my masters program at Columbia Uni-
versity, I contemplate many thoughts.
What would I do next? Where will I live?
What always remains constant is my love
for my country and my people. With a
well developed sense of identity, know-
ledge of ones history and present and the
right alliances, we can begin to create a
more prosperous Africa for us all.
YOWLI 93
Panafricanism /African diaspora

Strengthening Africa and

Diaspora’s Struggle
Against Racism

Priscilla Ferreira
YOWLI (25; Brazil)

We still have a long way to
walk, as panafrican internatio-
nal civil society, until we get
strong enough to be major
players in pressuring our go-
vernments to seriously imple-
ment the principles of
diplomacy and build a truly ho-
rizontal and equalitarian coope-
ration between African
countries and Brazil.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva has taken important steps
towards strengthening alliances
between Brazil and the African
continent. Unlike all other Bra-
zilian presidents, he has visited
many African countries and has
signed several bilateral agree-
ments to establish cooperation
in different fields such as Agri-
culture, education, commerce,
HIV/ Aids among others. Also,
due to the Black Brazilian Mo-
vements’ pressure a law has
been approved by the
Congress, which makes com-
pulsory the teaching of African
and Afro-Brazilian’s history and
culture in all school and univer-
sities.
However, due to widespread ra-
cism in Brazilian culture and
institutions, cooperation is
being implemented on a preju-
dice and neo-imperialist bases.
In Brazil, enterprises are owned
and ran only by the White elite
who pursues its own interests,
which are in no way connected
to the interests and needs of
Black people, neither in Brazil
nor in Africa. At Brazilian uni-
versities and schools, the majo-
rity of researchers and teachers
are White. Therefore, they have
no interest in doing research
about African countries’ cul-
ture, history, politics and eco-
nomy. The law has not been
effectively implemented, and
we continue to ignore the rea-
lity of African countries, and to
reproduce prejudice, distorted
and racist perception of Africa
and its peoples.
In a context where the Brazilian
Black Movement has been figh-
ting racism, the Brazilian go-
vernment has recognized
institutional racism and has
started implementing affirma-
tive action policies, such as
“scholarship program which
provides support for Afro-des-
cendents to get prepared to
enter into the diplomatic aca-
demy, strategic power position
such as diplomacy is almost en-
tirely composed by white diplo-
mats who prefer to work in
Europe. African immigrants are
having hard time to get visas to
go to Brazil.
As Brazil emerges as an impor-
tant developing country, as a re-
sult of the exhaustive work of
Africans and African descent
for building the wealth of our
nation since slavery, nowadays,
African labor force are fre-
quently considered as a threat
to our development... Ironic! As
we have discussed for several
occasions during our YOWLI I
and II meetings in Brazil, we
have to seriously discuss, carry
out researches and organize
ourselves to protect the rights
of African immigrants in Brazil.
Special attention and support
shall be provided to refugees
and other workers who do not
have documents.
As we move forward with our
network, we must mobilize Pa-
nafrican international society to
build concrete partnership,
such as planning and organi-
zing exchange programs for ac-
tivists, so that we can truly
experience each other`s culture
and share know-how from our
struggles against racism and
the consequences of injustice
and inequalities it generates wi-
thin our countries, whether in
Africa or in Diaspora.

YOWLI
94 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
 Ghanaian Hospitality:
Inferiority Complex or Lost
Identity
Yaganoma Baatuolkuu
(27 Years; Ghana)
It is a hot afternoon and I am
standing at the bus stop waiting
for a 'trotro', the local public
transport. A young man comes
and stands by me, and starts to
'chat' me up. I show my disinte-
rest as my mind is pre-occupied.
This does not perturb my African
brother in anyway. He continues
to pester me. To show my disin-
terest, I move away but he moves
closer asking, "where are you
going?" Hoping to shut him up I
respond, "to campus." Ignoring
my continued disinterest, he tells
me his name is Richard and then,
out of nowhere, the question I
have been dealing with since re-
turning back to Ghana pops up,
"Are you American?"
This angers me, and brings rage
in me that has been suppressed
for eight years. Eight years of ha-
ving to defend my African-ness
and eights years of trying to
sound and be Ghanaian enough
and never really being African
enough.
I dress like the African I know,
eat with my fingers, walk bare-
footed as and when I please, yet I
am asked the same question over
and over again. These are the
things that made Richard believe
I was either an American, or
from the Caribbean. But I am
African, and I am Ghanaian.
Why is it that I am treated better
by Ghanaians when they think
that I am an African-American,
and treated with indifference (so-
metimes disgust) when I am
found to be from the motherland.
This attitude makes me wonder
whether we have identity crises
in the country.
It has come to my realization that
my people will condone anything
coming from outside of Africa,
and further still the lighter the
skin colour the better. In the
name of Ghanaian Hospitality we
willingly watch, support and
condone gross human rights vio-
lations against our kinsmen be-
cause the perpetrators are
thought to be 'better' than us.
Several examples of this have re-
cently taken place in Ghana.
About four years ago, a Korean
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
had to be deported for forcing
his employee, a Ghanaian who
had spat on the floor of the che-
mical plant in which he worked,
to lick the sputum of the floor.
Were it not for the media atten-
tion that the case received, he
may have gotten away with it.
More recently, a Chinese
contractor intentionally ground
his Ghanaian employee to a pulp
by turning on a cement mixer in
which the employee was wor-
king. The contractor has fled the
country, unpunished. A more
worrying case included a Leba-
nese owned biscuit making com-
pany that was exposed by the
media to have been using expi-
red, worm-infested flour to make
biscuits that were distributed to
schools in the whole country. All
the company’s products were re-
called and the company shut
down. But in about five months
the company was back in busi-
ness. A further case of a British
consultant, who turned out to be
a pedophile, was found to have
molested a three year old girl
and was sent back to his country.
Were it a Ghanaian committing
these violations in any of the
above perpetrators countries,
would he get away with it or be
prosecuted mercilessly. The ans-
wer is the latter.
Whenever I am perceived to be a
foreigner, I receive preferential
treatment; I am offered a seat at
the front of a 'trotro'. I am spo-
ken to with kindness and almost
slavering respect. I feel like I can
get away with anything.
YOWLI 95
Panafricanism /African diaspora
Even our government officials,
who are meant to proudly lead in
upholding our culture, seem to
be suffering from identity crises.
Yet, during Ghana’s Golden Jubi-
lee celebrations, the President
His Excellence Kufour turned up
for the official event in an Ar-
mani suit. An even greater
shame was the promotion and
sale of Jubilee textiles made and
imported from China.
Due to our Ghanaian Hospitality
and status as the “gateway to
African Excellence,” Ghana is
now the dumping ground for se-
condhand goods and is currently
on Interpol's list as a narcotic
depot. We sell our offspring as
In His own Image
Yet so diverse is mankind
In the beating of our centre
The voice of the conscious
Divine were our thoughts
This temple of mine
Painted with the night
Sometimes like the waters in creeks
The voice of your conscious
Divine were your thoughts
Is this the who in me
Desires of the time
Gone with tears of blood
The voice of my conscious
Divine are my thoughts
In His own Image
Yes that was his purpose
The garden of life
Lets be the Free Rose we want to be,
Lets be the Violet of freedom I want to be
That is His Image”
Joan Dogojo
Surinam
YOWLI
96 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
child prostitutes, child workers
and more, all in the name of
money. We have sidelined our-
selves as a proud people, and we
called it development.
The youth of the country have
also been greatly affected by
empty promises and the lack of a
National policy. The voice of the
youth has further been silenced
by referring to young people
who speak .out as being rude
and overly westernized. Meanw-
hile, these western cultures are
constantly on our media and are
our daily lives.
The problem of brain drain in
Ghana is a major challenge as
large numbers of young people
POETRY
line up every day outside the
American embassy, with the
hope of leaving for greener pas-
tures.
Young Ghanaian women are sel-
ling themselves out to foreign ex-
patriates for a couple of dollars
and cased of sodomy, prostitu-
tion, child prostitution and mo-
lestation, by these 'expats' are
almost a daily occurrence in
Ghana. The youth are the most
affected. But is the government
doing all that it can to curb these
growing issues? The answer is a
resounding no!
I am Ghanaian, I am Hospital. I
am the Gateway to African Excel-
lence.
HOPE to LIVE
Lost without words,
have they not heard?
I see, I sleep,
just so it won’t hurt.
I have heard of love,
straight from above,
I have not felt it,
I have not touched it.
Can you hear me, anyone?
someone, somewhere?
Can you come?
I have no air, I cannot
breathe, cannot see,
cannot sleep, but only weep.
But love from Mother, with
strength from Abba, with
courage to go on.
The little will to live,
A new me is born.
Only Love can I give...!
Segakweng Khutlapye
(South Africa)

Dem A Bleach…
The reason for choosing this parti-
cular title for my article is because
of a very popular reggae song in
the early nineties that was compo-
sed by a famous DJ by the name of
Nardo Ranks. The song was high-
lighting a new craze in Jamaica
about young girls and women that
were bleaching their skins. Few
lines from the song goes “dem a
bleach dem a bleach out them skin
dem a bleach fi look like brow-
ning…” This song was in no way
promoting the skin bleaching, but
jeering the girls that were doing
this to their bodies.
It is now 2008, forty six years since
we freed ourselves from oppres-
sion and health authorities say
hundreds of young women and
men are bleaching their skin. The
population in Jamaica currently
stands at 2,780,132. The majority
of the population are people who
are black, why is it that we have
this self hate craze taking over our
country?
In Jamaican society the message
that is being taught to the youth is
that if you are of dark skin tone, it
is something bad; that to be “dark”
is ugly. For example I know a
young girl that attends a high
school where she is constantly tea-
sed by her peers about her skin
tone. They tell her she is black and
ugly. Not only does this affect her
emotionally but physiologically as
well, she has already started to
wish that she was of a lighter skin
tone, she looks at herself and hates
the person looking back at her,
and she thinks that to have a ligh-
ter skin tone would make her more
beautiful. In actuality the women
that do in fact bleach their skin are
responding to internalised oppres-
sion.
Our society
makes it clear
that to be of a
light complexion
or to be as phy-
siologically close
to the white race
is something po-
sitive. It transmit-
ted subtle ways,
in commercials
that showcase
positive imagery and beauty pro-
ducts; we tend to use mostly white
Jamaicans, or Jamaicans of light
complexions. In commercials that
show youth being violent or poor
or negative imagery we tend to
use darker skinned Jamaicans.
In the inner city areas you have
young girls and women that will
find various ways to bleach their
skin, they will use home products
such as toothpaste, curry powder,
milk powder, household bleach
and cornmeal, they will also buy
bleaching creams that are manu-
factured in Europe and sold over
the counter in Jamaica. Using
these various methods have se-
rious health and life threatening
implications, but these women is
not educated about it or if they
have a bit of knowledge about it
they do not care. Dr. Neil Persad-
singh, a Jamaican dermatologist
explains, “Some creams work by
killing melanin, the substance that
lends skin its pigmentation and
protects the skin from cancer cau-
sing ultraviolet rays of the sun. All
people have melanin in their skin,
the more melanin the darker the
skin.” Not only are we beautiful
already it does in fact help to be of
a darker complexion! We are less
likely to get skin cancer. A very
vivid example of the negative ef-
fects of skin bleaching was an inci-
dent my friend’s mother told us,
L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership
CULTURAL IDENTITY
Stephanie Grant
Age: 23
University of West Indies
Jamaica
while she was working in a hospi-
tal, a young lady that was blea-
ching got into a fight and was
stabbed in the face; however she
had damaged so much of her me-
lanin, that the doctor was unable
to give her stitches.
Is this what we really want?
These women are not only blea-
ching their skin but they wear
blonde extensions and blue
contact lenses. It seems as if they
are trying as hard as possible to
dissociate themselves from being
black! It is important to note that it
is not only women in the inner ci-
ties that are bleaching their skins
but women in the “uptown areas”
as well, the difference is that they
go to professionals and do various
things such as, chemical peels,
they also can take injections that
help lighten their skin. These
women frown at the women in the
inner city that they bleach, and be-
have as if they themselves are not
also entertaining this idea of self
hate. We have forgotten what it
means to be who we are and what
we represent, we look at ourselves
and still want to change what sim-
ply was not meant to be changed,
we do this and we are destroying
our bodies and our minds.
“Emancipate yourself from mental
slavery none but ourselves can
free our minds.” Bob Marley.
YOWLI 97
 African Americans make up the single largest racial minority in the United States.

MANY BLACK WOMEN LIVE IN THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA. THEY LIVE THERE
NOW STILL. MANY BLACK WOMEN VISIT
OTHER COUNTRIES TO SHOW PEOPLE IN
THOSE OTHER COUNTRIES HOW BLACK
WOMEN SURVIVE.
Karen Walker

Di·as·po·ra [dayh-as-per-uh]:
any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional home-
land.

Li·mi·nal·i·ty [lim-uh-nal-i-tee]:
a psychological, neurological, or metaphysical subjective, conscious
state of being on the "threshold" of or between two different exis-
tential planes… People, places, or things may not complete a transi-
tion, or a transition between two states may not be fully possible.
Those who remain in a state between two other states may become
permanently liminal.

Black women represented 66% of AIDS diagnoses in women in 2006,

though just 12-13% of American women are black.

Collage Makini Boothe

YOWLI
98 The Young Women Knowledge and Leadership Institute
 The Young Women Knowledge
and Leadership Institute (YOWLI)

YOWLI’s objective is to:

• enhance the knowledge building capacities of young
women and men;
• widen their horizons and enhance their networking ability
• support their social justice monitoring efforts.

Through a one-month intensive knowledge and leadership

training held once every two years, starting in 2006, AWOMI
tries to contribute in nurturing democratic citizenship. Fol-
lowing the 2006 YOWLI several young women who partici-
pated developed innovative initiatives to respond to the
follow up action plan they had put together. These initiatives
were supported by AWOMI through the mentorship of part-
ner organizations and women leaders in these countries.
They are presented as follow.
POST 2006 YOWLI ACTIVITIES are presented in another
table annexed here

YOWLI 2008 will be held in Goree Island, Dakar Senegal

from 30 June to 25 July

AWOMI published the call for application through its website

and circulated it among partner organizations. A selection
committee composed of old YOWlees and AWOMI staff has
identified the following participants. Applicants selected are
all members of organizations that are already partners or
have indicated interest in being partners of AWOMI. This will
be one of the important factor that ensure sustaininbility of
the YOWLI vision.

L'institut pour l’éducation des jeunes femmes au leadership

YOWLI 99