Women to take case to UN

An advocacy strategy to hold African states accountable for women’s issues was discussed in Cape Town this week as women from around the continent prepare to present their case to the  UN .

Senegal, Gambia, Madagascar, Namibia and Malawi were among countries represented at the four-day meeting hosted by the Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre.

The objective was to discuss the development of civil society and to help women’s groups and activists compile shadow reports, which will be presented to the  UN  next year.

These reports address discrimination against women in relation to land rights, health, education, disability, sexual identity, as well as violence against women.

Masimanyane director Lesley-Ann Foster said the training prepared delegates to compile reports analysing government findings as they compare to the actual state of women’s issues experienced.

“The reports go in a year ahead of the actual presentation, which will take place next year. The reports also provide information on the lived realities and on-the-ground experiences of women in their respective countries.”

Foster said that it was important to learn from the struggles women faced and the threat to their safety and lives from state resistance. “The contradiction is mind-blowing. Women fear for their lives from the institutions meant to protect them.”

One of the delegates, Yassin Senghore, said she risked her life to attend the session as her country forbids advocacy for women. She said the training received helped sharpen her understanding of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw), among others.

Marie Zenaïde Nara from Madagascar said the training was valuable. “We plan to do capacity building meetings soon to help them understand Cedaw and to raise awareness of what it undertakes for defence of women's rights worldwide.” —