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AWLP Newsletter Nš4 - May/June 2008
Newsletter of the African Women Leaders Project - a project of the Club of Madrid, funded by the European Union's Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights and the Canadian International Development Agency
[download the PDF version to print]
In this issue:
Mary Robinson and Kjell M. Bondevik support efforts to pass gender related legislation in Uganda
- President Robinson and President Museveni
Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Bondevik, both Members of the Club of Madrid, visited Kampala on 5-8 March, to exchange leadership experiences with female and male leaders in Uganda. These included meetings with the First Lady and Senator Janet Kataha Museveni, Speaker of the House of Assembly Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka, Minister of State and Deputy Attorney General Frederick Ruhindi, women ministers and shadow ministers, religious leaders, civil society representatives and members of the international community. The delegation also met President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. In a national speech on International Women’s Day, the last day of the Club of Madrid mission, Museveni committed to support key gender legislation, in particular the Domestic Relations Bill. The delegation heightened much needed visibility for gender related bills and women’s rights issues among key stakeholders.
In Uganda gender quotas have significantly increased the number of women participating in politics and government. Through the Constitution’s affirmative action provision, there is 31 percent female representation in parliament, 14 women ministers, eight shadow women ministers, and more than a hundred female MPs. However, many challenges to full gender equity and equal participation remain.
"Equality exists when both women and men are able to share in all spheres of life"
Kjell Magne Bondevik,
Former Prime Minister of Norway
Member of the Club of Madrid
In this context the African Women Leaders Project conducted its first of three high-level missions to Uganda. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and Kjell Mange Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway, led the mission, along with expert political practitioner Pregaluxmi Govender, a women’s rights activist and former Member of South African’s Parliament. Missions are coordinated with local partners, European Parliamentarians for Africa’s Uganda office (AWEPA Uganda) and local associates, the Uganda Women Parliamentarians Association (UWOPA).
- AWLP Delegation with Ugandan women Ministers and MPs
"God did not give land to men and a kitchen to women"
Catholic Church Representative
"I’ll make sure this bill [on Domestic Violence] is passed before the end of the Parliament"
Speaker of the House, Uganda
These remarks are regarded as an important boost for women’s activists to start campaigning on reducing tolerance of violence against women in Uganda.
However, during meetings with the AWLP delegation, several Ugandan leaders expressed concerns about Parliament’s seeming inability to pass gender related legislation despite the significant number of female legislators.
The following key issues were raised during the dialogue sessions:
- The need to focus on legislative priorities, including the passing of the Domestic Violence Bill and Domestic Relations Bill;
- The need to allocate resources towards the implementation of gender-related laws, policies, programs and institutions;
- The need to include the recommendations of women with disabilities in all gender-related legislation;
- The need to create a forum for Members of Parliament to meet regularly with civil society, including organizations of people with disabilities;
- Representatives from the different religions should be consulted, within a concrete time frame, and their comments included in the draft legislation;
- The importance of active engagement of male MPs for their support in passing gender related legislation;
- The need to address maternal health challenges and accelerate efforts towards decreasing the high rates of maternal mortality.
"Empowering women in society, beginning with girls, is key to socio-economic development"
Mary Robinson,
Former President of Ireland
Vice President of the Club of Madrid
- On the left, Prime Minister Bondevik being interviewed. On the right, President Robinson and expert Pregs Govender during the press conference.
AWLP promotes affirmative action in Sierra Leone
- Minister Kandeh and President Monteiro
Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma told a delegation led by the Club of Madrid Member Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, former President of Cape Verde, and hosted by the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) that he would give his assent to a law on affirmative action or a constitutional quota system in favour of women in politics if passed by parliament. Women Ministers and Deputy Ministers, along with civil society groups, agreed to submit a cabinet paper to the President on affirmative action and to work together on a common platform to promote the agenda to achieve women’s participation in political leadership.
In Sierra Leone, women are still under-represented in politics with only 13% of seats in Parliament and three out of 24 government ministers. There have been some improvements in the legal status of women in the country with the passing of three gender acts last year after the first AWLP mission to the country, but more efforts are needed in the political sphere, as the project’s final mission made clear.
Sierra Leone’s women’s movement is still developing, and the President appears supportive of the participation of women in politics. The window of opportunity created by the constitutional reform process should be seized now. The coming local elections (July 2008) are another opportunity for women to increase their visibility and participation in the political life.
- Expert Miria Matembe in a capacity building session with women candidates for the July local government elections.
"Women are a very important factor in social change in the world. Gender issues must be included in all policies"
Antonio M. Monteiro,
Former President of Cape Verde
Member of the Club of Madrid
In this context, the African Women Leaders Project conducted its fourth mission to Sierra Leone (April 7-11), led by Club of Madrid Member Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, former President of Cape Verde, and Miria Matembe, former Ugandan MP and Minister of Ethics and Integrity. The delegation, in coordination with local partners Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), organised a series of meetings and dialogue sessions to build on the findings and results of the three previous missions and take advantage of this momentum.
The delegation met with the President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma. Delegation leader Pres. Monteiro acknowledged President Koroma’s commitment to women’s issues and encouraged him to continue involving women in political life by appointing more women to high-level leadership positions. Miria Matembe also encouraged the President to continue this commitment of eliminating the barriers to women’s participation in politics by taking advantage of the current constitutional review process and to support affirmative action, as this was the best way to promote women’s political participation. Koroma expressed agreement with the delegation and encouraged Sierra Leone’s women to lobby parliamentarians to support the quota system during the constitutional reform process. The President committed to give his assent to this law once passed by Parliament.
"When women are not there, so much is missed. It is like walking with only one leg. You cannot go too far"
Miria Matembe,
Former Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Uganda
At a meeting with the Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Women’s Affairs (MSWGCA), deputy ministers, high level officials of the Ministry and civil society representatives, the participants agreed to work together on a common platform with women civil society groups to submit a cabinet paper on the quota system to the President for his consideration and support.
The Club of Madrid delegation also participated in a dialogue with women leaders that brought together more than 100 representatives from grassroots women’s groups, national and international organizations, the media and the armed forces, among others. The women briefed the delegation on the current challenges they face in public life. Pres. Monteiro and Ms. Matembe shared their experiences and made recommendations that helped the women to develop an Action Plan to push their demands and achieve common goals. The action plan focuses on the following: 1) addressing the threats and impediments to women’s empowerment and political participation; 2) developing and strengthening political will on the part of government to support women’s empowerment and political participation; 3) forging action on the part of government and international partners in furtherance of women’s empowerment and participation; 4) building a vibrant women’s movement in furtherance of women’s political participation; and 5) mobilising broad-based participation at all levels.
The delegation facilitated a dialogue among political party executives and female political party leaders and members of parliament. Political parties were encouraged to establish objective and transparent rules that promote the participation of women in political leadership, including affirmative action measures.
Ms. Matembe advised the MSWGCA’s Gender Division to clarify its role and prioritise its activities in view of the limited resources available to the Ministry. She advised the Ministry to focus on the gender acts passed in 2007, and simplify, translate and distribute the information to the public thorough an intensive awareness-raising programme.
"I was not elected [in the last 2007 elections], but I can tell you I am now a hot cake in politics"
Hussainatu Jalloh,
former candidate for Sierra Leonean 2007 Legislative Elections
The Club of Madrid delegation also visited the Annie Walsh Secondary School – the oldest girls’ School in Sierra Leone – to motivate young girls to prepare themselves for leadership positions in the future. The Club of Madrid members encouraged over 200 secondary school girls to develop goals and a desire for leadership positions as they grow up.
The mission ended with a 2-day practical and comprehensive training conducted by Matembe for more than 100 women candidates for July 2008 local elections, on how to develop a successful campaign and what strategies to follow both before and after being elected.
Get to know... Graduates of AWLP training in Sierra Leone
1. What did you learn at Miria Matembe’s training? What has inspired you the most?
2. What was your personal experience after the training? What are your plans now?
3. What advice would you give young women who want to enter politics?
Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
1. The foundation of my [preparedness for my] current position was solidly provided by Miria . I admire her determination and braveness. I learnt from her that women should no longer stay behind, we need to face our challenges ahead of us, stand firm and fight. Let people listen to us so that they can feel our presence.
2. Before becoming Deputy Minister, I used to be a teacher, and led a women’s organization, the Women’s Cooperative Union. I sensitized women in my local communities the same ways Miria sensitized me, so that they get involved in the politics of the village. My goal is to be promoted one day and become a full minister through my own performance.
3. I would tell them to get prepared and determined to achieve their goals. It is not easy but when they are determined to talk to people, to organize meetings, to sensitize people, then they can participate in decision-making, they become important and part of the system.
Former candidate for 2007 elections
1. Miria is my role model in politics. I have learnt a lot of political strategies from her and after the training I was able to talk to the media.
2. I did not win in the elections, but I achieved a lot: I was exposed to my people, I knew and saw the potential I have, and how much they accept and love me. I could only campaign for 2 weeks, but if I would have campaigned more, I would have won. I will run again in 2012, I am already planning for it.
3. It is not an easy task. They should have a long-term plan involving their family members for support, especially their husbands.
Member of Sierra Leonean Parliament and Chairwoman of the Committee on Gender and Children Affairs
1. I learnt a lot. I learnt to be patient, how to approach the audience during the campaign, how to lobby, and I learnt not to react when provoked or humiliated, just smile and tell them “you are my brother and I want this position”. I can do what men can do. I told my constituents: this is what I have done so far and when I go to Parliament I will do more.
2. I have done a lot of work in my constituency (such as building a girls’ school, an orphanage and a computer school for women dropped out from school). During the campaign I was able to work with some of the colleagues from the training, who joined me and we won: some of them are now in Parliament with me.
3. Take Miria’s advice – put her advices into action.
Former candidate for 2007 elections
1. Miria builds self-confidence, I have a lot of confidence in me. I accept intimidation and ignore the stereotypes. Women need to be in politics, side by side with men.
2. I was not elected, but I can tell you I am now a hot cake in the market. I am going to continue until I succeed, just like men do. I am now linking with other women, and mentoring young girls.
3. In Africa we tend to believe that women in politics are prostitutes or concubines, but I would say to these women that politics is not a bad game and that we are the same as men. Women are the ones suffering the most, and it is only us who can fight for our rights and solve our problems, from the political platform, from the decision-making positions. Women are disciplined, better managers and leaders, so let’s come on board!
Upcoming Activities
Club of Madrid Member Cassam Uteem, former President of Mauritius will lead the second Club of Madrid-AWEPA mission to Uganda. The delegation will follow-up recommendations and of the previous visit and try to move forward the gender-related bills still pending for Parliamentary approval. It will also support female parliamentarians and share experiences to enhance their leadership skills and increase their effectiveness.
The AWLP third and last mission to Nigeria will bring a Club of Madrid delegation be led by Jennifer Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, to present the Memorandum requested by Electoral Reform Committee in the previous mission and to work with different stakeholders involved in the Constitutional and Electoral Reform in order to promote proportional representation system and affirmative actions to increase the number of women representatives and have a more inclusive society.
This website has been produced with the financial support of the European Union and the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Club of Madrid and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Government of Canada.