The One in Nine Campaign Opportunity: Women’s Leadership Exchange Programme

Formed in 2006, the One in Nine Campaign is a network of organisations and individuals driven by feminist principles and the desire to live in a society where women are the agents of their own lives, including their sexual lives. The Campaign supports and advocates for the rights of women who speak out against sexual violence as well as other survivors in five ways:
• Solidarity in Action and Building Feminist Activism
• Feminist Knowledge Production and Research
• Media Advocacy
• Justice and Legal Transformation
• Direct Action
See more at www.oneinnine.org.za

 

The One in Nine Campaign wishes to invite interested Women feminists and activists, between the ages of 20-25 to apply to be part of the One in Nine Campaign team that will be participating in a women’s leadership Youth Exchange programme. The One in Nine Campaign team will consist of two Women in total.
The exchange is between Katswe Sistahood in Zimbabwe, the One in Nine Campaign in South Africa and the Norwegian Students and Academics International Support Fund (SAIH) in Norway and is supported by the Norwegian Peace Corps, Fredskorpset (FK). The total number of women who will be participating in the exchange is six (6). Participants will travel in twos spending 3 months in each country.

 

The project, beginning in June 2017, will consists also of:
1. A pre-exchange preparation course with the One in Nine Campaign 
2. A Preparation course with all 6 exchange participants in Oslo, 
Norway.
3. An FK Youth Camp in Oslo, Norway 
4. 3 month programme in each country
5. A Home-coming 2 month programme in home-countries
The Project will end in September 2018 with the home-coming programme.

 

The successful applicants will have the opportunity to volunteer, learn and implement programs whilst being immersed within these three organisations. They will also have the opportunity to experience the different countries and cultures through the exchange and will return to their home organisation to implement lessons and strategies learnt during the exchange.

The Young Women’s Leadership Exchange is in its 3rd year of existence. If you are interested to learn about what previous participants have done please visit https://www.facebook.com/sistassexandpolitics/
The successful candidate will be a feminist and activist who:
• Is between the ages of 20 and 25
• Is currently in the process of completing or has completed a degree, diploma or certificate
• Is willing to travel for one year
• Has extensive knowledge and interest in the fields of: Violence against women and Feminist movement building. 
• Has extensive knowledge of the One in Nine Campaign and its politics and strategies (membership to the Campaign will be an advantage)
• Is a visionary and strategic leader who can work effectively with people from different cultures and backgrounds
• Good written and oral communication skills 
• Open minded and open to learning new things and ways of working
• Can plan, direct and coordinate activities independently and work within a team
• Is creative, has a positive attitude and spirit and can work and 
interact with others under pressure
Remuneration
Please note that there is no remuneration for this position. The successful applicants travel, board and lodge costs and other costs related to the project will be covered by the host organization.
Applications:
Applications should be accompanied by:
• A letter of motivation
• An up-to-date CV
• 3 references (their names; position; formal relationship to applicant; contact details)

All applications to be sent to:
Amanda Hodgeson
projects@1in9.org.za

Closing Date: Monday 15 May 2017
No late applications will be accepted
Selection and interviews: All shortlisted candidates will be notified by the 17 May 2017. Please consider your application unsuccessful should you not receive communication by this date.

Be bold for change: Celebrating Zimbabwean women

The narratives of Zimbabwean women have for a long time been that of forgotten effort and deeds. Since the colonial times, women have been sidelined socially, economically and politically. They have been downplayed from every angle regardless of the significant role they played both in the liberation struggle and the society in general. Stories of how women have excelled and contributed in the building up of Zimbabwe have somehow been forgotten. The stories have always been on how men fought in the chimurengas and how women have played a subservient role in it. Today as we celebrate the Zimbabwean woman, let’s take a closer look at how women have been actively involved in making Zimbabwe what it is today.

Colonial Zimbabwe

Mbuya Nehanda is was of the sheroes of the first chimurenga. She was instrumental in organizing the nationwide resistance to colonial rule during the First Chimurenga of 1896-7. Even Lobengula recognized her as a powerful spiritual medium in the land. Mbuya Nehanda made oracular pronouncements and performed traditional ceremonies that were thought to ensure rain and good crops. To me that is empowerment, the inclusion of women in religious leadership, the leading role played by Mbuya Nehanda in the resistance to British rule, the ability and urgency to act regardless of your gender. Zimbabwean women also took part in the second Chimurenga which brought about our independence and not as cooks but war heroines

Independent Zimbabwe

The Women’s Action Group (WAG) was set up in 1983 with a core group of 40-50 Harare-based women. Growing consciousness and a recognition of the continuing injustices faced by women caused WAG to be joined by a plethora of organisations over the next decade; with women of all races working together to challenge patriarchal precepts, including the increasing invocation of tradition to validate discriminatory behaviour.

Zimbabwe GNU

The Government of National Unity recognised the importance of women in national building but sadly nothing much was done to involve and increase the participation of women in politics besides the quotation system created. More could have been done then beyond just ‘recognising’ the significant role women play.

Present day Zimbabwe

• An increase in the number of women in executive positions is also a clear example of the contribution of women in Zimbabwe’s ongoing revolution. Examples of such women include Professor Hope Sadza who is the Vice-Chancellor of Women’s University in Africa,
• Women are engaging in jobs that were traditionally viewed as men’s
• See: 5 Legal Reforms that Impacted Zimbabwean Women’s Rights in the 1980s and 1990s ( herzimbabwe.co.zw

Zimbabwean youths were asked on which Zimbabwean woman inspires them the most and this is what they had to say

The most beautiful, perfect part of me and my woman inspiration is my mother Elizabeth Phiri.She inspires me to become the best I can ever be in my life. My mother is a hard-worker, a cheerful giver and a go better. She believes that it is never too late for one to become what they want to be because every accomplishment starts with a decision to try. In that she has been able to teach me that a determined woman is an unstoppable force. Therefore, I fight for my dreams everyday and believe one day they will fully actualise because her love moves me from I can’t to I can. Lorraine, Bulawayo

the Zimbabwean woman who inspires me is Joyce   Precious Mudavanhu…she is has held many influential roles in the business circles which include working as the ,general manager treasury2003 to 2007 in asset management… group COO for Lifestyle holdings ltd 2014,CEO for Pelham ltd 2015 and currently .membership marketing and communications coordinator for the NATO association in Canada…she inspires because at the age of 40 she has been able to penetrate and dominate in the cooperate world and especially in her field of speciality of banking and finance in the mostly male dominated industries of Zimbabwe also having had the opportunity to have a personal lecture on business and entrepreneurship from her I still remember he words to ..”Do not be scared to start small..no matter what you face in life just start somewhere and you will achieve whatever you dream of” as an aspiring lawyer myself I tap into this knowledge that a fellow woman has been it gives me the hope and surety that as women we have the power to change our destiny and achieve our goals. Rudo, Harare

The thought of going to start secondary school at 50years is one that most people are not prepared to entertain .What an approach! One woman defied it .Elizabeth Magaya might not be known by many people but her determination and persistence places her in the books of history .she enrolled at the Women’s university of Africa at the age of 53.her parents divorced when she was 13, and she was left with the responsibility pf taking care of her siblings .she even had to look for food from bins so that her siblings could have a meal.”I was married at the age of 22 and my husband sent me to his rural area, this destroyed my dreams of developing myself mentally, financially and educationally. However, despite this drawback I never gave up. A person can take control of physical but the mind is a secret and that can determine one’s destiny”, she explains in one of her articles. She was invited to speak at several conferences and that is when she realised the dearth of her English language, she was approached by professor Hope Sadza who inspired her to go back to school and she did just that in 2005, she wrote all her O”levels in one sitting and then proceeded to University on the strength of maturity entry and experience .today she is a graduate , business person , motivational speaker and I need not mention that she resides in a mansion in one of the leafy suburbs in Harare. She has taught me that I do not have an excuse for not changing the fortunes in my life. Anonymous, Harare

Zimbabwean women have always been the backbone of every struggle and day by day they continue to persist and for me they are the ‘zing’ in amazing.

I’ve been close to many women in my short life and have been inspired by some. Lately, I’ve found myself warmly drawn to the inspiration of my paternal aunt Sikhulumani Dube. She left high school in the ’70s to participate on the frontlines of the liberation struggle. Came back alive, continued her schooling and became a nurse and later a midwife. Married a German national and later on and took care of us (a large number of orphans left by her late brothers and sisters).

A warm heart and a kind soul. The most gentle of all ex combatants you will ever meet. Witness, Bulawayo

This is the time

I hear the sound of praise afar

I hear the sound of shackles breaking down

I hear the children’s laughter again

I hear it from a distance

I hear it,

I hear it from the shore

I hear its echoes in the mountains

I hear it in the flowing rivers

I hear it

I hear it so loud and so clear

I hear it and it cannot be

Silenced

I see it

Encased in beauty and resilience

It stands erect

Ready to move

Ready to fight

Ready to act

Proclaiming that the time is now

Woman of Zimbabwe arise

Take up your position

For the time is now

And the world is your domain

Possess it

Happy International Women’s Day

Donna Nyadete

Challenging Stereotypes: Sex workers breaking new ground in Hopley

The word sex worker or sex work has always been looked at with disdain, disrespect and attracted a judgemental eye from society. Sex work is illegal in Zimbabwe but this does not mean there are no sex workers. The reality on the ground is that there are sex workers and day by day they are living to make great strides in their lives, building homes, taking care of their children and sending them to school in these harsh economic conditions. Today our women crushes are two sex workers from Hopley namely Malaika and Tracy. They shared with us their lives, struggles, challenges and achievements.

As we celebrate Zimbabwean women from all walks of life, it is interesting to note how activism has become fluid in Zimbabwe. There is activism among sex workers especially with regard to issues of HIV and STIs. As Tracy puts it ‘tanga tirivanhu vasingaverengwe’ ‘we were a group of people not recognized’. Tracy mentioned that sex workers were for a long time been sidelined and not recognized regardless of the fact that they fall under key populations in the fight against HIV/AIDS. But, through activism, and help from organizations such as Katswe, they have more knowledge and are now more assertive and can claim their rights to health care and health facilities. She also mentioned that activism has enabled sex workers penetrate in some spaces so that their voice is heard. For example, they now work closely with the nurses at the local clinic, traditional healers and other key partners in reducing the HIV prevalence rate and creation of new infections. Also to note is that they practice activism among themselves whereby they encourage each other to use safe sex methods, to do regular HIV testing and counseling and for those who are already HIV positive, they encourage each other to take their medication consistently and also disclose their status to clients and insist on condom use.

Tracy also mentioned a very important aspect on how sex workers activism with the aid of organizations such as Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has played a role in bringing about social justice. She says

Tirivanhu vaichorerwa kodzero dzedu nemaporisa, saka iyezvino nokuda kokuziva kodzero dzedu, maporisa arikutoti tikasvika anokurumidza kuti batsira

Our rights were violated by policemen but now that we know our rights, the police are now eager and willing to help us

In the previous years, police have been arresting women indiscriminately and routinely raiding brothels under soliciting for prostitution. According to a court ruling in 2015, it was ruled that a person can only be arrested for soliciting for prostitution after two things have been alleged by the police and these are, who the suspect was soliciting and how the suspect was soliciting that person.

Malaika took us down the road on how they are breaking new ground through what is known as ‘mkando’ or ‘round table’ whereby in a group 50 sex workers, they give one sex worker money amounting to $100 a day. This has been a daily act for the past year. It has been advantageous to them in that

1. Most of them were able to apply for passports and are now doing cross border trading
2. Some have begun small businesses like reselling groceries and having their own tuck shops
3. It has enabled some to take their children to school and also cater for the extended family
4. It has limited their work as sex workers; some no longer have the need to go to the bar for they are guaranteed of money at some point.

There has been indeed a significant change in the lives of sex workers in Hopley and they don’t seem to be backing down.

 

Donna Nyadete

Strength, Pride and Huste of the Zimbabwean

 

In continuation with our International women`s day celebrations we interviewed Koliwe “Koko” Majama. She is a feminist, a sister, a mother, an activist, a journalist and a Zimbabwean.

Koko identifies just as a Zimbabwean without a prefix because according to Koko a woman in Zimbabwe deserves the title Zimbabwean with the prefix as the Zimbabwean struggles are without the gender label. Further into the interview Koliwe explains what she means and she uses the example of cross boarder traders and their struggle and how they contribute to the economy. She takes note of the differences of the faces of the Zimbabwean woman, strong, proud and full of hustle. She is particularly in awe of the hustle in the Zimbabwean woman. What this woman will do to feed her children, her family through this hustle and how she is inspired by her children. Koliwe herself is a mother of two children who inspire her. Koko says she wants to raise Zimbabweans who are capable and will make a contribution to their country. The interview with Koliwe is one that puts into perspective what it means to be a woman in Zimbabwe.

 Professionally, Koliwe is a Journalist at Media Institute of Southern Africa, MISA. She talks about how far women in media have come and how there is not a lot of female leadership in media. Koliwe talks about a few fellow media professionals who are doing exceptional work like Faith Zaba, Ropafadzo Mapimidze and Ruvheneko. She is also fascinated by women in politics. She wishes that they stop being called women in politics and just be politicians. She recons that the way to do this is to go beyond gender by having a gender neutral agenda that serves all people.

Koliwe is in awe of the ever evolving Zimbabwean woman, her use of the internet as a tool for self-expression being done on social media. She however noted that there is a need to be careful when using the internet as a tool.  This tool has the capacity to influence the younger generation and how the younger generation perceives the older one.

As an activist Koliwe`s goal is to contribute to the broader struggle for a liberated Zimbabwe. She is motivated by the fact that despite her gender she is part of a movement and her contribution maters. She wants to help make Zimbabwe a place where gender is not a factor in success and success is not measured on account of gender. Koliwe wishes to be at par with her colleagues both on a personal and professional level. She calls this being heard and mattering.

“The difference that you make in the community or society you live in is what should motivate you…”

Koliwe volunteers with young women and sex workers and she is motivated by both groups. She is aware that both groups are very different and should be approached as such. She gives the example of a rural woman and the barriers she faces. Koliwe says literacy levels in Zimbabwe are high but literacy according to Koliwe goes beyond reading and writing. To her, literacy means being able to decipher how one matters on a national or communal level and how to think differently. She says that this is a need in light of the upcoming 2018 elections and talks about how campaigns like #shevotes2018 should add this to their agenda.

Gender Equality to Koliwe is the recognition of women as ordinary citizens because of how women are capable. Linda and Maureene Kademana are examples of such as they are social activists at the fore front, both working to change the Zimbabwean narrative. Koliwe says that females are great leaders as evidenced by the progress by the civil society sector that has many female leaders on various causes.

We end the interview with Koliwe`s advise to the young Zimbabwean she says,

“the young Zimbabwean needs access to critical information and this can be done through taking initiative, reading, researching, forming an opinion and taking the lead.”

 

Beauty, Strength, Resilience, Contradiction, Conflict and Patriarchy: Celebrating the Zimbabwean Women

Grace Chirenje is Founder and Director of the Zimbabwean Young Women’s Network for Peace building (ZYWNP). The organization promotes and defends the rights of Zimbabwean women, aged between 16 and 35 years.

We interviewed Grace [When] as we undertook our journey to celebrate Zimbabwean women that work with and/or are ‘for’ women as we head towards International Women’s Day 2017 whose theme this year is, ‘Be bold for change’.

, As a black African woman who lives in Zimbabwe, ‘it is interesting to interact with different people who have been fragmented by history,’ she says.

She notes that, to begin with, Zimbabwean women are not a homogeneous group – there are married and unmarried women, young and old women, gate keepers of patriarchy and the new wave of feminism. She says it is this variation, which makes interacting with Zimbabwean interesting, especially when one pays close attention to the Zimbabwean history.

‘Our historical narrative varies and its effect on us as women differs largely based on social class. Some women have the strength to question the status quo, some are more resilient, others are defined by contradiction and conflict, and yet for some the Zimbabwean story is one of beauty. Regardless of the struggles, the conflict, mayhem and contradictions – there is a silver lining at the end of it all,’ she said.

 

Asked about her daily challenges working with women she replied,

‘I am a woman who lives in a patriarchal society. Men still enjoy privilege, power and therefore define stereotypes in our society. I find it very challenging and, to some extent, exhausting, to continuously be talking about the same, almost obvious, things all the time’.

For instance, she gave the example of sanitary wear and the menstrual period. This is a biological makeup that can cause pain at times but one is still expected to show up. She also stressed that this does not seem to be an issue amongst men and other women who are gatekeepers of patriarchy. They have in fact perpetuated these challenges. Also to note is the current social, political and economic struggles faced by the Zimbabwean people and how that has led to ‘contestation of spaces, of realities and also of narratives’.

However, Grace shares some positivity lined with optimism,

‘There is no limit. Anything is possible. We should explore the world, have fun, live like today is the last second that you are living.… No matter how difficult our circumstances are, let us be like caterpillars and just dig out to make a difference, and do what we can that leave our footprints in the world. I know it may not be easy in Zimbabwe, but it is possible.’

Graces’ Takeaway Quotes:

1: ‘It is not always about money. , It’s not always about making money, even though we need the money, we also really need to establish our legacy’

2: ‘Make a difference…Leave that major print wherever you go’

3: For the young women in Zimbabwe, the future is very bright. It is good that we are young, but we are not going to be young forever’

4: ‘The aim is for young women to find a space where they can run and find a place for safety;, A safe place to share ideas, explore realities and begin to redefine  narratives and make a difference;, Not just for them, but also for other people and in so doing enhance society’

The future is bright

Look at her, how she

Has been resilient

In her conquest

And from afar,

Behold her beauty

Which envelopes the world

Donna Nyadete

Let’s Just COME TOGETHER WE ARE ALL WOMEN

 

Interviewing Tash was easy. It was the second time we were meeting her but she felt like an old friend.

 

We made ourselves very comfortable in her shared office throughout the interview. Maybe we are just the kind of people that feel at home any place we find ourselves? or just maybe she is the kind of person who makes people comfortable around her?

 

Tash Dowell is the Youth Cordinator at the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ). GALZ is the  association for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Zimbabwe. Her response when we asked her to define herself as a Zimbabwean woman makes her even more interesting.

 

Tash defines herself as an ‘open’ Zimbabwean woman; in a society that she doesn’t really fit because people like her do not fit the norm. She says she doesn’t like  the ‘normal’ and more often than not, she finds that she is a misfit or unwanted.

 

She says in general, Zimbabwean women fall under three categories. These include, The resilient – those who always rise or raise themselves above all that they encounter, The weak– those who could possibly ‘work it out’ but prefer to play the blame game and divide others in the process and The innovative – those who despite Zimbabwe’s harsh economic environment, pull through – send  children to school and make ends meet somehow.

 

Tash says that working with the LGBTI youth is fun, and that she finds working everyday pleasurable. Clearly a woman who values her work, Tash is self motivated. She says that it is important for a person to say or demonstrate that their life has changed, and this should be reason enough to wake up every day.  

 

‘Everyday I remind the youth and try to make them understand that they are more than just their sexuality,’ she says.  She notes, however, that it is not just them that need to understand this, but also those around them.

 

Tash talks about her experiences working with the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe and the different contexts that the LGBTI community they finds itself in daily. She outlines their different concerns, chief among those, their prsonal safety and that of the people close to or around them. She says that it is those safety concerns that have motivated the organisations creativity in mobilising, and working with its members. ‘The progress thas been slow  but none the less, it is progress,’ she says, and ….. She commends the opportunities that the members get from outside the organization as another progress indicator or positive.

 

We asked about her self care routine as a female activist. She smiles and says, ‘Sundays are me days’. She says that both she and her partner try and give each other time as individuals on Sundays.  For Tash, it is simple things that mean a lot – from having a glass of wine to taking a stroll in the city centre.  

 

Her final words:

 

             “…Zimbabwean women need to come together. Coming together doesn’t mean that we all must be feminists. I understand that when some people they hear the word [feminist] they freeze up and say it is not for me. Let’s come together for ourselves, for our children, for things we are interested in, let’s come together regardless of sexual orientation, identity and marital status. Let’s just come together. We are all women”

 

---

 

A talk with Talent about women, power and standing together

– Woman Crush Wednesday Part 1

 

«I will stand up for myself and I’ll stand with other women, because my liberation in a place where other women and girls are not liberated has no meaning” – Talent

 

It’s a lovely Tuesday afternoon and Talent has agreed to meet with us between a string of meetings and a final stop at the office before she goes home to her husband and three kids. Talent Jumo Madziva is the co-founder and director of Katswe Sistahood, an organization working with women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. We’re meeting this day to start of a series of interviews showcasing inspiring women in Zimbabwe.

Talent gives out a calm and experienced vibe; she stirs in one teaspoon of sugar in her tea and explains that Katswe’s main objective is that women have full control and ownership of their own bodies and sexuality. But Talent doesn’t see it as her job to go out there and hand out these rights. Her mission in life is to show these women that they have rights that are being violated and help raise their own capacity to change the situation.

“We don’t say we are the voice of the voiceless, I don’t want to be their voice. Someone should just find their voice so that they can speak for themselves”.

She explains that the first step is to identify a situation as a problem and to see clearly that something is not as it should be. Talent displays a desire to supporting young women and “locate their purpose” so that they can start voicing out their issues. Just being at the communities, paying attention and acknowledging each individual is a step in the right direction, although action is what they really need. She explains that

“The problem is that when you work with government they see figures. They see that 1000 girls are being sexually abused selling sex for survival. Numbers don’t sell sex for survival, its young kids who have a soul, who are human beings, who have rights, who have aspirations, they have dreams and their dreams are already being destroyed”.

It is obvious that Talent loves her job, but how did she end up where she is today? As a messenger running between the most remote communities and the highest decision-making bodies.

“I think I’ve always been adverse to the whole idea of fitting in boxes and clusters that then become a barrier to my own independence. I grew up in a society that is very oppressive, where children are only supposed to be seen not heard. Where for a young woman there are a set of expectations that may be oppressive, but you have to comply because you are a woman. And in order for you to be a good woman, if you are angry you should not display your anger, if you’re anxious you should not display your anxiety, if you’re unhappy you have to smile and pretend. So I think I got fed up of living a life of pretence where I cannot fully express my own emotions. Where I cannot challenge the different forms of injustice, where it’s not acceptable for me to acknowledge my own strength. It doesn’t pay, ‘cause even when you try to conform you still get punished. You still remain oppressed and I just think, you know what, I will stand up for myself and I’ll stand with other women, because my liberation in a place where other women and girls are not liberated has no meaning”.

Talent’s care for others can be traced back to her childhood. Coming from a humble background she explains how the gift of love and giving were emphasised. A lesson manifested when her parents no longer could pay for her school fees and her sister took it upon herself to fund her little sister’s education.

“She [her sister] was a teacher herself, things were really though and she made sacrifices and that I treasure. It also gave me the kind of strength that has carried me to this day because I then decided that I wanted to change my own situation and that of my own parents. I think it also strengthen me because I learned to work, at least my mind was set that if I had to do whatever work I would need to give it my best shot. Because I felt that I needed to give back”.

Back in present day Talent takes a deep breath followed by a glimpse of a smile. We’ve just asked her what the first thing that pops into her mind is when she hears the word woman. “Anchor” she says and gesticulates in a wide movement with both hands.

“I think our women have anchored the nation in very big ways. When you look at civil society, it’s the women’s organizations that are looking at the seemingly soft things. But these are the things that actually matter because we are really looking at lives. We are not just engaged in power struggles for the sake of our own egos and just for the sake of it. We’ve anchored spaces; we’ve been able to shape the nation in a manner that sustains the Zimbabwean soul».

She talks of the way women embed highflying policies into the realities on the ground. And how keeping in touch with these realties prevent us from straying off course, just like an anchor keeps the ship in the harbour.  But an anchor is also something that can drag you down.

«We sometimes disempower ourselves because we think is the right thing to do, we are told in which to humble ourself”.

In Talent’s dream society we as women

“…celebrate our own existence, we celebrate each other’s. We reclaim our power, we use it, we shape it, we are not afraid, so that in a way our male counterparts can treat us with respect».

 So how does we as women stay afloat and avoid being dragged down into a bottomless ocean?  If we want change, look no further then to yourself.

«Each and every young women has got it within them, it is not out there. Find you own power, find your own balance in that support system that is located within you. And also link up with other likeminded individuals who are not self-centred, but those people that care about the great good, who want to support other women’s rights».

 

Our time with the busy woman is up and Talent must go on to the last appointment this day. We are left with the impression of a woman that strongly cares for others and who has faith in what we as women can accomplish together.

 

Mari

End Violence against women now

Today Sistas, sex and politics are joining the rest of the world in the fight against gender based violence. Today is the first day of the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence and the theme this year is ‘From Peace in the Home to peace in the World: Make education safe for all. As the group coming from different backgrounds, we noted that in commemorating this day, we have something in common, the injustices that we want to be addressed are almost similar. Today we are continuing to say no to violence against women. Women are still violated and made trophies in war zone countries, they are abducted every single day with nowhere to go and they face the wraths of civil unrest. We are saying no to the women who are raped during wars to satisfy the egos of cruel regimes. We are saying no to using women for revenge in politically volatile areas. We are joining the rest of the world in addressing issues of domestic violence. We are putting an end to the notion that ‘because I am a girl/woman’ is a reason for the inequalities that women face. The harmful aspects of partriachy need to be replaced with system that empower women and realise them as equal members of the society. As we are starting the 16 Days of Activism we have had enough about girls who are given away as child brides and women who are forced into marriage and we shall not remain silent. Give them books and not husbands, treat them respectfully as equal members of the society and give them the dignity they deserve. We need a change in perspective and a change in attitude. This is the time. Let’s end gender based violence now.

This year’s theme is an eye opener of some of the neglected forms of violence faced by women and girls. Girls rights are violated when they cannot go to school because of lack of sanitary wear, their self-esteem is knocked down because of the insecurities they face due to unavailability of easy access to disposable towels and places to dispose. Education in this regard becomes unsafe for them. Students in tertiary institutions face repeated cases of sexual harassments every day in order to obtain a certificate. This has led to the degrees being sexually transmitted. Not only is this a violation of women’s rights, but it poses an unsafe environment which leads to insecurity and also this affects the contribution of women to the broader contexts of a country’s Gross Domestic Product. Now is the time to act.

 

 

By Donna Nyadete

Women, Culture and SRHR

Women, Culture and SRHR

There are quite a number of cultural practices which pose a threat to the full attainment of sexual and reproductive health and rights and these are explained below. It is therefore important that when we advocate for SRHR and do campaigns be aware of these cultural practises. in the age of different sexually transmitted diseases, we need to be wary of such. It is also important to get an in depth understanding of why these cultural practices are practised in order to mainstream with the current situation.

• Wife Inheritance
• This practice is also known as bride inheritance in which a widow is required to marry a male relative of her late husband often his brother. Usually in most circumstances no consultations are done and in a way you do not consent to anything including sexual activities and it is believed to be one of the key causes of HIV in the communities which practise it. This is so because in cases of the husband dying because of the HIV virus no medical tests are made and this puts the woman at a higher risk of acquiring diseases and virus.
• Female Genital Mutilation
• This is the deliberate mutilation of female genitalia. This is often the removal or cutting of the labia and clitoris. The World Health Organisation describes FGM as any procedure that injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
• When one tool is used to cut several girls, as is often the case in communities where large groups of girls are cut on the same day during a socio-cultural rite, there is a risk of HIV transmission. Additionally, due to damage to the female sexual organs, sexual intercourse can result in the laceration of tissue, which greatly increases risk of HIV transmission. The same is true for the blood loss that accompanies childbirth
• A recent study found that, compared with women who had not been subjected to FGM, those who had undergone FGM faced a significantly greater risk of requiring a Caesarean section, an episiotomy and an extended hospital stay, and also of suffering post-partum haemorrhage. Women who have undergone infibulation are more likely to suffer from prolonged and obstructed labour, sometimes resulting in foetal death and obstetric fistula. The infants of mothers who have undergone more extensive forms of FGM are at an increased risk of dying at birth. Very recent estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, The World Bank and the United Nations Population Division reveal that most of the high-FGM-prevalence countries also have high maternal mortality ratios and high numbers of maternal death. Two high-FGM-prevalence countries are among the four countries with the highest numbers of maternal death globally. Five of the high-prevalence countries have maternal mortality ratios of 550 per 100,000 live births and above.
• Immediate complications include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, tetanus or infection, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissue, wound infection, urinary infection, fever, and septicemia. Haemorrhage and infection can be severe enough to cause death. Long-term consequences include complications during child birth, anaemia, the formation of cysts and abscesses, keloid scar formation, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), sexual dysfunction, hypersensitivity of the genital area and increased risk of HIV transmission, as well as psychological effects.
• Polygamy
• This is the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband. In this context it is whereby a man has more than 1 wife. The effects of this cultural practice is that of different sexual partners making women vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases especially in cases of unfaithfulness.
• Virginity Testing
• Virginity testing’ is a form of gender-based violence and discrimination,” Authorities exploit this unscientific and degrading ‘test’ even though a woman’s sexual history has absolutely no bearing on whether she is qualified for a job or determining whether she was raped
• In most cases virginity testing is ineffective, unhygienic, and a gross violation of a girl’s human rights. Moreover, it is not even a reliable measure of virginity
• These factors contradict the oft-stated intent of many who seek to defend this harmful practice as part of a means to reduce HIV and AIDS and to prevent teenage pregnancy. Virginity testing has been used as a measure to combat HIV. However, the prevention of HIV is best done through proven measures such as comprehensive sexuality education, access to dual barrier forms of contraception such as the female and male condoms, and strategies to reduce forced sexual encounters. In sum, the best way to combat HIV and AIDS is to empower women and girls, and not through practices that are, in fact, tantamount to being a sexual offense
• Ritual Cleansing
• Cleansing rituals involve a sexual act which is believed to purify the recipient through the semen entering the woman’s body. The practice is common for widows after the death of their husband when the widow has sex with a man identified by the elders of the community. Such cleansing rituals stem from the belief that a widow becomes unclean after burial ceremonies of her late husband.
• This practice therefore makes women and at times men more vulnerable to HIV infection and re-infection, since the cleansers have had many sexual partners in the process of cleansing others. This is further aggravated by the fact that sexual cleansing calls for unprotected sex. Culturally, it is strongly believed that condoms cannot be used to effectively cleanse a person because it is semen that does the cleansing.
• Vagina Tightening
• Dry sex involves vaginal penetrative sex with reduced lubrication, natural or otherwise, and usually without the use of a condom. Women will often insert drying agents into their vagina, such as dry cloth, herbs, and even chemicals including bleach, toothpaste, and antiseptics, to create the required tight, dry and hot vagina. Dry sex is associated with heightened sexual pleasure for the male during intercourse.
• For women, dry sex causes friction and sometimes tearing of delicate membranes and micro-lacerations. The chemicals used to dry out the vagina cause inflammation and lesions and alter the natural pH level, increasing the risk of numerous infections, including HIV. In addition, the fact that dry sex also usually involves having unprotected sex increases the vulnerability of the woman to HIV infection.

By Donna Nyadete

Engagement of male students in SRHR

Defining Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) encompass the right of all individuals to make decisions concerning their sexual activity and reproduction free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. Specifically, access to SRHR ensures individuals are able to choose whether, when, and with whom to engage in sexual activity; to choose whether and when to have children; and to access the information and means to do so

SRHR includes the right of all persons to:

• Seek, receive, and impart information related to sexuality;
• Receive sexuality education;
• Have respect for bodily integrity;
• Choose their partner;
• Decide to be sexually active or not;
• Have consensual sexual relations;
• Have consensual marriage;
• Decide whether or not, and when, to have children; and
• Pursue a satisfying, safe, and pleasurable sexual life.

Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services include:

• Contraceptive information and services, including emergency contraception and a range of modern contraceptive methods;
• Maternity care, including antenatal and postnatal care, and delivery care, particularly
• skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care;
• Prevention and appropriate treatment of infertility;
• Safe abortion and post-abortion care;
• Prevention, care, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV/ AIDS, reproductive tract infections, and reproductive cancers;
• Information, education and counselling, prevention and surveillance of violence against women (VAW), care for survivors of violence; and
• Actions to eliminate harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early and forced marriage

Importance of SRHR

1. Education

Sexual and reproductive health and rights issues, especially gender-based violence and adolescent girls’ vulnerability to child, early and forced marriage, unintended pregnancy, and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections impede girls’ educational aspirations. When girls are healthy and their rights are fulfilled, they can go to school, learn and gain the skills and resources they need to be healthy, productive and empowered adults.

2. Economic Benefits

Preventing child, early and forced marriage and ensuring access to voluntary contraceptive services allows girls to attend and stay in school longer, delays the age of pregnancy, and allows for more bargaining power in intimate relationships. Girls who stay healthy and avoid early marriage and pregnancy stay in school longer. Each additional year of schooling for girls improves their employment prospects, increases future earnings by about 10% and reduces infant mortality by up to 10%.

 

3. Reduction in healthcare costs

Providing family planning information, services, and supplies to the more than 200 million women who want to use family planning but do not have access could reduce maternal mortality by up to one third and infant mortality by one-fifth,9 while significantly reducing maternal and new born healthcare costs.

4. Promotion of Gender Equality

Inequality between women and men undermines all development goals. When women and girls lack access to education, information and services, their health and rights suffer. When women and girls do not have full access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, their ability to contribute economically, socially and politically to their communities is severely constrained. To achieve goals of gender equality, which underpin all other development objectives, it is critical to guarantee women and girls access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to sexual and reproductive health services. These services must go beyond access to contraceptive methods to integrate other actions across sectors, such as sexual and reproductive health education.  Sustainable, meaningful and rights-driven development will be possible only by addressing gender inequality, which denies women and girls the opportunity to make decisions about their bodies and live free from violence.

A short survey was carried out to assess the knowledge of SRHR among university students and draw possibly strengths and weaknesses of involving male students in SRHR with special recognition of the privileges that they hold in society and also since education is used as a tool for development and policy change, the researcher felt the need to target this particular group on SRHR issues as such issues intersect with other developmental challenges. The data presented is raw and was captured through primary research.

Interview A

1. What is the role of male student in SRHR issues ie

1. a) Promotion

When it comes to male students’ role in SRHR issues, I am of the opinion that since men, a lot of the time are in a privileged position, especially in academia, the risk of them coming out and talking about these issues, how LGBTQ people are treated, the hypocrisy of predominantly male parliaments making decisions about female reproductive and sexual rights etc. We also have to be imperative to be aware of our privileged, and be open to input from feminist and female driven interest and political groups working for change and improvement in SRHR issues. But allot of the time, I think our role should be to work towards, together with other groups on creating spaces where women can have their voices heard. Since allot of SRHR issues predominantly effect women.

 

1. b) Implementation

I believe our role is to show support and help implement the changes suggested by groups working for and with SRHR issues, and where it’s needed take part in the required work, such a lobby-ism etc.

 

1. What are the benefits of involving male university students in SRHR?

The unfortunate benefit is that living in a patriarchy males’ voices are taken more seriously, so by having men speaking at events etc, it can unfortunately give weight to arguments etc. It does also provide a more diverse environment, which I believe is a good thing, and having the voices of gay men in SRHR issues are of course very important, as long as they do not overshadow the rest for the groups being effected by the lack of, or the negative policies implemented.

 

1. Are there any limitations to the involvement of male students in SRHR?

In my experience, men can take up allot of space, and always require their voices to be heard. Sometimes it’s important where women can easily speak out, and have a going dialogue, men can make these kind of spaces less safe and open.

 

1. Do you know of any examples of where students have worked with SRHR (particularly male students)?

At my university there are several organizations working within several fields, such as SAIH for example, I do not think there is a specific organization working with SRHR issues, but there are quite a few men in these organizations. I did also write a short piece for Press in 2014 on Gabriel Hoosain Khan, who is part of the lgbtq* movement in South Africa

 

1. Who is responsible for contraception in a relationship and why?

Both parts are responsible, and it’s important to have an open dialogue about it. However, I do think men are always responsible to carry condoms with them, and use condoms during sexual encounters, P-whatever’s are never enough.

 

1. What is the role of academia in SRHR discourses?

 

Big question, that I don’t really know how to answer, sorry. But maybe work in informing people on how effective the use of condoms is in preventing STDs? Since academia have the relevant numbers and statistics.

 

Interview B

1. What is the role of male student in SRHR issues i.e.
2. a) Promotion

Participate in awareness activities in their learning institutions

Understanding important aspects of SRHR

 

1. b) Implementation

Actively speaking to their peers

Seeking knowledge about sexual health rights

Use of protection during sex

Speak to their partners on issues of safe sex and planned pregnancies

Go for regular medical check up

2. What are the benefits of involving male university students in SRHR?

SRHR is not only a female agenda since males are equal participants in sex and reproduction

Male participation leads to less stigma around issues of SRHR

Male participation ensure the health of both partners is assured

It ensures there is gender equality in decision making on issues of sex and reproduction

 

3. Are there any limitations to the involvement of male students in SRHR?

Possibly yes, it depends to how knowledgeable they are

Issues to do with religion and cultural beliefs and practices may limit male student participation

Depends if the women around them wishes to engage the in an inclusive manner

4. Do you know of any examples of where students have worked with SRHR (particularly male students)?

Yes, back at my University in Kenya there was a gender club and both male and female students were very active on issues of SRHR especially use of contraception and campaigns against sexual abuse and harassment.

5. Who is responsible for contraception in a relationship and why?

Both the man and woman are. The consequences of using it or not using it will affect them both.

This should be left to the two to agree on what they feel is best for them.

6. What is the role of academia in SRHR discourses?

More social research on issues of SRHR.

Inclusion of SRHR in the mainstream curricula at the universities.

Inclusion of higher education students in public discourses on issues of SRHR.

 

Interview C

What is the role of male student in SRHR issues?

Promotion Male university students should be educated on and promote healthy lifestyles. One extremely effective way to promote SRHR to males specifically is to teach proper sexual health to organizations and clubs that are predominantly male. This is where I saw the most effective promotion at my university. It seems as if when males with each other are given a platform to learn about this subject they are more likely to ask questions and feel comfortable. In summary, if a man sees their friends discussing and promoting positive sexual health, they are likely to do so as well. Implementation providing free condoms as well as engaging classes geared towards men seems to be an effective way to implement healthy sexual intercourse.

 

What are the benefits of involving male university students in SRHR? It is absolutely necessary to involve men in SRHR. Sex is between two individuals, oftentimes one of which being male. If both the male and female (or the same for two males) are educated on safe sex, the likelihood of unhealthy sex is lowered significantly.

Are there any limitations to the involvement of male students in SRHR? As a generalization, men are oftentimes less mature when it comes to having serious conversations about sex making it difficult to have effective conversations about SRHR. As mentioned in my first answer, I believe when males see one another taking it seriously, others follow, which is a good way to counter-act that limitation.

Do you know of any examples of where students have worked with SRHR (particularly male students)? At my university I was the president of a fraternity (which was basically an organization of males who got together for philanthropic events, social events, and things like that) and we had a member of the fraternity whose job it was to promote and teach the other members about the importance and how to practice safe sex.

Who is responsible for contraception in a relationship and why? Personally, I believe both the male and female our responsible for contraception. It takes a male for a female to get pregnant as well as it takes two individuals to transmit a sexually transmitted disease, and because of that both parties should be responsible. Although women do have an effective birth control option, they should not feel obligated to use it if they do not want to. That being said I believe men should always have a condom.

What is the role of academia in SRHR discourses? Academia should teach the basics of sexual health as well as basic anatomy of the male and female reproductive systems to both males and females. At my university there were occasionally optional talks for students by school administration, counsellors, doctors, and other faculty about the importance of both sexual health and sexual consent. They usually tried to make them fun and engaging for students in order to encourage them to attend.

 

 

In conclusion, both sexes play a vital role in the advocacy of SRHR, it takes the academic and the academia to achieve the full attainment of SRHR therefore a need for everyone to play a role in addressing SRHR issues.

 

 

 

 

 

Questionnaire

Unmet Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) needs continue to be a threat to the health and well-being of millions of people. This short questioner aims at bringing out the importance of comprehensive sex education in tertiary institutions, demonstrating the role of male students in meeting the SRHR needs and also drawing out the strengths and weaknesses of male students’ engagement in SRHR.

What is the role of male student in SRHR issues ie

1. c) Promotion

 

 

1. d) Implementation

 

 

What are the benefits of involving male university students in SRHR?

 

 

 

Are there any limitations to the involvement of male students in SRHR?

 

 

 

Do you know of any examples of where students have worked with SRHR (particularly male students)?

 

 

 

Who is responsible for contraception in a relationship and why?

 

 

 

What is the role of academia in SRHR discourses?

 

By Donna Nyadete