lexis issue 3

THE WOMEN’S LEXIS
Issue No. 3
An electronic publication of the Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI)
Editorial Note
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the third 2012 issue of the Women’s Lexis— EASSI’s electronic newsletter that
comes out six times a year.
EASSI is a registered sub-regional civil society organization working in eight countries namely
Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. EASSI was born in
1996 after the Beijing Conference and is mandated to monitor the commitments of Eastern
African governments towards gender equality. With a history of sixteen years of existence and
commitment to the transformation of gender relations, EASSI envisions a society where all enjoy gender equality, social justice, peace and development.
EASSI’s mission is to facilitate follow-up of the Beijing and African Platforms for Action in order
to enhance the advancement of women and social justice. Some of the human rights instruments that form the basis of EASSI’s work are: the Beijing and African Platforms for Action; the
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
(Maputo Protocol) the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), and the Millennium Development Goals.
This issue highlights about our ongoing work in the region as well as updates that we thought
useful to you. The highlights are in line with our three programme areas namely: Women’s
Rights and Gender Equality; Women’s Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights; and Women in
the Peace Processes.
Enjoy reading this issue.
Sylvia Namale
Activities in the pictures
INSIDE
•
Launching the Women and Girls’
Empowerment Project
•
Training Women Informal Cross
Border Traders
•
Campaign against FGM registers
support from stakeholders
•
Commemoration of the Global
Week of Action against gun violence
•
EASSI conducts Gender and Small
Arms training in
•
Proceedings of the Global Arms
Trade Treaty Negotiations
And a little more...
Women and Girls Project launched by EASSI and DSW
On May 22 2012, at a very colorful ceremony, the WOGE Project was
launched at the prestigious Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala,
Uganda. The occasion was attended by dignitaries from the Royal
Netherlands, several Members of Parliament, District Leaders,
Community Development Officers; the media; government officials from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania and DSW staff, Country
representatives from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia; and
EASSI focal points representatives.
THE LAUNCH IN PICTURES
The guest of honor was Woman MP for Mityana Hon. Sylvia
Senabulya. She began her remarks on a positive note that the
WOGE project was another brick for the development and empowerment of women and girls.
“We are approaching 2015 and we know that many countries in
Africa including some in which the project is going to be implemented are off truck as far as meeting the MDG targets is concerned. The Project is a step closer towards meeting the set targets.” This project falls under MDG 1 and 3 which aim at ensuring
gender equality.
WOGE launch guests view EASSI/DSW Video photo journey
“I am happy that this project is focusing in the upstream. There
has been a tendency for many projects to focus on the downstream and never eliminate the cause of the problem,” said the
MP. She further noted that many development programs focus on
the symptoms of an issue instead of targeting the root cause.
“We have spent a lot of money to provide food for the poor people in Karamoja, spent money to prevent diahorrea but have not
set aside money to support women. When you support a woman,
they in turn support their children because no woman wants to
see their child go hungry or suffer from preventable diseases or
even miss school. Investment in women is focusing upstream.”
She said to fight challenges like malnutrition, infant mortality,
maternal mortality, invest in women and the rest will be plain
sailing. Hon. Senabulya noted that illiteracy and lack of access to
information are major stumbling blocks in women’s development.
“Most government tenders are advertised in newspapers, but how
many women can read or have access to a newspaper? And do
women have the right skills to do business? So most of the opportunities go to the men.”
Guest of honor unveils the WOGE Banner
“Of recent we are grappling with the issue of the youth scheme. How
many young girls have land titles or registered companies? So this
project is very important to enable women and young girls to get
business skills and help them access credit as and gradually provide
services to the government.”
With these remarks the WOGE Project was officially launched. To
date, EASSI and DSW have already began implementing work in
various parts of Uganda including Rakai, Busia and Kabale Districts
where the project will be implemented.
Cutting the WOGE launch cake
The project has already been introduced to the District officials and so far the support that they have promised to give is
overwhelming. This shows that they are not just prodevelopment but these District leaders are in tow with the
need to empower women for economic self-reliance.
WOGE PROJECT IS ON FACE BOOK
https://www.facebook.com/WogeProject
MIZIZI dance troupe entertains guests
WOMEN INFORMAL CROSS BORDER TRADERS TRAINED IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Recommendations from an earlier visit to the Dominion Farm in
Kenya that was conducted for Women Informal Cross Border
Traders by EASSI were finally implemented. During this visit in
March 2012, the women were thankful for the opportunity and
requested EASSI to build their capacity in doing business effectively. This would enable them trade profitably even as the EAC
goes through an integration process.
Different shots of facilitators and participants during the training
Heeding to call: EASSI Trains Women from Seven EAC
borders
To enhance the capacity of women informal cross border traders (ICBTs) to improve their business skills and knowledge, EASSI conducted a three day training of 15 women leaders
from seven borders including Busia, Mutukula, Bibia, Katuna,
Bunagana, Ishasha and Malaba.
This training is one of the activities under the Gender and
Trade Project that is being implemented in the 5 partner states
of the EAC. The training was informed by recommendations
from the Dominion Farm visit and a training needs assessment
done by EASSI at these borders. These led to the preparation
of a comprehensive training package for the women.
The package ranged from the relevance of the Common Market and Customs Union Protocols to branding and packaging,
saving and access to loans; entrepreneurship, networking for
business growth as well as group governance and leadership.
The participants are to go back and train fellow women traders at the borders with the support of EASSI.
The training in motion
The training was highly interactive as the facilitators gave ample
time for sharing amongst the women on what can propel a business to success and what can choke it. There were interesting
tales on how small lies or half truths can cost you a whole business but also how refusing to share information could kill a business. One needs to strike a balance at all times in a business.
There was an example of a trader who took things for granted as
she plunged into a new business. This business died a natural
death before it made the slightest of profit. “I have learnt that
ignorance and selfishness are not part of the business dictionary,” this participant told fellow participants. She also emphasized the importance of saving to expand your financial
base as well as your line of business. This, she said, has enabled her to increase her capital.
Electing Leaders
At the end of the training, the women went through a democratic election process of leaders for the Uganda Women Cross
Border Association during which they selected a Chairperson,
Vice, Secretary, Treasurer and members. And so it was that
the Cross Border Trade Association was formed as the immediate output of the training.
The newly elected leaders were so overcome with joy as they
gave their first victory smiles to their fellow women.
With this, the training was closed with promises by the new leaders to be exemplary in their work.
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DIPLOMATS NEGOTIATE THE LONG AW
ATT starts with diplomatic wrangling:
Campaigners start on high note
Control Arms Campaign
Gen
The first day of the Diplomatic Conference to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty taking place in New York was lost due to procedural wrangling concerning the participation of certain delegates. The day should have seen high level speeches from
foreign ministers and other state representatives, however, day long negotiated
efforts to resolve the problems were unsuccessful. It is hoped that the conference
can convene Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday 4 July 2012, the Co
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon wit
Interfaith Declaration, Medical Aler
front of a large crowd of delegates
these documents represent the voic
Despite this Control Arms Coalition members started the month long proceedings
on a high note with a media stunt at Ralph Bunche park outside the United Nations. Wearing white masks, volunteers and members zipped themselves into
body bags under a 'No Arms for Atrocities' banner. There was a strong media turn
out, including from major news agencies.
In his remarks, the Secretary Gener
Control Arms coalition, noting that
get this far – and your continued pr
Treaty a reality...let us make again
Thank you for leading the way." He
towards common standards and a le
conventional weapons from fuelling
ror, political repression and grave
To view the ceremony navigate to h
or click
“Guns are useless without bullets; bullets are
essential that ammunition is included in the treaty
tional to leave it out. The trade in ammunition is lu
low, the price paid in human lives for the trade in
which doesn’t include the trade
Control Arm
‘Nuclear issues
capture headlines,
but conventional
arms are killing
people everyday.’
Campaigners from Control Arms demonstrated in front of the UN building for the opening of the diplomatic conference on the future Arms Trade Treaty.
Photo credit— Control Arms/Andrew Kelly
EASSI is a member of the Control Arms Coalition that launched a Speak Out; Control Arms Now campaign one that has
drumming support for an Arms Trade Treaty that is sensitive to the needs of developing countries. The central focus of the
campaign has been the collection of diverse voices to support a bulletproof ATT.
TALK BACK TO US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE
http://www.eassi.org/
Above: E
ing glob
Every y
decry th
lions of d
threat
t
WAITED GLOBAL ARMS TRADE TREATY
ners talk to UN Secretary
neral
ontrol Arms Coalition presented UN
th the results of its Global Petition,
rt and Parliamentarian Declaration, in
and assembled press. Combined,
ces of over 620,000 people.
‘The ATT is long overdue’ Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
“For the first time, Member States are gathering at the United Nations to
negotiate a treaty regulating the international conventional arms
trade. It is important. It is impressive. And it is long overdue.
We have made some progress on weapons of mass destruction issues
over the years. But the international community has not kept pace on
conventional arms. Yes, nuclear issues always capture headlines. But conventional arms are
killing people everyday without much attention. We have made headway in tackling the illicit
ral thanked the leadership of the
trade in small arms and light weapons and in enhancing transparency in conventional arma"Your determination has helped us
ressure and activism will help make a ments. We have the Programme of Action on Small Arms and the Firearms Protocol. We
all together this world better for all. have an instrument to facilitate cooperation in tracking illicit small arms and light weapons.
e urged Member States to work hard
egally-binding Treaty to prevent
g "armed conflict, crime, acts of terhuman rights violations."
And we also have the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Yet we do not have a
multilateral treaty of global scope dealing with conventional arms. This is a disgrace. Poorly
regulated international arms transfers are fuelling civil conflicts, destabilizing regions, and
empowering terrorists and criminal networks. Addressing the threat of conventional weapons should not be an unconventional act by the international community.
http://www.controlarms.org/briefing
Together, we must act. The world is over-armed and peace is under-funded. Military spendk the link!
e what turn guns into lethal weapons. It is absolutely
y and it is far better regulated. It would be totally irraucrative; but while the monetary cost of production is
n ammunition is incalculable. An Arms Trade Treaty
e in bullets doesn’t make sense” -
s Campaigners
ing is on the rise. Today, it is well above US $1 trillion a year. Let us look at Africa
alone. Between 1990 and 2005, twenty-three African countries lost an estimated US $284
billion as a result of armed conflicts, fuelled by transfers of ammunition and arms – 95 per
cent of which came from outside Africa.
And globally, sixty years of United Nations peacekeeping operations have cost less than six
weeks of current military spending. Everyday, we at the United Nations see the human toll
of an absence of regulations or lax controls on the arms trade.
We see it in the suffering of civilian populations trapped by armed conflict or pervasive crime.
We see it in the killing and wounding of civilians – including children, the most vulnerable of
all. We see it in the massive displacement of people within and across borders. We see it
through grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Poorly
regulated trade in weaponry is a major obstacle to everything we do. For example, the delivery of emergency assistance is often disrupted by armed threats and attacks against United
Nations staff and other humanitarian organizations.
An agreed set of standards for arms exports, along with strict national legislation, can help
begin to change all of that. But it will do even more. It will improve our ability to deliver
across the board:
Our common goal is clear: a robust and legally binding Arms Trade Treaty that will have a
real impact on the lives of those millions of people suffering from the consequences of armed
conflict, repression and armed violence. It is ambitious – but I believe it is achievable. It will
Explosives are lined up for destruction durbal week of actions against arms in Uganda
take flexibility, good faith and the best from all of us. But we must aim for nothing less. We
year, EASSI partners with activists globally to owe it to all the innocent civilians who have fallen victim to armed conflict and violence … to
the proliferation of arms that have caused milall the children deprived of a better future … to all those risking their lives to build peace and
deaths in Africa and beyond. Small arms are a
make this a better world. For them and for our common future – let us make the most of this
t to human security and more often than not,
they have set development in reverse.
historic moment.”
Shortened by EASSI
Awareness Campaign on FGM Law: Voices of Targets
In Kween District, 75 percent of the population are youths and any wellintentioned intervention that targets them is welcome to the community.
However Female Genital Mutilation is part of what defines them. “It is our
identity” - said one of the elders we talked to during a community dialogue in Kaptoyoi sub-county, “ and failure to embrace it is departing
from your own identity.” However, after a fruitful dialogue with surgeons
and ex-surgeons as well as male youths, these elders admitted that they
were not aware of almost all the facts we mentioned. After a whole hour of
talking about the law and its content, some of the surgeons admitted that
some of the provisions were totally unknown to them. However, some of
them claimed that the government has left their source of income hanging
in the balance. To this, the ex-surgeons advised them to look for alternative means of income generation or face the law. It is also true that FGM
does not happen all the time and therefore, the surgeons should not claim
that FGM is all they can attribute their lives to. The dialogue ended with a
word form the Local Council of the area who asked the elders to abide by
the law or risk imprisonment. He promised to crack down all those who
insist on mutilating young girls, depriving them of their education at a
tender age. The meeting that started on a negative note ended with posiA surgeon laments about the anti-FGM law questioning where she tive feedback from almost all participants that FGM is indeed a practice
will get money now that the law is in place
with no benefits.
Male Youth decry FGM
The male youths were rather vocal during the community dialogue, completely
disregarding FGM from the start. The law only got them more determined to help
with its implementation. The youths welcomed the translated copies of the law into
Kupsabiny. As voluntary advocates against the practice, the youths pledged to
contribute to awareness creation of the FGM law and requested that more schools
are built in Kween. They also asked civil society members to involve youths in
income generating projects in order to bring economic empowerment to the district.
The male youths in Kaptoyoi (the newest sub-county in Kween) recommended continuous sensitization of communities as a strategy that is bound to stump out FGM
once and for all.
From the stakeholders’ workshop, EASSI conducted secondary school outreach to
popularize the anti-FGM law amongst students. The team was warmly welcomed
by the Head teachers and the student leaders. Again the awareness campaign was
embraced by especially the male students. The students admitted that they do not
A youth shares his views on the need for education in
know the actual motive behind the cut a part from cultural myths that accompany it.
the sub-county and that FGM is now against the law.
The students reiterated the need for more secondary schools in the region and
This was during the community dialogue
pro-education campaigns during which they can learn in-depth about the long
term effects of FGM. The students requested that antiFGM Clubs are formed and visited by EASSI from time to
Left: A student shres their
thought about FGM with fel- share information on their Human Rights.
low students in Chemanga
Seed Secondary School
Right: EASSI and REACH
Staff talk to the Director of
Studies of Chemanga Seed
Secondary School about the
possibility of having antiFGM clubs in the school.
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Engendering Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region,
the Horn of Africa and Bordering States
The global abundance of small weapons promotes vicious cycles of violence and underdevelopment, each intensifying the other. To date, EASSI is one of the many NGOs working
to control small arms proliferation through innovative measures in the region. EASSI is also
a member of a grass-roots movement, IANSA (International Action Network on Small
Arms), created in 1998 to educate and lobby governments, and is pushing for stronger
norms and an international convention – the Global Arms Trade Treaty.
At national and sub-regional level, EASSI has for the last three years contributed to the
engendering of small arms work by governments. This has been done through gender and
SALW trainings of government officials from National Focal Points on Small Arms. With the
funding support of the German International Cooperation, two annual trainings were conducted in 2010 and 2011. This year, marked the third round of the training program with
funding support from RECSA. Six beneficiaries were drawn from three Anglophone speaking countries nominated by the respective NFP secretariats.
The training was facilitated by multi- skilled professionals drawn from different CSO’s including EASSI. The facilitators were identified based on their expertise on the training
content which and specifically on Gender & development, national, regional and international human rights instruments, among others. Through knowledge transfer and sharing
in their respective home countries, the participants have already carried out national level
trainings. The trickle down nature of the training has so far reached more that 200 people
in the region and as EASSI, we can only expect gender responsive programmes and Action Plans by the beneficiary countries so far.
QUOTED
Participants of the 2012 Gender and SALW Training of
EASSI in partnership with the Regional Center on
Small Arms
New Available resources at EASSI
“Give a community a chance for development and it would be willing to discard weapons. Raise a community's stakes in peace and it would be more
determined to shun violence.”
Jayantha Dhanapala, UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament, at Gramsh weapons
destruction ceremony, Sept. 17, 1999
Commemorating the Global Week
of Action Against Gun Violence
The Global Week of Action against Gun Violence
highlights the international campaign to stop proliferation and misuse of small arms and light
weapons. This year the Week of Action took place
from the 11-17 June 2012.
EASSI joined the rest of the world to commemorate the week with media publicity on the need
for a gender sensitive ATT as well as a dialogue of
District Task Force members in Kapchorwa.
Mr. Ogango from EAC-GIZ facilitates a session on the need
for more inclusive peace management strategies
The dialogue dwelt more on the need to foster peace starting at individual level. Martine
Ogango, the Gender and Small Arms Advisor working with the EAC-GIZ office in Arusha
called on the Kapchorwa District officials to look beyond the painful times that normally
accompany conflict situations. He advised that it is not solely the government to maintain
security of its people but that peace starts with each individual and citizen of any country.
Violence does not always have to be countered with a deadly weapon, he said.
This is a Video production of EASSI under the Regional Women’s Voices for Peace project. The latter
is an annual initiative that brings together women
from post-conflict countries to share experiences on
In further discussions, it was emphasized that SALW proliferation affects societies eco- coping after war. You don't want to miss this year’s
Contact EASSI for a copy.
nomically, politically and socially from individual to family and country levels. Community experiences.
involvement in peace initiatives is very key in fostering peace. The example of Ambassador Tegla Loroupe was sighted as one that cannot be over emphasized. She is a living example of one who has managed to bring peace through
sports to once conflict –ridden communities using non-SALW measures.
Religious institutions too are very key in controlling SALW as large numbers of people can be talked to at the same time on the need to maintain
peace as individuals and as a community.
The workshop definitely delved into gun policy issues and the need for an Arms Trade Treaty but on a more practical note it was unanimously
agreed that “PEACE STARTS WITH YOU AND I.”
POET’S CORNER
FAQs
The Awakening
My song had long died – long before I was born – my music long
interred in oblivion!
They said I was no good!
I was a waste – better him to be schooled than I;
The top was never for me – am weak, and obtuse – never my place to state life’s affairs;
I was just good enough for one use – giving bed pleasures, babies and keeping house!
And I believed them – then I lost my music!
And for infinity I let me die with my music!
What is EASSI?
Then finally, you came! A strong force – as if from the very core of the earth –
And you told me ‘NO! That’s a lie! FIGHT’!
And we fought! Together, you and I – we fought!
We played our music!
Off-course they hacked back!
Eyes fiery with scorn – smoldering every ounce of our pluck;
Tongues darting with poison – pulling down our feeble defenses;
With all their being sheeshing us – pulling us back to the very bottom where we’d once sunk!
BUT we fought back! You and I we fought back! We played our music!
We stammered through the notes – our voices unschooled for speech;
We strummed the keys un-tuned – they kapwanged at each of our pull;
We stumbled to the beat – stepped on toes and sniggered behind our own backs;
A deafening murderous throb mauling the very being of our souls!
We fought them! We fought us! We fought all!
Confused by our own fear, our unbelief, our timidity – uncertain of the power in us!
Gosh! For a moment, there – in our own reticence – we lost all celebration!
Sister! We almost lost our music!
What is the vision of EASSI?
A society where all enjoy gender equality, social justice, peace
and development.
What is the mission of EASSI?
To facilitate follow-up of the Beijing and African Platforms for
Action in order to enhance the advancement of women and social justice.
What are the Objectives of EASSI?
Suddenly – as if by fate – the codes at last united;
Hearkening to our resolve to speak out AND speak out right!
Your code, my code, our codes, finally fitting together in sweet strong harmony –
A harmony of the unity of all women of the world!
WE MUST GRAB THIS MOMENT! NOW!
Sister! We must play our music!
Cords pulling at hearts - a sweet melody of the love within us!
Keys soaring with dreams – closer yet closer to the very pleasures once denied us!
Oh! The beat matching feet – as we sway and sashay to our destiny!
•
To advocate for effective sub-regional mechanisms for the
advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.
•
To promote transparency in the budgetary process with
regards to resource mobilization, allocation and utilization
for reproductive health and sexual rights services.
•
To increase the participation of women in challenging systemic causes of conflict and providing alternative paradigms to peace building and conflict resolution.
What is EASSI currently doing?
From 2009 to 2013, EASSI will remain committed to its purpose
and will create linkages with other frameworks to strengthen its
facilitative role. The programmes will cover three thematic areas namely:
Loud, bold, firm – resounding to all nations, from the hills, through the creeks, and to the valleys below!
An anthem loud and clear “We are Women! Sisters! Firm! Bold! Beautiful! AND WE ARE ABLE!!”
Let us play our music! Play till all voices of The Woman are hearkened!
Play till our music is clear, vibrate, pure and liberating – awakening all humanity’s very being!!!
A music finally unveiled – a music awakened to the future!
Author: Carol Musoke
African Poet
The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) is a sub-regional Civil Society
Organization comprised of individuals, NGOs, Coalitions and
Networks all committed to transformation of gender relations
globally but mostly in the Eastern African sub-region. The Beijing Platform for Action that resulted from the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, is the main international
agreement that frames EASSI’s work.
•
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
•
Women in Peace Processes
•
Women’s Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights
In which countries does EASSI work?
EASSI has two member (Focal Point )Organisations in eight
countries through which she implements her work. The member
countries include Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda,
Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
CONTACT US
Visit
The Executive Director, EASSI,
P.o.Box 24965,
Kampala Uganda
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