Author: African Women's Development Fund

I missed the first couple of minutes of ‘The Witches of Gambaga’ documentary when it was premiered in Dakar, Senegal during the 3^rd African Feminist Forum, yet in minutes I was gripped… the documentary took me back to Gambaga which I had visited in January 2010 during an AWDF monitoring and evaluation visit of grantees in the Northern Region of Ghana. I recalled our male guide saying to us “the women are witches you know, they confessed…” and my colleague Nafi and I arguing the point with him. We were left with an overwhelming sense of sadness when we left the camp. “Why isn’t the government doing anything about this?” we asked, “why are women in this day and age still being accused of being witches”?

In watching the documentary I couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. “Finally, here is a medium which will tell the stories of the women at the Gambaga camp. Finally here is a documentary that can capture the interest of the International Community. Finally the government of Ghana will be forced to act”.

Even as I remain hopeful I cannot help but wonder how much of a difference the documentary will make in a context of superstitions, belief in witchcraft[1] and the rise of new churches that pride themselves on casting out demons and principalities. Accusations of witchcraft are not limited to poor, elderly women living in far-flung corners of Ghana. In November 2010, the Ghanaian public was horrified to see front-page pictures of an elderly woman in Tema who had been burnt to death for being a witch. One of the people accused of being complicit in her death is an evangelical preacher; I cannot help but wonder how many other women have died in the face of such accusations.

At 10am on Tuesday, 15^th February 2011, ‘The Witches of Gambaga’ will be screened at the British Council in Accra. In attendance will be the Director Yaba Badoe and Co-Producer Amina Mama.

See below for a synopsis, You Tube link and reviews of ‘The Witches of Gambaga’.

Synposis – The Witches of Gambaga

The Witches of Gambaga is a haunting 55 minute documentary film about a community of women condemned to live as witches in Northern Ghana. Made over the course of 5 years, this disturbing expose is the product of a collaboration between members of the 100 strong community of ‘witches’, local women’s movement activists and feminist researchers, united by their interest in ending abusive practices and improving women’s lives in Africa. Painful experience and insight combine to generate a uniquely intimate record of the lives of women ostracized from their communities. Told largely by the women themselves, their incredible stories and struggles are rendered comprehensible to a wide range of audiences by the director’s narration. Completed in July 2010, Fadoa Films Ghana and UK, Directed by Yaba Badoe, Co-produced by Yaba Badoe and Amina Mama.

Winner, 2010 Black International Film Festival Best Documentary Award

REVIEWS of ‘The Witches of Gambaga’

“An excellent exploration of how women are victimized …a valuable resource for understanding how to end this problem.” Cornelius Moore, California Newsreel
“An admirably unsensational but powerfully affecting reminder of the terrible influence still wrought by superstition on the lives of so many women.” Geoff Andrew, film critic, British Film Institute
“A brave and brilliant production” Hope for the African Village Child Trust
“…will go a long way to promote the rights of women…” African Women’s Development Fund
“A shocking, extraordinary film…” Michael Eaton, screenwriter
“… the unacceptable and abusive treatment of women as witches is
exposed…” ABANTU FOR DEVELOPMENT
Below is a link to the trailer of the film of You T

ube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhHX7CJSes

Yaba Badoe is a Ghanaian-British documentary filmmaker and writer. A graduate of King’s College Cambridge, she worked as a civil servant in Ghana before becoming a General Trainee with the BBC. She has taught in Spain and Jamaica and has worked as a producer and director making documentaries for the main terrestrial channels in Britain. Her short stories have been published in Critical Quarterly and in African Love Stories: an anthology edited by Ama Ata Aidoo.In 2009, her first novel, True Murder was published by Jonathan Cape. Her TV credits include: Black and White, a ground-breaking investigation into race and racism in Bristol, using hidden video cameras for BBC1; I Want Your Sex, for Channel 4 and a six-part series, VSO, for ITV. African Love Stories is now available in Swedish from Tranan publishers under the title Kärlek x 21.

Amina Mama is a Nigerian feminist activist, researcher and scholar, who has lived and worked in Nigeria, South Africa, Britain, the Netherlands and the USA. She spent 10 years establishing the University of Cape Town’s African Gender Institute and is founding editor of the African journal of gender studies, Feminist Africa. She authored Beyond the Masks: Race, Gender and Subjectivity (Routledge 1995), Women’s Studies and Studies of Women in Africa (CODESRIA, 1996), and co-edited Engendering African Social Sciences (CODESRIA 1997). She is currently developing a transnational activist research initiative on gender and militarism and pursuing her interest in documentary film. ‘The Witches of Gambaga’ is her first film.
She currently lives in Berkeley and works at University of California, Davis as Professor and Director of Women and Gender Studies.

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[1] Men are rarely accused of being wizards

The African Women’s Development Fund has been featured in the January 2011 edition of New African Woman. Please visit http://headley.co.uk/headturner/NAWwinter2010 to read the magazine online.

Learn more about: AWDF’S 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence grant.

The following organisations have received grants from AWDF for a range of awareness raising activities on World AIDS day. These are:

AGIR Mozambique	Mozambique
Alive with Purpose (Kamuda)	Uganda
Alliances for Africa	Nigeria
Centre fr Recherches et d’Actions pour la Promotion du Leadership Feminin-ONG Fondation Jeunesse Uni	Benin
Childolescent and Family Survival Organization – Women’s Rights Action Group(CAFSO-WRAG)	Nigeria
Disabled People of Kwa- Thema (DPKT)	Nigeria
Heal the Land Initiative in Nigeria	Nigeria
Kenya Widows and Orphans Support Programme(KWOSP)	Kenya
Kigurunyembe Women Group for Alleviation of Poverty (KIWOGA)	Tanzania
Lihop Organization	Ghana
Nana Yaa Memorial Trust for Good Quality Maternity Services	Ghana
Poverty Fighters and Development Society of Tanzania (POFIDESO)	Tanzania
SAIL – Uganda (Spread AIDS Awareness Information & Learning in Uganda)	Uganda
Strength for All Association	Ghana
Swahombe Dramatic Ensemble	South Africa
Tanzania Social Mobilization Against Poverty (TASMAPO)	Tanzania
WOMANKIND Nigeria	Nigeria
Women and Children of Hope Foundation (WCH)	Nigeria
Women in Action Against Gender Based Violence (Wacameroon)	Cameroun
Women United Against Aids in Ghana (WUAAG)	Ghana

AWDF has awarded grants to the following organisations to commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

They are:

ABANTU for Development-NIGERIA	Nigeria
Actions pour la Re insertion Sociale de la femme	Democratic Republic of Congo
Association des Femmes pour le Developpement de la Cuniculture	Benin
Association Odjougbo	Togo
Association pour le Reinforment des capacities des Communes (ARCC)	Mali
Association Wendinyalgde	Burkina Faso
Centre d’Appui a la Production de la Femme Rurale (CEPROFER)	Democratic Republic of Congo
Cercle d’Aide Femme- Enfant	Togo
Coast Women in Development (CWID)	Kenya
Creative Centre for Communication and Development (CCCD)	Zimbabwe
Gender Violence Survivor Support Network (GVSSN)	Ghana
Guidance and Councelling Development Association	Nigeria
Jumuiya Women Group (JWG)	Kenya
Kagisano Society- Women’s Shelter Project	Botswana
New Liberian Women Organisation/Skills Training Centre	Liberia
Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC)	Ghana
Pro-Hope International (Gambia)	The Gambia
WA AFRICA	Guinee
Zenab for Women in Development	Sudan

At the last Association of Women in Development Forum (AWID), I was one of a group of feminists that participated in a ‘Feminist Tech Exchange’, and since then I have been even more excited about the opportunity that technology holds for women’s empowerment – women can publish and share their own stories via the vast expanse of social media technologies that exist today, a woman at risk of violence can send an SMS asking for help, women’s rights organisation use Facebook, Twitter and You Tube (just to name a few) to spread their messages of women’s empowerment. Clearly technology is powerful and even more important in today’s world.

Yet so many women especially on the African continent do not have access to technology, even when women have access to technology, the poorly developed communications infrastructure (extremely slow internet and high communication charges for e.g.) means that women are not able to keep up with the rapid rate of technology. Unfortunately, technology has also become another tool for violence…many of the new technologies that aid in message dissemination are also being used for cyber stalking and cyber bullying. This is where ‘Take Back the Tech’ comes in. ‘Take Back the Tech’ advocated taking back control of technology to end violence against women. So I say, tell your stories, document, disseminate and take back control of technology.

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

Communications Officer

“African Women and Political Participation”

Lecture by

H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

President of the Republic of Liberia

On the Occasion of the 10^th Anniversary

Of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)

Accra, Ghana, Friday, November 12, 2010

Madam Chair, Madam Executive Director;

Your Excellency Madam Vice President of the Republic of Malawi;

The Board of Directors, Officers and Members of the AWDF;

Ministers, Officials of Government;

Members of Parliament;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

Donors, Grant Beneficiaries;

Distinguished Guests;

My African Sisters;

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

Heartfelt congratulations to you, AWDF Sisters, on reaching your tenth year! You have succeeded in your goals; you have weathered the global economic crisis; you have demonstrated resilience and determination to succeed in your noble cause to promote leadership and empowerment for African women.

When Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi invited me, almost a year ago, to be a part of the AWDF’s 10^th Anniversary Celebration, she knew that by asking me so far in advance I could not say no, although I was not sure what my schedule would be a whole year away. I agreed, and we duly blocked the dates ensuring that whatever events came before or after November 12^th and 13^th had to give way to my AWDF commitment.

This was a typical Bisi foresight – the same foresight that led her, and colleagues Joanna Foster and Hilda Tadria, to establish the AWDF 10 years ago. Today we can boast of an organization that has funded numerous initiatives to promote African women’s leadership and empowerment here in Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and many, many more since its founding.

Liberia particularly applauds the AWDF for the role they have played in promoting the welfare of women in our country. The establishment and support of the Sirleaf Market Women Fund has brought together some 12 partners with funding close to $2 million for the construction and renovation of 13 markets throughout the country. This does not include perhaps the first of its kind, the $500,000 donated by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for the construction of the Omega Market, which is expected to assist more than 7,000 market women. Bisi, Hilda and Thelma (a former Board Chair), Joanna you played a large role in all of this, a big thank you.

AWDF also played an essential role, as “Theme Lead,” in the preparatory phase of the March 2009 International Women’s Colloquium in Monrovia which brought together some 1,100 women from 54 countries to join some 900 local women in a parallel session. The AWDF was responsible for driving the process for empowering women to be more effective leaders by linking with their peers around the world.

The legacy of that 2009 Colloquium was the establishment of the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) at the University of Liberia campus near Monrovia, which will serve as the implementation mechanism for the Colloquium’s program of work. It will also extend its reach to the Madam Suakoko Center at Cuttington University in rural Liberia. The Center, still in its infancy, has benefited much from AWDF funding and expertise. On behalf of the scores of women who will come to the ABIC to engage in training, research, analysis, partnership, networking and advocacy, and profit from the experiences of others, we express profound thanks to the AWDF.

Certainly with this backdrop of how Liberia has benefitted , I can do no less than to be here today to declare what a singular honor it is for me to deliver a lecture commemorating AWDF’s 10^th anniversary. Any organization with a vision to better and transform the lives of people – most especially African women – is deserving of staunch and unswerving support. I am also proud to be a part of the launching of the Hawa Yakubu Memorial Fund. She was very good to us during the campaign. To the family of Hawa Yakubu, let me say how grateful I am for the role she played in my success. [applause]

To the host city, Accra, let me confess that I always welcome the occasion to visit Ghana – a country that sets the standard as a role model of success for Africa in so many ways, and which has been, and remains, a refuge for so many Liberians. Thank you, Ghana, for your gracious hospitality and warmth, and for the wonderful reception we always receive whenever we are in this country. [applause]

AFRICAN WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Dear Sisters; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

The topic of today’s Seminar, “African Women and Political Participation,” is one on which I can speak with some authority – as an African, as a woman, and as a politician.

Every woman here knows, or has experienced, the difficulty in bringing women into the fold of political participation across our continent – from the grassroots up to the highest office in the land.

You are here this evening because you believe that women’s full political participation can and must happen, not only in Rwanda, South Africa or Mozambique, but in all corners of this vast continent that is our home. In overcoming the multiple challenges which we as African women confront, it is vital that there be trailblazers such as the AWDF which are striving determinedly for all our women to be empowered.

We are seeing progress in African women’s participation in politics, no doubt, although not at the levels we demand. The job of full equality and total empowerment is incomplete. Let us remember that in the fight to empower women, we can accept no frontiers, only breakthroughs. [applause]

Governance cuts across all spheres of representation and decision-making, from the community to national levels. Full political participation will become a reality for us, as women, when quotas and set-asides become a relic of the past; when our access in participatory institutions at all levels is considered a right; and when we no longer feel compelled to wage campaigns and stage protests in order to have a say in the decisions that affect our lives – be it at the peace table or in the political and economic arenas.

There is power in numbers. The lone female voices one encounters in political circles, including in Africa, are insufficient to effect the changes that are so important to women. As a tiny minority in governance, women could be subjected to pressures, and their capacities as representatives, policy makers and decision takers are constrained by their numbers. We still need those numbers in critical mass to make those decisions and make them stick. In such low numbers, and with insufficient clout, women ministers tend to be relegated to, and concentrated in, social areas rather than legal, economic, political and technical functions of government.

It goes without saying that when women are represented in critical numbers in parliaments, as well as at the grassroots level, their perspectives and interests will be taken into account and their concerns given higher priority. Greater political participation will also allow women to make a meaningful impact on democracy, and to sustain the effort for the empowerment and representation of women.

A GLOBAL OVERVIEW

Dear Friends: The low political participation by women is not limited to Africa; it is global, with the Nordic countries being among the notable exceptions.

Today, out of 192 United Nations Member States, there are only 18 women, either elected or appointed in the highest positions of government. That figure inched up by one with the election, just last week, of Dilma Rousseff as the first female Head of State of Brazil. [applause] When she takes office in January 2011, she will preside over the largest country in Latin America, with a population of over 192 million, 45 percent of which are people of African descent. We welcome her to our tiny circle. [laughter]

Globally, women’s representation in parliaments stands at 18.2 percent – the highest it has ever been, but still not high enough. Today only 22 countries have achieved a critical mass of 30 percent or higher women representation in their national parliaments, mainly as a result of constitutional quotas written into law and requiring that a certain percentage of political positions be occupied by women.

Of that number, six are African countries: Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. These countries succeeded because they recognized the importance of equity between women and men in decision-making and they instituted changes in their electoral and parliamentary processes.

The world applauds Rwanda as having the highest number of women parliamentarians, at 56.3 percent, followed by Sweden, at 47 percent. Rwanda succeeded by implementing a gender quota system. With a population of 70 percent female following the 1994 genocide, women had to assume traditional male roles. Able, finally, to participate in the drafting of a new constitution and new legislative structures, they pushed for greater equality in politics through such initiatives as a constitutional quota and election law quotas to ensure women’s place at the political table. Rwanda serves as a case study, an example for other countries seeking a more equal representation of women in politics.

Let us also recognize South Africa, which leapt from 17^th to 3^rd place, behind Rwanda and Sweden, in the global ranking. That country has experienced an 11 percent increase in women’s political representation, from 34 percent to 45 percent. Prior to democratic elections held there in 1994, there were only 2.7 percent of women in the South African Parliament; the figure increased to 27 percent following the elections and has been growing ever since. We applaud the enlightened male leaders who played key roles in this success.

My country, Liberia, is a strong advocate of the seminal UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which seeks greater representation of women at all decision-making levels in politics and in crisis management activities. We are only at 12 percent – the highest it has ever been in Liberia – yet far below an acceptable percentage of women in our National Legislature or in other leadership areas.

Women’s groups are pressuring for 30 percent political representation. The Gender Equity in Politics Act 2010, sponsored by the Women Legislative Caucus, is now before the Legislature. It calls for no less than 30 percent representation of women in national elected offices and political parties. As you may well imagine, the proposed legislation is facing serious challenges from a male-dominated Legislature, whose members argue that competition, rather than gender, should be the criterion for representation. Since there is no mutual exclusivity here, you can be assured that our women are neither defeated nor are they backing down, and we will continue to push until this necessary objective is achieved.

The number of women in our Cabinet, our National Legislature and the Judiciary continues to increase; not as fast as we want, but in significant enough numbers so that progress is measurable and noticeable.

You may have heard, or read, that a week ago I created a bit of turbulence when I placed my entire Cabinet on administrative leave, including the six female Ministers who held strategic positions at the Justice, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce, Gender and Development, and Youth and Sports Ministries. Let me put on record that our women Ministers have been effective and transparent in leadership, and I have no doubt that the majority – all of them dynamic, hard-working, imbued with integrity, and wholly committed to our development agenda – and you can be sure they will continue their invaluable service to our country. [applause]

At the local governmental level, our women are visible, with 40 percent representation. Women serve as superintendents in 6 of our 15 counties; as mayors of cities, including our capital, Monrovia; as heads of public corporations, including the National Port Authority, the gateway to our nation’s economy. Junior Ministers across sectors account for more than 30 percent of women in our government.

In recognition of our efforts to empower, support, and protect women in our society, including the implementation of Liberia’s National Plan of Action on Resolution 1325 – one of the first to be concluded in Africa –Liberia was named the winner of this year’s prestigious Millennium Development Goal Three Award. [applause] We owe that to all of you who have been a part of our success. We were recognized for outstanding leadership, commitment and progress toward the achievement of MDG-3 through the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment across the country.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE 1990s AND BEYOND

The gains in women’s political participation in Africa did not happen overnight; they have been earned over decades by Sisters who dared to challenge the status quo. Prior to the 1990s, it was unthinkable – in my country, for sure – that a woman could run for the presidency in Africa. In 1997, I challenged that stereotype and ran for President of Liberia. I lost, bested by a well-financed military machine. I ran again in 2003 for Chairman of the Interim Government right here in Accra during the peace talks. Although I received the highest vote from the participating civilian groups, the warring factions with regional backing placed the leadership in others hands, in retrospect, a blessing in disguise. Undeterred, I ran for President again in 2005, and this time the outcome was in my favor.

I am proud to be the first democratically elected female President in Africa. [applause] It is my fervent hope, and prayer, that what I accomplished will not be a one-off; that a woman running for President in Africa will become the norm, not the exception, for many more women across our continent. [applause]

I continue to be encouraged by the women with whom I interact across Africa. They see in my presidency a validation of something they have always believed, that “It is possible. We can make it happen.” You in this room have to work to make it happen. It is my great privilege to be a source of inspiration to you, the women of Africa, with aspirations to occupy the highest political positions in the land.

Other African women have dared to run for the highest office in their countries since my first attempt. Charity Ngilu and Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai ran in Kenya’s 1998 presidential election, and Ngilu ran again in 2002; Tanzania, Sierra Leone and more recently Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire have seen women compete. Dr. Sarah Jibril of Nigeria, for the fifth time, has thrown her hat into the race for the upcoming 2011 presidential elections. Despite their unsuccessful bids, these women, undaunted, set important precedents and several have assumed other important leadership roles. We have one right here with us today, the Vice President of Malawi. Africa needs more daring women to step forward. [applause]

Prior to the 1990s, the only female African Heads of State got there by virtue of being royalty – Zauditu, Empress of Ethiopia, who ruled between 1917 and 1930; and two who served for brief periods as Queen-regents of Swaziland in the 1980s. Africa’s first female Prime Minister was Elizabeth Domitien of the Central African Republic, who served in the 1970s.

In the 1990s, African women claimed national leadership visibility in noticeable numbers. Liberia’s Ruth Perry served on the six-member collective presidency, chairing the Council of State between 1996 and 1997. Uganda’s Wandera Specioza Kazibwe became the first female Vice President in 1994. From 1993 to 1994, women served as Prime Ministers of Burundi and of Rwanda, while Senegal claimed a female Vice President in 2001. Gambia continues to have a very active female Vice President and in like mode is our dear Sister from Malawi who is here with us today. Countries in East and Southern Africa have also had women as Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament.

Africa, which had the lowest female participation in politics in the 1960s, is today seeing the fastest rates of growth of women in politics. A comparative analysis with other parts of the world would conclude that some African countries are doing relatively well, although none come close to proportionately representing women – Rwanda, again, being the exception. Women have made important strides in terms of political participation and their rise to top-level economic and political management portfolios, but there is still a huge gender gap worldwide, and a long way to go before women can be treated as full equals and partners to their male counterparts.

At the same time, we are seeing the growth of groups that campaign for women’s political leadership, press for legislative and constitutional changes, and conduct civic education. This divergence commenced in the 1990s when women began to form their own political parties because existing ones in the multiparty context did not adequately address women’s concerns. Women founded the National Party in Zambia in 1991, the Zimbabwe Union of Democrats in 1999, Kopanang Basotho in Lesotho, as well as women-led parties in Kenya, the Central African Republic, and in Angola.

Let me recall some of the factors that account for African women’s new visibility in the political arena as independent actors:

Ø The move towards multi-party politics which lessened the need for mass organizations linked to and directed by a single ruling party;

Ø Increased educational opportunities for girls and women which created a larger pool of capable women who were positioned to vie for political power;

Ø An increasing number of women experienced in creating and sustaining associations and social and economic networks;

Ø The availability of donor funds, channeled through international and local NGOs like the AWDF, religious groups, and foundations, which spurred the growth of national-level organizations that support women’s participation in civic education, constitutional and legislative reform, leadership training and programs for women parliamentarians; and

Ø Stronger commitment to women’s increased representation by a country’s leadership, especially ones with female Heads of State.

The emergence of these independent associations means that for the first time many women’s movements could select their own leaders and set their own agendas.

CHALLENGES IN THE POLITICAL ARENA

Despite the advances I have cited, women have yet to see enormous payoffs in being elected into office and receiving political appointments. An important reason is that women often lack the resources, political experience, education and political connections to run for office. Popular perceptions are that a woman’s place is in the home, and in the kitchen, rather than in politics and corporate boardrooms. Cultural attitudes which constrain women’s involvement in politics persist among men and women. These are oftentimes reflected in voting patterns, media coverage of female politicians, as well as attempts to suppress women’s assertion of their political rights and views.

Such attitudes are not helped by the fact that women themselves are many times reluctant to run for office, stemming from cultural prohibitions on women being seen and speaking in public in front of men or challenge them. Where these prohibitions are strong, men do not listen to women who take the podium or are active in politics.

Campaigning and being a leader often involves travel and time away from home, all of which put women politicians at risk and at a disadvantage due to gender bias. Would-be female politicians may find themselves and their families under attack or the subject of malicious gossip. Some husbands forbid their wives from engaging in politics, fearing that they will interact with other men [laugh], or worrying that their spouse’s political preoccupations will divert her attention from the home.

How, then, can we address and overcome the hurdles placed in women’s path towards political participation and representation? It is one thing to legislate that women be represented at all decision-making levels; it is quite another to change the attitudes and mind-set of those who would obstruct that access. With men making up the other half of the world’s 6.8 billion people, it is imperative that we reach out to them if we are to succeed in our overall goals and objectives. We have to work harder.

Together with efforts to persuade men of the need to allow women political space and access, grassroots action is also essential in order to groom future women political leaders. That will require advocates to: develop rosters of viable female candidates to participate fully in the political arena; encourage women to register to vote and educate them about the electoral processes; teach female aspirants how to run effective campaigns; and enhance their leadership capacity. Female aspirants will also require training in how to seek elective offices, to articulate the issues, and how to acquire funding in order to run successful campaigns. Unless we can train and prepare women to compete for political office at all levels, their representation and participation in political bodies will remain low until such time that legislation setting gender quotas are enacted into law.

AFRICA’S FUTURE: ITS WOMEN

Africa faces many challenges, all of them highlighted in the Millennium Development Goals – poverty, high illiteracy, sexual violence, high infant and maternal mortality rates, HIV/AIDS, the effects of climate change, and a litany of other woes. In such a landscape, let us not make the mistake of not harnessing the potential of one-half of Africa’s population – its women.

Africa’s history is replete with incidences of the marginalization and exclusion of women. That history likewise shows the incredible potential of women to persevere, to lead, to resolve conflict, and to move a country from chaos onto the path of social and economic development.

I can recall in Liberia’s own experience that it was the women, notably the Mano River Women Peace Network (MARWOPNET), the Liberia Women Initiative, among others, who labored and advocated for peace. I pledged, upon assuming office, that my Administration would endeavor to give Liberian women prominence in all affairs of our country; to empower them in all areas of our national life; to support and expand the laws to restore women’s dignity and deal drastically with crimes that dehumanized them; to encourage families to educate the girl child; and to provide programs to enable our women to participate in our nation’s economic revitalization.

To ensure that in the Liberia of tomorrow, women will have full equality with men, special focus is being directed at educating, capacitating and empowering girls and young women who, despite certain gains, continue to lag behind the men in access to education, resources and opportunities. The glaring reality, in Liberia and elsewhere, is that, from the beginning of their lives, female children get less attention, less education, less of everything. Girls’ education and, in some places, girls’ lives, are treated as less valuable, thereby establishing a pattern that constrains women their entire lives, affecting their ability to make decisions at all levels of their societies.

We are therefore training our people to understand the vitality of girls’ education, to appreciate that when you educate a girl, you educate a family, a nation. At the same time, we are emphasizing the important role that can be played by women in the informal sector, those who sweat and blood keep our economy vibrant in difficult times. Literacy and skills training for our market and grass-roots women are a must for women advancement.

I think it is prophetic that, less than a week after a speech in the United States about “Africa and Its Place in the World,” I am here discussing a related topic. I told the audience in Richmond, Virginia, that despite significant gains, much remains to be done about the place of women in African society, and that Africa’s future as an engine of global economic growth will be directly linked to the status of women on the continent. [applause] For in the long run, Ladies and Gentlemen, this continent will rise when women take roles as educated and equal partners in society. There is no doubt in my mind that women are the future of Africa, and its leaders must invest in women’s development, if they want their country, and our continent, to advance in the 21^st century and beyond.

At my Inaugural, in January 2006, I addressed the women of Africa, Sisters all. I said, then, that I am one of you; that I know what you go through daily, confronting tremendous odds, for I have been there. I feel your enormous support in all that I am endeavoring to achieve, and I am keenly sensitive of your expectations from me. I promised not to disappoint you, not to let you down. I trust that I am keeping that promise.

I feel honored, to stand here, not only as a woman leader and representative of the people of Liberia, but also of women throughout Africa and the world, in our just and determined struggle to play a more prominent role in society.

I see myself as representing the aspirations and expectations of women everywhere. My success is your success, as it opens the door even wider to many other women who will step up. As women, there is a commonality in what we go through. For no matter where we come from, there is still a measure of discrimination to overcome because of our gender. It is imperative that we work together, and pull together, and be supportive of each other, in order to strengthen and uplift women everywhere.

Finally, let me again congratulate the African Women’s Development Fund for reaching this milestone. I urge the many donors to continue their financial and in-kind support, and call upon the beneficiaries of these grants to ensure that they are well spent.

I thank you.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) Celebrates its 10^th Anniversary in Accra, Ghana, November 11^th – 13^th

In June 2000, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) was launched through the efforts of its co-founders, Joana Foster (Ghana), Dr Hilda Tadria (Uganda) and Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (Nigeria). AWDF is the first Africa-wide grant-making foundation and a decade after its launch is recognized as a leading feminist philanthropic institution on the continent. Over the past 10 years, AWDF has disbursed over US$15 million in grants to 800 African women’s rights organizations across the African continent and through its comprehensive capacity building programme strengthened institutions and progressive movements on the continent.

AWDF culminates its 10^th Anniversary celebrations in Accra, Ghana with a schedule of events including:

• Thursday 11^th November 2010, 10:00am – Commissioning of a multi-purpose resource centre purchased by AWDF for Women United Against AIDS in Ghana (WUAGG), Ayensu River Estate, Damfa. The Honourable Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS Free World and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa will commission the building.

• Thursday 11^th November 2010, 4:00pm – A convening on African women using the arts to promote social justice and a Premiere of ‘The Motherland Tour’ with Special Guest Yvonne Chaka Chaka at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Accra.

• Friday 12^th November 2010, 9:00am – 4.30pm – A Seminar on Political Participation with Special Guest, Vice-President Joyce Banda of Malawi at La Palm Royal Hotel, Accra

• Friday 12^th November 2010, 4.30pm – AWDF’s Anniversary Lecture delivered by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra

• Saturday 13^th November 2010, 6.30pm – The Purple Ball and Women of Substance Awards honouring African women working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra.

According to Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of AWDF and the First Lady of Ekiti State Nigeria, “ In its 10 years of existence AWDF has been extremely successful at creating spaces and amplifying the voices of African women within the continent and beyond. We have done this by resourcing African women’s organizations, supporting the participation of African women in international processes and re-invigorating the African women’s movement. On the occasion of our 10^th Anniversary we wish to honour and recognize the numerous African women who work tirelessly for social justice and women’s empowerment.”

AWDF’s Women of Substance Awardees 2010 are:

Abeka Perez – Young Women Campaign Against AIDS, Kenya

Felicia Darkwa – Nana Yaa Memorial Trust for Good Quality Reproductive Health, Ghana

Hadijah Kisembo – Disabled Women’s Network and Resource Organisation (DWNRO), Uganda

Kafui Adjamgbo-Johnson – Women in Law and Development, (WILDAF) Togo

Leymah Gbowee – Women Peace and Security Network Africa, (WIPSEN-Africa), Liberia

Nyoka Agnes – Member of Parliament, Sudan

Prof. Bene Madunagu – Girls’ Power Initiative, Nigeria

Prudence Mabele – Positive Women’s Network (PWN), South Africa

Dr Rose Mensah Kutin – Abantu for Development, Ghana

Special guests from across Africa, Europe and the United States are attending AWDF’s 10^th Anniversary activities in Accra, including:

Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia

Her Excellency, Vice President Joyce Banda, Malawi

Her Excellency Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Her Excellency, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State, Nigeria

Her Ladyship Justice Irene Charity Danquah, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ghana

Honourable Stephen Lewis, Co-Director, AIDS Free World, United States of America

Honourable Akua Dansua, Minister for Youth & Sports, Ghana

Honourable Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister for Women & Children’s Affairs, Ghana

Honourable Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Trade & Industry, Ghana

Dr Adhiambo Odaga, West Africa Representative, Ford Foundation, Nigeria

ENDS

Press Enquiries

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Programme Officer for Communications)

Tel: +233 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Website: www.africlub.net/awdf

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release 02 November 2010

HIGH VIBES: ACCRA’S MOST EXCITING MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS: 10 – 19 NOVEMBER 2010

 

After a successful launch in 2009, High Vibes Music Festival, a partnership between Ghanaian producers and key partners in the cultural and entertainment industry returns with an innovative programme featuring some of the most accomplished artists on the cutting edge of African and global culture and some exciting newcomers. Uniquely, High Vibes is collaborating with Accra’s leading venues to showcase a range of musical genres that should draw maximum audiences and ignite a real celebration of the capital’s increasingly dynamic live music scene.

“High Vibes is a distinguished blend of Highlife, Hip Life, Afro Jazz, Francophone sounds, Afro Beat and more. It is part of a renaissance bringing back live music to craving audiences” says Panji Anoff, the festival’s Creative Director.

The festival opens on a ‘Hip and Movie Vibe’ on Wednesday 10 November at Rockstone’s Office with the screening of excerpts from two seminal music films; Singing 4 Freedom, exploring the history High Life and Coz Ov of Moni, the ‘first pidgen musical’ featuring MOBO nominees, M3nsa and Wanlov the Kubolor. The highlight of the evening is a unique HipLife lyrical clash hosted by Reggie Rockstone, the originator of the genre. Lined up are established rappers such as Sarkodie, Ghana’s leading rapper and emerging artists from the Hip Hop underground: Trigmatic, Kay Ara, Macho Rapper, and Yaa Pono whose clip on You tube has received over a million hits! These young artists are making incisive observations about Ghanaian society and the ‘lyrical clash’ is much anticipated.

‘I can’t wait for this!” says Reggie Rockstone. “Hip Life has come from nowhere to become the hippest thing, especially for young people. This could be a defining moment and I’m proud to host it in my office!” The evening’s special guest is Gyedu Blay Ambolley, who predates HipLife with his hugely popular Simigwa rap.

The rest of the programme is as follows:

THURS 11 NOV 7.30 PM – 10.30 PM AFRICAN REGENT HOTEL: AFRICAN ACOUSTIC DIVAS DINNER NIGHT!

High Vibes presents the Acoustic Divas in collaboration with African Women’s Development Fund celebrating 10 years of progress empowering African women. This is a buffet dinner in an intimate acoustic music setting. Manou Gallo, famous singer and ex guitarist of Zapp Mama headlines, with three of Ghana’s most exciting women vocalists: Nana Yaa, Efya and Offie. Kezita from Togo also performs. Limited tickets on sale from Creative Storm (Tel. 0267 778926 and 0302 911 840).

THURS 11 NOV 11 PM BOOMERANG NITE CLUB 11PM: FRENCHY VIBE!

This promises to be the hottest Francophone night this year with Degg J Force 3, Guinea’s Dance sensation. A collaboration with Boomerang Nite Club hosted by Omar I, Ghana’s No.1 Francophone DJ playing the latest tunes. Please call Boomerang on 0277 154328 / 0244 150613 and Creative Storm on 0302 911840 / 0267 778926 for your invitation to this special presentation.

 

FRI 12 NOV 8 PM + 233 CLUB: JAZZY VIBE!

This night is going to add a distinctly High Vibes flavor to Ghana’s Jazz scene. It features Kae Sun, Ghanaian born Canadian star, performing in Ghana for the first time, Agorsor with their infectious rhythms and Kwame Yeboah famous for his work with Osibisa and Craig Davids. He teams up with his special group of collaborators to introduce their new Dzidudu sound! Ambolley also makes an appearance with his Jazz band!

SAT 13 NOV 4 PM HOLY GARDENS, NEAR KWAME NKRUMAH CIRCLE

This is billed as the HIGH VIBES explosion in the heart of Accra featuring great music from Ghana and across West Africa. It features Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Band, Wulomei, the High Life pioneers, Warriors, Sarkodie and R2 Bees from Ghana, King Mensah (Togo), Degg J Force 3 (Guinea), Awa Sissao (Burkina Faso) and Kezita (Togo). A musical culmination bringing together all the wonderful musical strands of the festival.

FRI 19 NOV 7 PM ALLIANCE FRANCIASE: Tony Allen and Degg J Force 3

High Vibes closes with what should be a memorable evening featuring Tony Allen, the co-originator of Afro Beat and Degg J Force 3 from Guinea.

ORIGINS AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HIGH VIBES

High Vibes Festival was initiated in 2009 with the support of the French Embassy in Ghana to promote an international annual music festival in Accra. It is hoped that High Vibes will grow and achieve the status of other distinguished festivals in West Africa such as the Photo Biennale in Bamako, Mali and the Festival of Pan African Cinema (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The other partners are Coca Cola, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, CultureFrance and Alliance Francaise. This year, the core sponsors are joined by the World Bank and African Women’s Development Fund, bringing additional focus to the critical need to develop and empower women artists.

 

 

HIGH VIBES FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS

The High Vibes Festival is produced by Pidgen Music and Creative Storm.

 

PIDGEN MUSIC is headed by MR. Panji Anoff, who is the Creative Director of High Vibes. Panji Anoff is Ghana’s award winning music producer and creative director. He has been central to the development of Ghanaian music since the 1990’s and managed successful artists, such as Reggie Rockstone, Talking Drums, King Ayisoba and Wanlov the Kubolor.

In the late 1990’s, Panji worked as tour manager for the African & Caribbean Music Circuit in the UK and promoted music concerts in Miami, USA featuring artists such as Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Sizzla. He also received recommendations for his work in film, as Script Writer for Desmonds, UK’s Channel Four Television Comedy series and as Associate Producer for Back Home Again, the Ghanaian independent film. Panji organized the highly successful Cultural Caravan in 2009 which toured eight cities with artists like Kwaw Kese, King Ayisoba, Yaw Konto and Reggie Rockstone. The Cultural Caravan, with its exciting fusion of music and drama, staged at specially selected community venues, was the precursor to the High Vibes initiated by the French Embassy in Ghana and supported by Coca Cola, French Embassy in Ghana, CultureFrance, UNESCO, Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture.

 

 

CREATIVE STORM

Creative Storm are leading communicators for social and cultural development in Ghana with a strong reputation for high quality event management and streaming effective publicity campaigns. Creative Storm has organized major concerts at Accra’s Independence Square and a variety of venues across Accra as organizers of the annual Environmental Film Festival of Accra. It is headed by Dr. Kwesi Owusu, leading filmmaker and event producer with credits spanning decades. He produced the Standing Tall against Poverty Concert in 2005 which brought over 350,000 people to the Independence Square. The marathon concert featured leading Ghanaian artists, as well as Salif Keita (Mali), Seun Kuti (Nigeria), Mahotella Queens (South Africa), Daddy ShowKey (Nigeria) and Eric Wainaina (Kenya). Dr Owusu organized successful tours to Ghana for Courtney Pine, UK’s leading Jazz exponent in 2003 and 2004 and staged the Homecoming concert at Independence Square in 2007 featuring American Soul star, John Legend and Reggae icon, Luciano. This year, he produced the critically acclaimed Charity Concert for Haiti and the Tribute Concert for Mac Tontoh at Alliance Francaise in Accra.

 

 

High Vibes Festival Team

Contact Info:

Mr. Panji Anoff – Director, Pidgen Music

Tel: 0244 882 148 / 030 2 773 716

Email: panjianoff@yahoo.com

Dr. Kwesi Owusu – Director, Creative Storm

Tel: 0244 715 602 / 030 2 911 840

Email: kwesi@creativestormghana.com

Ms. Mildred Samuel – Coordinator

Tel: 0244 826 730 / 030 2 911 840

Email: mildred@creativestormghana.com

End[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE: Pour diffusion immédiate 02 Novembre 2010

HIGH VIBES: le plus excitant RETOUR MUSIC FESTIVAL d’Accra: du 10 au 19 novembre, 2010

 

Après un lancement réussi en 2009, Hauts Vibes Music Festival, un partenariat entre les producteurs ghanéens et des partenaires clés dans les rendements de l’industrie culturelle et de divertissement avec un programme novateur mettant en vedette certains des artistes les plus accomplis sur la pointe de la culture africaine et mondiale et certains passionnante les nouveaux arrivants. Unique, haut Vibes collabore avec les principaux lieux d’Accra pour présenter une gamme de genres musicaux qui devrait attirer un maximum de téléspectateurs et enflammer une véritable célébration de plus en plus dynamique scène musicale de la capitale.

“High Vibes est un mélange unique de Highlife, Vie Hip, Afro Jazz, sons francophones, afro beat et plus. Il fait partie d’une renaissance de ramener la musique live au public craving », dit Panji Anoff, directeur de la création du festival.

Le festival ouvre sur un «Hip et Movie Vibe ‘le mercredi 10 Novembre à l’Office de Rockstone avec la projection d’extraits de deux films musicaux séminales; Chanter 4 Liberté, explorer l’histoire High Life et Coz Ov de Moni, la «première Pidgen musicale» avec les candidats MOBO, M3nsa et Wanlov l’Kubolor. Le clou de la soirée est un hiplife affrontement lyrique unique, organisé par Reggie Rockstone, l’initiateur du genre. Alignés sont rappeurs établis tels que Sarkodie, leader rappeur du Ghana et les artistes émergents du Hip Hop underground: Trigmatic, Kay Ara, Macho Rapper, et Yaa Pono dont le clip sur You tube a reçu plus d’un million de visites! Ces jeunes artistes font observations incisives sur la société ghanéenne et le «choc lyrique» est très attendu.

«Je ne peux pas attendre pour cela!», Dit Reggie Rockstone. “Hip Life a venir de nulle part pour devenir la chose la plus branchée, surtout pour les jeunes. Cela pourrait être un moment décisif et je suis fier de l’accueillir dans mon bureau! “Invité spécial de la soirée est Gyedu Blay Ambolley, qui est antérieure hiplife avec son très populaire rap Simigwa.

Le reste du programme est le suivant:

JEUDI 11 novembre 19:30-22:30 African Regent HÔTEL: ACOUSTIQUE AFRICAINE DIVAS DINER NUIT!

Haute Vibes présente les Divas acoustique en collaboration avec le Fonds de développement des femmes africaines pour célébrer 10 ans de progrès autonomisation des femmes africaines. Ceci est un buffet dans un cadre de musique acoustique intimiste. Manou Gallo, célèbre chanteuse et ex guitariste de manchettes Zapp Mama, avec trois des plus excitantes femmes chanteurs du Ghana: Nana Yaa, Efya et Offie. Kezita du Togo effectue également. Nombre limité de billets en vente de la tempête Creative (Tél. 0267 778 926 et 0302 911 840).

JEUDI 11 novembre 11 PM BOOMERANG Nite Club 23:00: FRENCHY VIBE!

Cela promet d’être la plus chaude nuit francophone cette année avec Degg J Force 3, la sensation de danse de la Guinée. Une collaboration avec Boomerang Nite Club organisée par Omar I, n ° 1 francophone DJ du Ghana de jouer les derniers airs. S’il vous plaît appelez Boomerang sur 0277 154328/0244 150613 et Storm Creative sur 0302 911840/0267 778926 pour votre invitation à cette présentation spéciale.

 

FRI Nov 12 20:00 + 233 CLUB: VIBE JAZZY!

Cette nuit va ajouter une saveur Haute Vibes à la scène jazz du Ghana. Il dispose Kae Sun, ghanéenne étoiles nés au Canada, effectuant au Ghana pour la première fois, Agorsor avec leurs rythmes infectieuses et Kwame Yeboah célèbre pour son travail avec Osibisa et Craig Davids. Il fait équipe avec son groupe spécial de collaborateurs pour présenter leur nouveau son Dzidudu! Ambolley fait également une apparition avec son groupe de Jazz!

SAT 13 novembre 16:00 SAINT GARDENS, PRES Kwame Nkrumah CIRCLE

Ceci est présenté comme l’explosion HIGH VIBES au cœur de Accra avec la grande musique du Ghana et dans toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Il dispose Gyedu Blay Ambolley et Band, Wulomei, les pionniers élevés de la vie, Warriors, Sarkodie et Abeilles R2 du Ghana, le roi Mensah (Togo), Degg J Force 3 (Guinée), Awa Sissao (Burkina Faso) et Kezita (Togo). Un aboutissement musical réunissant tous les merveilleux brins musicales du festival.

FRI Nov 19 19:00 ALLIANCE FRANCIASE: Tony Allen et Degg J Force 3

Hautes Vibes ferme avec ce qui devrait être une soirée mémorable avec Tony Allen, le co-créateur de l’Afro beat et Degg J Force 3 de la Guinée.

Origines et la signification Régional du HIGH VIBES

Festival High Vibes a été lancé en 2009 avec le soutien de l’ambassade française au Ghana pour promouvoir un festival international annuel de musique à Accra. Il est à espérer que le Haut Vibes va croître et atteindre le statut d’autres festivals distingués en Afrique de l’Ouest tels que la Biennale photo à Bamako, au Mali et au Festival de Cinéma de Pan africaine (FESPACO) à Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso. Les autres partenaires sont Coca-Cola, Ministère de la chefferie et de la Culture, CultureFrance et l’Alliance Française. Cette année, les sponsors principaux sont rejoints par la Banque mondiale et le Fonds de développement des femmes africaines, ce qui porte l’accent supplémentaire au besoin crucial de développer et l’autonomisation des femmes artistes.

 

 

HIGH VIBES organisateurs de festivals

Le Festival Haute Vibes est produite par Pidgen musique et Creative tempête.

 

Pidgen MUSIC est dirigé par M.. Panji Anoff, qui est le directeur créatif de High Vibes. Panji Anoff est le prix du Ghana gagnante producteur de musique et directeur de la création. Il a été au centre du développement de la musique ghanéenne depuis les années 1990 et des artistes à succès gérés, tels que Reggie Rockstone, Talking Drums, roi Ayisoba et Wanlov l’Kubolor.

À la fin des années 1990, Panji a travaillé comme directeur de tournée pour l’Afrique et les Caraïbes Musique Circuit dans le Royaume-Uni et la promotion des concerts de musique à Miami, Etats-Unis mettant en vedette des artistes comme Buju Banton, Beenie Man et Sizzla. Il a également reçu des recommandations pour son travail dans le film, comme Scénariste pour Desmonds, la série Channel Four Television Comédie de Royaume-Uni et en tant que producteur associé pour Back Home Again, le film indépendant ghanéen. Panji organisé la Caravane culturelle très réussie en 2009 qui a tourné huit villes avec des artistes comme Kwaw Kese, roi Ayisoba, Yaw Konto et Reggie Rockstone. La Caravane culturelle, avec son mélange excitant de musique et de théâtre, mise en scène dans des espaces communautaires spécialement sélectionnés, a été le précurseur de la haute Vibes initiées par l’ambassade française au Ghana et soutenus par Coca Cola, Ambassade française au Ghana, CultureFrance, l’UNESCO, le Ministère Ministère du Tourisme et de la chefferie et de la Culture.

 

 

TEMPÊTE CREATIVE

Tempête Creative sont en tête des communicateurs pour le développement social et culturel au Ghana avec une solide réputation pour la gestion des événements de haute qualité et le streaming des campagnes publicitaires efficaces. Tempête Creative a organisé de grands concerts à Place de l’Indépendance d’Accra et une variété de lieux à travers Accra que les organisateurs du Festival annuel du film de l’environnement d’Accra. Il est dirigé par le Dr Kwesi Owusu, leader cinéaste et producteur de l’événement avec des crédits de plusieurs décennies. Il a produit le Standing Tall contre la pauvreté Concert en 2005 qui a plus de 350.000 personnes à la Place de l’Indépendance. Le concert marathon en vedette de grands artistes ghanéens, ainsi que Salif Keita (Mali), Seun Kuti (Nigeria), Mahotella Queens (Afrique du Sud), Papa showkey (Nigeria) et Eric Wainaina (Kenya). Dr Owusu a organisé des voyages réussis au Ghana pour Courtney Pine, le premier exposant de Jazz du Royaume-Uni en 2003 et 2004 et mis en scène le concert des Retrouvailles à Place de l’Indépendance en 2007, avec âme star américaine, John Legend et icône du reggae, Luciano. Cette année, il a produit le concert de charité acclamé par la critique pour Haïti et le Concert Hommage pour Mac Tontoh à l’Alliance Française à Accra.

High Vibes Festival Team

Contact Info:

Mr. Panji Anoff – Director, Pidgen Music

Tel: 0244 882 148 / 030 2 773 716

Email: panjianoff@yahoo.com

Dr. Kwesi Owusu – Director, Creative Storm

Tel: 0244 715 602 / 030 2 911 840

Email: kwesi@creativestormghana.com

Ms. Mildred Samuel – Coordinator

Tel: 0244 826 730 / 030 2 911 840

Email: mildred@creativestormghana.com

 

 

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]Coalition for Human Rights in the Gambia

Press Release 13 October 2010

Two Prominent Gender and Human Rights Defenders detained in The Gambia.

Two prominent Gender and Human Rights defenders, Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho were arrested and detained on Monday October 11th, 2010 by Gambian security forces, kept in police custody at the Banjul Police station, and sent to jail on Tuesday 12th October 2010.

Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho were called on Monday 11th October by an NIA officer to report to the Public Relations Officer of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA). Upon reporting to the NDEA office,they were directed to the Police Headquarters and eventually detainedwithout charges. Within hours, they proceeded to the Banjul Magistrate Court, where a ruling was made for them to be detained until Tuesday the 12th October, 2010. On Tuesday the 12th, the two women went back to the magistrate court for hearing on a bail application by the Defence Counsel.They were denied bail by the presiding magistrate and sent to the female wing of the Central Prison in Mile2 for 8 (eight) days while investigation will be ongoing.

Dr. Isatou Touray, Executive Director and Amie Bojang Sissoho, Programme Coordinator, of the Gambia Committee for Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) have over the years been very active and effective in the promotion of gender, women and children’s rights particularly as they relate to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other discriminatory practices.

GAMCOTRAP is one of the lead organisations working in the area of women and girls empowerment, FGM and other harmful practices that affect the lives and circumstances of women and girls in The Gambia. GAMCOTRAP’s years of struggle and countless efforts have contributed significantly to the development of women and girls in The Gambia and elsewhere and has led to over 100 (one hundred) circumcisers dropping their knives publicly and abandoning the practice.

The two ladies were detained since Monday 11th October, 2010 and allegedly charged with theft of 30 thousand Euros. They spent Monday night in police custody, and their application for bail that was due to be decided on Tuesday the 12th has been refused and the two women’s rights defenders have been remanded for 8 (eight) days.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Nkea noted that he was in a tight corner and found it difficult to decide because both prosecution and defence have failed to elaborate on the issue of whether the defendants will use their influence to interfere with the investigation of the policewhich the police say is incomplete. In the end he refused them bail and remanded them in custody at the Female Wing of Mile Two Prisons for 8(eight)days after which they will proceed to court for hearing. The Prosecutor had asked for fourteen days to enable them complete their investigation.However sources close to the office of the President have disclosed that the detention of the two ladies is an executive order.

It could be recalled that in May 2010 the office of the President set up a panel consisting of 7 (seven) NIA and Police Officers to investigate GAMCOTRAP on the management of a Spanish donor fund from YOLOCAMBASOLIDARIDAD. After a careful review of the issues through statements obtained and relevant materials, the panel concluded that the allegation was unfounded. However, upon submission of its findings, the Panel was dissolved and some of the members dismissed from the service of The Gambian Government. A second Panel was set up and while GAMCOTRAP was awaiting the outcome of the second investigation, the two women were remanded.

This is not the first time that GAMCOTRAP has been targeted by President Yaya Jammeh ‘s government . In 1999 the security of members of GAMCOTRAP was threatened when the president publicly said that he could not guarantee the safety of activists who are campaigning against FGM. This was followed by a policy directive from the then Director of Broadcasting of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) forbidding the staff from broadcasting on Gambia Radio and Television (state owned) messages that oppose FGM, ormention the medical hazards. Instead, only messages in support of the practice should be aired on the state owned media.

GAMCOTRAP reacted by sending an open letter to the President, the first to be done by a civil society organisation in The Gambia.

It could be recalled that President Jammeh has systematically launched direct attacks on vocal human rights campaigners and activists. Last year he threatened human rights defenders with arrests. In September this year,human rights defender and Director of “Africa in Democracy and Good Governance”, Edwin Nebolisa, was given six-month-imprisonment with hard labour and an additional ten thousand Gambian Dalasi (approximately US $330) fine by the Banjul Magistrate Court having declared him “guilty ofgiving false information” to President Yahya Jammeh’s office. Nebolisa wasarrested in March 2010 following a letter he allegedly wrote to President’s office announcing the nomination of President Jammeh’s daughter as a goodwill ambassador of Africa in Democracy and Good Governance. The magistrate also ordered for the indefinite suspension of Mr. Nebolisa’s right-based organisation.

Recently, the government started the process of amending the NGO affairs Act in order to effect greater control and restrictions on the NGOs.

The Coalition for Human Rights in The Gambia is calling on President Yaya Jammeh and his government to respect the constitutional rights of Dr.Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho and to allow justice to prevail.

For more information, contact +221 33 867 95 87

ORGANISATIONS:- Inter African Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development -(FAMEDEV)- International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)- Syndicat des Professionnels de l’Information et de la Communicationdu Senegal (SYNPICS)- Rencontre Africaine pour le Défense Des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO),- Amnesty International, Section Senegal- Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians-Radio AVG- Article 19- Organisation Nationale des Droits de l’Homme (ONDH)- Reseau Presse et Parlement du Senegal (REPPAS)- West African Journalists Association (WAJA).[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Coalition pour les droits humains en Gambie

Appuyez de presse 13 Octobre 2010

Deux défenseurs du genre et des droits humains arrêtés en Gambie.

Deux sexes et défenseurs des droits humains de premier plan, Dr Isatou Touray et Amie Bojang Sissoho ont été arrêtés et placés en détention le lundi 11 Octobre 2010 par les forces de sécurité gambiennes, maintenu en garde à vue au poste de police de Banjul, et envoyés en prison le mardi 12 Octobre 2010 .

Dr. Isatou Touray et Amie Bojang Sissoho ont été appelés le lundi 11 Octobre par un officier NIA faire rapport à la responsable des relations publiques de l’Agence nationale de lutte antidrogue (NDEA). Suivant le rapport au bureau NDEA, ils ont été dirigés vers la Préfecture de Police et éventuellement detainedwithout charges. En quelques heures, ils ont procédé à la cour de magistrat de Banjul, où une décision a été prise pour eux d’être détenus jusqu’à ce mardi 12 Octobre 2010. Le mardi 12, les deux femmes est retourné à la cour de magistrat pour l’audition sur une demande de libération sous caution l’Counsel.They Défense ont été sous caution refusée par le magistrat présidant et envoyé à l’aile féminine de la prison centrale de Mile2 pour huit (8) jours, tandis que l’enquête se poursuivra.

Dr. Isatou Touray, directrice exécutive et Amie Bojang Sissoho, Coordinateur de programme, du Comité gambien des pratiques traditionnelles (GAMCOTRAP) ont au fil des ans été très actif et efficace dans la promotion de l’égalité entre les sexes, les femmes et les droits de l’enfant, particulièrement en ce qui concerne la Femme génitales féminines (MGF) et autres pratiques discriminatoires.

GAMCOTRAP est l’une des principales organisations travaillant dans le domaine des femmes et des filles autonomisation, les mutilations génitales féminines et autres pratiques néfastes qui affectent les vies et les circonstances des femmes et des filles en Gambie. Les années de GAMCOTRAP de lutte et d’innombrables efforts ont contribué de manière significative au développement des femmes et des filles en Gambie et ailleurs, et a conduit à plus de 100 (cent) exciseuses abandonnent leurs couteaux publiquement et abandon de la pratique.

Les deux dames ont été arrêtés depuis le lundi 11 Octobre 2010 et qui auraient été accusés de vol de 30 mille euros. Ils ont passé la nuit de lundi en garde à vue, et leur demande de libération sous caution qui devait être décidé le mardi 12 a été refusée et les défenseurs des droits des deux femmes ont été placés pour huit (8) jours.

Dans sa décision, le magistrat qui préside, M. Emmanuel Nkea a noté qu’il était dans un virage serré et a trouvé difficile de décider à la fois parce accusation et la défense ont échoué à élaborer sur la question de savoir si les défendeurs vont utiliser leur influence pour nuire à l’enquête de l’policewhich la police disent est incomplète. En fin de compte il a refusé de les renflouer et de leur mise en détention provisoire à l’escadre Femme de Mile Two prisons pour huit (8) jours, après quoi ils vont procéder à la cour pour l’audience. Le Procureur avait demandé pendant quatorze jours pour leur permettre de compléter leurs sources de investigation.However proches du bureau du président ont révélé que la détention des deux dames est un ordre exécutif.

Il pourrait être rappelé qu’en mai 2010, le bureau du président a mis en place un comité composé de sept (7) de la NIA et de la police pour enquêter sur GAMCOTRAP sur la gestion d’un fonds espagnol de YOLOCAMBASOLIDARIDAD des bailleurs de fonds. Après un examen attentif des questions par le biais de déclarations obtenues et les documents pertinents, le comité a conclu que l’allégation était infondée. Cependant, lors de la présentation de ses conclusions, le Groupe spécial a été dissous et certains des membres démis de ses fonctions du gouvernement gambien. Un deuxième Groupe spécial a été mis en place et tout GAMCOTRAP attendait les résultats de la deuxième enquête, les deux femmes ont été renvoyés.

Cela ne veut pas la première fois que GAMCOTRAP a été ciblé par le gouvernement du président Yaya Jammeh. En 1999, la sécurité des membres de GAMCOTRAP a été menacé lorsque le président a déclaré publiquement qu’il ne pouvait pas garantir la sécurité des militants qui font campagne contre les MGF. Cela a été suivi par une directive de la politique de l’alors directeur de la radiodiffusion des services de radio et de télévision de la Gambie (GRTS) interdisant le personnel de la radiodiffusion sur la Gambie Radio et de la Télévision (propriété de l’État) les messages qui opposent les MGF, ormention les risques médicaux. Au lieu de cela, seuls les messages à l’appui de la pratique doivent être diffusés sur les médias d’Etat.

GAMCOTRAP a réagi en envoyant une lettre ouverte au Président, le premier à être effectué par une organisation de la société civile en Gambie.

Il pourrait être rappelé que le président Jammeh a systématiquement lancé des attaques directes sur vocales défenseurs des droits humains et des militants. L’année dernière, il a menacé les défenseurs des droits de l’homme avec des arrestations. En Septembre de cette année, défenseur des droits humains et directeur de “l’Afrique dans la démocratie et la bonne gouvernance”, Edwin Nebolisa, a donné six mois d’emprisonnement avec travaux forcés et un montant supplémentaire de dix mille Dalasi gambien (environ 330 $ US) d’amende par le magistrat Banjul Cour ayant déclaré lui «coupable ofgiving fausses informations” au bureau du président Yahya Jammeh. Nebolisa wasarrested in Mars 2010, suite à une lettre qu’il aurait écrit au bureau du Président annonçant la nomination de la fille du Président Jammeh comme ambassadrice de bonne volonté de l’Afrique dans la démocratie et la bonne gouvernance. Le magistrat a également ordonné la suspension indéfinie de l’organisation basée sur le droit de M. Nebolisa.

Récemment, le gouvernement a lancé le processus d’amendement de la loi sur les ONG affaires afin d’effectuer un plus grand contrôle et les restrictions sur les ONG.

La Coalition pour les droits humains en Gambie appelle le président Yaya Jammeh et son gouvernement à respecter les droits constitutionnels de Dr.Isatou Touray et Amie Bojang Sissoho et de permettre à la justice de prévaloir.

Pour plus d’informations, communiquez avec +221 33 867 95 87

ORGANISATIONS: – Réseau inter-africain pour les femmes, les médias, Genre et Développement – (FAMEDEV) – Fédération Internationale des Journalistes (FIJ) – Syndicat des Professionnels de l’Information et de la Communicationdu Sénégal (SYNPICS) – Rencontre Africaine versez le DÃ © fense Des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO), – Amnesty International, Section sénégalo Radio Alternative voix pour Gambiens-Radio AVG- Article 19- Organisation Nationale des Droits de l’Homme (ONDH) – Réseau Presse et Parlement du Sénégal (REPPAS) – Association des journalistes d’Afrique de l’Ouest (UJAO).[/tp]