2005
DECEMBER
Strategic Planning Meeting
The Annual Strategic Planning Meeting of BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights for 2005 took place at Hotel Aledjo Cotonou, Benin Republic from December 14-21 2005. The theme of the strategic planning meeting was “Valuing Ourselves and the Work we do: Strategies for Sustainability. The theme was chosen to reflect the preparation for the Celebration of BAOBAB's Tenth Anniversary to be marked in the coming year. All members of staff including two Outreach Team Coordinators were present. It was a time to reflect on the work carried out in 2005 – to evaluate what was done well and identify possible areas that could be improved upon.
Activities for 2006 were planned, and the team also took time to unwind from the busy schedules of the just ended year with the hope that everybody would leave the retreat more refreshed and happier than they came. Above all they would rededicate to the vision and principles of BAOBAB.
There were sessions on personality development, identifying the power within, fundraising strategies, review of administrative procedure, managing conflict in a work environment and enhancing our relationships with NGOs, CBOs and the Government Sector. These sessions were educative, enriching and crucial to sustain BAOBAB. BAOBAB personnel and the Vicky Adidu, coordinator of Kaduna Outreach facilitated the sessions.
The Outreach team Coordinators represented gained new ideas and strategies. It is hoped that these strategies will be adopted for effectiveness of their work. The two members from Kaduna and Kogi State outreach teams gave more insights on the impact of their work in the communities.
SEPTEMBER
Human Rights Training Workshop Maidugiri, Borno State.
BAOBAB organised a 5-day training workshop for Judicial personnel and Police officers from Borno and Yobe states in the North Eastern part of Nigeria with support from the British High Commision. The workshop took place in Maiduguri between September 6 and 10, 2005. There were twenty-five participants in attendance, made up of Sharia court judges, police officers, Sharia court registrars and security personnel. There were facilitators from BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights (BAOBAB) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Using the draft – Human Rights Training from a Gender Perspective: A Manual, the facilitators engaged the participants in an in-depth analysis of human rights issues as they affect women and national and international human rights mechanisms for actualising the rights of women. The major components of the training are gender, human rights and communication.
The training exposed participants and facilitators alike to the constraints to achieving gender equality and guaranteeing the enjoyment of the provisions of legal documents for women's human rights. They concluded that discriminatory practices against women persist because of such factors as patriarchy, misinterpretation of religious texts, corruption, illiteracy, unemployment and poverty among others.
The workshop created an avenue for sharing experiences and networking amongst the judicial personnel and the development of a relationship with BAOBAB. It is anticipated that the benefits from the workshop will reflect in the attitude and actions of beneficiaries within their communities.
AUGUST
National Consultative Meeting on Violence Against Women (August 30-31, 2005)
In sustaining her zero tolerance against violence against women advocacy, BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights (BAOBAB) organized a two-day National Consultative discussion on Violence against women and girls. The meeting took place at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja Nigeria, in recognition of the strategic positioning of the Federal Capital Territory, between the 30th and 31st of August 2005.
The meeting convened about thirty (30) participants from various fields of influencing social change such as the media, human rights and other development NGOs, the diplomatic corps, funding organizations, government officials and state agents, faith-based groups, legislators, survivors and like-minded individuals.
The Consultative meeting had the following objectives:
· To engage strategically placed stakeholders in a conversation on the need to step up action on the incidence of violence against women and girls in Nigeria
· To analyze emerging trends of violence against women and girls
· To deliberate on the status of the violence against women bill currently at the National Assembly
· To assess the impact of Regional and International human rights instruments in addressing violence against women in Nigeria
On Day One of the meeting, there were formal presentations and discussions in the following sub – thematic areas:
(i) Multiple Perspectives on Violence against Women and Girls within private and Public Spaces: Trends, Laws and Policies
(ii) Feminist Advocacy, Women's Agency and Violence against Women and Girls
(iii) Globalization, Shifting Boundaries of Power Relations and Violence against Women
The papers presented traced the incidence of violence against women and the fact that it transcends all boundaries in all countries of the world. It also identified violence against women and girls as the most prominent form of abuse of women's human rights across the globe. The phenomenon according to the presenters affect women in private and public arenas and has been linked at different times with other global concerns, such as globalization, neo-liberalism, poverty and issues relating to power and control. Consequently, violence against women and girls has, over the years emerged a critical area of concern for development practitioners and women's human rights activists.
The papers further identified the fact that Women and girls remain the main victims of gender violence in Nigeria, largely because Nigeria is a patriarchal society. As a result, atrocities are committed against women and girls under the guise of religion and culture. Hierarchical gender roles, attributes and responsibilities, also ensure that women have lower status and less power in society than men. This is exacerbated by women's lack of means to sustain themselves owing to their low level or total lack of education, which ultimately results in their dependent and subordinate status within the family. The last paper presented stated the need for defining a comprehensive framework to end violence against women. It also identified the need for a redefining of strategies and harmonizing them, need to launch new ideas and continue to build capacities aimed towards ending violence against women.
Day Two featured interactive workshop sessions on issues arising from the presentations of the previous day and strategies for the way forward. A communiqué was produced at the end of the meeting.
JULY
Bridge Building West Africa
BAOBAB is organizing the Bridge building meeting for West Africa. It will take place in Ghana from June 26- July 1, 2005. Participants will be drawn from different countries in West Africa. The objectives of this training are
To build amongst women:
· knowledge of religious-legal arguments for women's rights in Muslim laws vis-à-vis restrictive and conservative interpretations and/or those on Arab, Hausa or other customs which restrict women
· knowledge of the empirical variations in Muslim laws in Muslim societies today
· an awareness of the struggles of Muslim women for the rights, since the beginning of the Muslim era and throughout the Muslim world (i.e. women fighting for their is neither new nor western, nor is it anti-Islam)
· awareness of the ways in which conservative religious and political establishments have (abused religion against women's rights in many religion
2. To build bridges between women of Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds so as to recognize the importance of developing a mutually respectful position that women's rights need to be protected, developed, fought for whether in under statutory, common law, religious and customary laws.
3. To work on a mutual strategy, in light of the current political context in Nigeria, for defending and promoting women's rights in the systems
This is the second meeting to be held in West Africa, (The first took place in the Gambia in 2004)
Post Beijing +10/CEDAW Coalition Meeting
On June 22, 2005, there will be a Post-Beijing +10 review meeting with like minded women's human rights organizations especially those that participated during the Beijing + 10 review process as well as members of the NGO CEDAW coalition. The main aim of the meeting will be to discuss a follow-up to the outcome of the Beijing + 10 review process and discuss possibilities of dialoguing with the Nigerian government to ensure that the outcome of Beijing + 10 is incorporated in the agenda of the Millennium Summit scheduled for September at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The meeting will also be a forum to discuss the progress of the domestication of CEDAW in Nigeria and other advocacy steps to be followed.
JUNE
Africa Pre–OBM meeting
BAOBAB is coordinating the Africa Pre- OBM meeting organized by the international solidarity network of Women Living Under Muslim laws (WLUML). This meeting is scheduled to take place in Mali from June 13-17, 2005.
There are two parts to the meeting – the first will be a two – day meeting for twenty (20) active networkers to discuss the constituencies of WLUML networkers in Africa, their needs as well as their roles/ responsibilities. This is aimed at developing strategies to strengthen the network in Africa.
Leadership Training for Professional Women
From May 2nd to 6th, 2005, leadership trainings will be held for professional women in Benin and Ilorin. Sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), beneficiaries are professional women –politicians, corporates, NGO executives, academics and media professionals.
Between May 17th and 21st 2005, a leadership training workshop will be conducted for women at the grassroots in the Hausa language.
A collaborative project of the Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development and Peace – USA (www.learningpartnership.org ) and its partners Association Democratique des Femmes du Maroc – Morocco, BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights – Nigeria and Women's Affairs Technical Committee, Palestine (www.pal-watc.org), the leadership training programme is based on the following premises:
· In most communities, men are seen as dominant and women as inferior. Society would gain politically, economically and culturally if the genders were evened out.
· Good leadership serves both men and women in society.
· Good leadership is inclusive, participatory and does not leave out any part of the community. It teaches men and women to be partners, not to fight against each other.
· Leadership is horizontal. Horizontal leadership, as opposed to vertical leadership creates the conditions for the equal treatment of men and women.
· True leadership leads to greater choices for everyone.
The second meeting will be attended by networkers and potential networkers as well as our allies (individuals and organisations) within the region to analyse Democracy and Diversity, Globalization and NEPAD, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building from a gender perspective. There will be short paper presentations /panel discussions. We are anticipating that sixty participants will attend this part of the meeting.
MAY
Bridge Building Meeting on Rights of Women and Religion
BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights recently organized a six-day meeting for a cross section of participants from the academia, NGOs, Media, Religious Groups and the Civil Service on the rights of Women and Religion.
The six-day meeting which had the Muslim Group for the first three days and the Christian Group for the following three days was held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos. Between May 9th and 14th 2005 was organized to build the bridges of understanding on the rights of women across different religious and cultural backgrounds.
Amongst other topics, Gender, Thoughts and Belief systems were discussed extensively relating it to how stereotypes resulting from it could impact on the interpretations of religious texts, which in turn impacts on the promotion, and protection of the rights of women. There was also extensive analysis of how oral traditions as transmitted from one generation to another contribute to gender stereotypes and the negation of the rights of women. The discussion also addressed some of the factors responsible for the misconception and misrepresentation of women especially when their human rights are discussed from religious background.
Politics, Religion and Reasoning was examined in the context of a particular set of people or groups in the society that resist change, claim they have the right answers and try to set parameters for people to follow. Amidst all, such groups in their politics of people believe in the subordination of women.
Several issues of rights of women were discussed ranging from protection from violence both at home and in the public, access to non-discriminatory education; right to work, right to inheritance, etc. It was observed at this meeting that some religious texts are interpreted based on several other cultural beliefs which most times negate the rights of women and present the woman as a second class citizen. In general, the group noted that under the guise of religion women's rights are greatly violated. It was therefore emphasized that more of progressive and positive interpretations of religious texts should be embarked upon especially by religious leaders to ensure the protection of the rights of women and to disabuse people's mind from the misconception that women's rights cannot be discussed against the background of religion.
The discussions were generally enriching as several quotations were identified from the Bible and the Quran of continued advocacy on the need for the protection of the human right of women.
Later this year, a stage 2 of the meeting will be organized with selected members of both the Christian and Muslim groups examining issues of women's human rights in the Muslim and Christian religious system, respectively.
Ife leadership training for professional women
21-25 March 2005.
Introduction
The leadership training workshop for professional women held in at the Conference centre of the Obafemi Awolowo Unviversity Ile-Ife. It was a four day training with 21 participants in attendance. Participants were drawn from different works of life like medical doctors, nurses, accountants, engineers, bankers, lecturers etc. Bunmi, Kehinde, Bukola and Oby facilitated the training.
The Workshop
Bunmi and Kehinde welcomed the participant to the workshop. Brief introductions of BAOBAB and Linkages were done by Oby and Kehinde respectively.
Participants and facilitators introduced themselves by saying their names, what they do, something about them that people do not know about, a nice thing that happened to you last week and an adjective that starts with the first letter of your name.
Participants' expectations were: to know more about their rights as women, Learn tips on leadership, Skills enhancement, Make new friends, Share experiences, Learning new facilitation techniques and experiences
Challenges were Timing, Official work, Extension of work hours, Disappointing patients, anything new, resources, Family responsibilities.
One of the participants facilitated the Ground rules which were bidding on all participants.
What is gender?
Participants brainstormed on what gender is and the difference between gender and sex Gender is masculinity, feminity, neutrality, what men do to women, it is culturally based, not universal not enduring and it changes. While sex is biological difference, making love, universal, no difference in sex organs, sex is enduring
Stereotyping is some form or pattern that is imposed on us and we accept as normal e.g. cooking greetings, men are strong, women are emotional, and men should visit the mechanic
Girls are expected to be in the kitchen while boys watch television; dolls are for girls while toy guns and patrol cars are for boys.
Importance of understanding gender role
Believing in the role, atmosphere, individual understanding, consciousness of stereotyping, let there be exchange of roles, both gender should play multiple roles, prevention of exposing ones self.
The participants shared there personal experiences of gender roles of what men and women should do. Bunmi suggested that they look at what is healthy for them and not just what society wants.
A participant explained that our culture treats the women as a slave a second class citizen and inferior to the man. Another participant said that although some aspects of our culture are good but other aspects that derogate women should be stopped. Another participant said that women should stop saying and believing that women are their worst enemies. Bunmi added that it is important for spouses to see each other as partners and women should be able to contribute to the finances of the home while the men also do part of the housekeeping. She made participants understand that they should not generalize e.g. (women are their worst enemies but to know that it has to do with the individual.
It was agreed that a leader is accepting , hardworking, self-sufficient, caring, supportive, encouraging, listening, delegating, sharing, takes control, firm, patient, intelligent, knowledgeable, team worker, Inspiring, informs, confident, communicative, ,analytical, perceptive, creative, convincing, empowering, Objective, accepting, sensitive, Orderly, mindful, lovely, motivating, sensible, adventurous, accountable, diligent, decisive, friendly, tactful, resourceful, open, kind, assertive, sacrificial, helpful, active, visionary, proactive, forgiving, impartial, disciplined, strategic, alert, persistent, painstaking, efficient, determined, terrific, optimistic, smart, initiating, observant, appreciative, flexible, trusting, thoughtful, humorous, respectful, outgoing, discerning, considerate, Brave, confidential, selfless, transparent and courageous.
During the session on What is my vision the participant said that the Bangladesh women believed in gender stereotyping and held on to it that was why they said that the money should be given to their husbands. Another participant's intervention was that some women were independent and they would jump at the opportunity of establishing something for themselves. Bunmi added that we had empowerment before colonialism unlike popular belief that women empowerment came with colonialism.
There was more discussion on stereotyping of women. Participants pointed out that that when you are a married the Mrs. is always added to one's name to show that she is married unlike the man for instance if a man is a doctor he would be addressed as Dr. X but if a woman is in a doctor she would be addressed as Dr. (Mrs). which is not necessary.
Our vision shouldn't change but can be enlarged. Participants shared their visions where the concurrent words were noted and a group vision was formed. The vision statement is A healthy informed self-sufficient society with equal opportunities for all regardless of diversity in any form.
On communication, the participants shared personal experiences on who they thought is an effective communicator and gave reasons why they thought so.
The similarities drawn from their reasons are as follows; Effective communicators are objective, observant, analytical, bold, work with facts and are persuasive. After reading Marian Wright Edelman's speech participants agreed that she is an effective communication because she used facts, is objective, innovating and compelling and with the use of statistics it gives a clearer picture of the situation.
By doing role plays, participants understood that in passing a message across one has to be diplomatic, careful with choice of words, patient, considerate and impartial.
Bunmi pointed out during the session on how do we serve diverse interests that no matter how diverse we are, if we have a common goal and vision we should work together too achieve it. Our diversity should not prevent us from doing so. Participants shared experiences on diverse interest for e.g. cultural and religious differences. Diversity is permanent and we do not have control over it for instance race, gender, religion, opinion, etc. A leader should accept people's diversity and not tolerate it.
There was a discussion on problems faced by human rights defenders in Nigeria:
Musa a facilitator stated that the people to target in defending human rights defenders is the government, and there own duty is to see that the UN representative makes a presentation to the government. A participant discussed the reluctance of the countries to speak against US policies and that this is a problem. Sindi also spoke about the politics of exclusion, which makes it difficult to make an input. The international community also has a duty to research on who is sent to the UN. Another participant stated that Nigeria does not have coalitions as seen in the representation at the meetings, as against countries such as South Africa. Another participant stated that this would be an opportunity to work together to ensure that work goes on, and inability to receive funds from corporate organizations due to tax. Julie a facilitator cited the example of Irish government who pays for the NGO representatives to present their report at the UN. A participant stated that we should work more on coalitions; another participant stated that the problem we face is the lack of access to information, especially on laws and policies. Another participant stressed need for information. Another participant spoke about registration difficulties, research for names, etc., Other issues are difficulty of human rights defenders to go on with cases, issues of beaurocracy in a democratic governance, difficulty in accepting women in politics, use of police to stop peaceful demonstration. Musa a facilitator asked if people voted from the civil society have lived up to expectation, participants responded that the people from the civil society are still insignificant. A participant stated that Nigerians are giving democracy a chance so as not to go back to military rule, another problem is the fact that the government is the perpetrator, which has led to break down of law and order, pointing of guns at head, your opinion is sought on certain issues, and they give you assurance that you are not to be exposed, but the reverse is the case, use of civil society by the government, especially during riots, threats by government officials, phone calls, etc.
Duties of The Special rapporteur: while in Nigeria she will receive reports on human rights violations, so as to carry out an analysis of the trends, what specific trends there are, information on individual cases. On the individual cases there are two types; one is urgent appeal, i.e. threats against the human rights defenders. The second case is that of allegation letters, this is a case of when allegations have already taken place, and ask government to responds. Although it might not produce an immediate result but at least the government is aware that the international community is aware. The procedure is normally confidential.
Based on the information received by the special rapporteur, she is able to analyze the trends in violations. She participates in conferences, consultations, campaigns, and this helps her to understand all that defenders go through and the trends. An example of the issues of sexual harassment as reported in Brazil, within the civil society. Other function of the rapporteur is gaining information for instance visit prisons, and other groups. She showed some cases of the abuses women face in different parts of the world. She urged participants to begin to think about a review methodology or what next. She further stated that the essence of the meeting was for us to work to ensure that civil society become part of the agenda setting.
The group work was to identify the violations or thematic issues defenders face in defending the rights of human rights.
Group One dealt with the Unfriendly environment Nigerian Human Rights Defenders operate in which include difficulty in registration of organization with the corporate affairs office and cost of doing so, Laws affecting assembly: Public order act: This act makes it difficult for individuals to hold peaceful protests. Official secret act: This act makes it difficult to get data or results of research from government parastatals.
Access and means of Expression: Cost of advert and televisions, impunity of security agents. Non-condusive formation of NGO by government called GONGO, (Government NGO) and also situation when government disobeys laws, there are also no local funders for NGO work. Denial of visa to foreign partners, non-domestication of international treaties and documents that the government is signatory to.
Others include absence of human rights education, ineffective and corrupt judiciary and the legislature.
Social perception of Human Rights Defenders:
Cultural inhibitions against women Human Rights Defenders include hostility and name calling, men are called lazy and supporters of women.
Economic situation of Human Rights Defenders:
No pension scheme, continuity of tenure and strict funding rules.
Actors that affect Human Rights Defenders
Government and its agents, The police and other security agents like SSS, Cultural practices and religious fundamentalisms, Judiciary and Politicians
Group 2:
Types of risk and risks faced by defenders
Threat to life, Culture limiting women's participation, Limited access to information,
Violation of laws with impunity starting from the federal government. This makes our job difficult, Lack of acceptance of women's rights as human rights even within the human rights community, overt government sponsored opposition, Language
Difficulty in registration of human rights NGOs, Character assassination and impuning our reputation and Lack of financial sustainability
Risks
Arrests/extra judicial killings, Disappearance, Internal displacement, Loss of livelihood
Internal and external restriction of movement, High level of insecurity and Frivolous prosecution
Impact on the human right defenders
Lack of commitment of young activists and quality of defenders is diminishing
Julie, a participant started the day with the background information and how to prepare to meet with the special rapporteur. She informed participants that her travel and document will be prepared by her assistance and while she is here she will be working mostly with the UNDP office here in Nigeria. If NGOs send her a background document then this would help her prepare the issues that she will be presented with in Nigeria. She therefore stated that the following issues should be communicated to her:
Difficulties we earlier enumerated on freedom of expression, assembly and access to information, issues on public order acts and official statute acts and how they affect NGOs. We should make the presentation precise, and clear to assist her. Other areas include issues of registration of NGOs, and a brief discussion on how this affects us, the cost implication of registration and how this stops us from carrying out our work. Other issues are thematic issues as it affects human rights work in Nigeria. We should also decide the contents of the agenda and places she might visit.
Participants stated the need to agree on the point person for the project so that reports will be collated and sent to ISHR to forward on NGO behalf. BAOBAB was identified as the secretariat. It was stated that the difficulty of registering organizations such as representatives of lesbian and homosexuals could be cited as difficulty presently faced. They were urged to involve other NGOs that are not represented to ensure a more representation of NGOs.
She also stated that while the rapporteur is in Nigeria, she will hold meetings with representatives of the UN, and then a press conference on the last day, to give a feedback of what her assessment has been. She will be meeting with the head of state and ministers, enforcement agencies, minister for defense, authorities of the judiciary, parliamentary representatives, human rights institutions in Nigeria, regional and local court judges, trade unions, journalists, gay and lesbian groups, to ensure that their voices are heard, E.U. representatives, etc.
She urged NGOs to try to formulate recommendations to assist her in preparing her report. The follow up depends on participants and stated that the International Service for Human Rights will be willing to sponsor any collaboration as they come from participants. Participants spoke about forming committees, and this was rejected. Another participant form Niger Delta volunteered to chair the group. It was finally agreed that groups should go back to their state, meet with other human rights activist, and come up with documents on human rights defenders challenges, this should be sent to BAOBAB offices for final presentation to the organizers. The executive Director of BAOBAB said the deadline of April 2, 2005 when the document is required in Geneva must be adhered to.
The facilitators noted that since the inception of democracy in Nigeria reports normally sent to the African Commission on violations of Human rights issues in Nigeria are on the decline. A participant stated that the decline in reports is caused by lack of funds to invite the chair to visit countries, and the fact that individuals are not aware of the existence of this office. It was stated that the African Union has been advised to channel more funds towards issues of human rights.
Julie gave a few tips on the European Union Guidelines for protecting human rights defenders. She therefore stated that they would like to hear how we engage EU in protecting the rights of human rights defenders in Nigeria. It was suggested that the NGOs represented should write a joint proposal to the European Union for work in the area of defending human rights defenders.
Africa Regional Roaming Institute for Women's Leadership and Training of Trainers Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
February 21- 25 2005
The Institute consisted of twenty-five participants in all from eight African countries. Hafsat Abiola (Nigeria), member, W.L.P. Board of Directors, standing in for Mahnaz Afhami, the Executive Director of WLP declared the workshop open. In the note read on behalf of Mahnaz, Hafsat recounted other countries where the Institute was replicated. These are Afghanistan, Morocco and Jordan. One is being planned to hold in Asia. She added that the institute envisages the development of a kind of leadership that is horizontal and not based on hierarchy; based on consensus and dialogue rather than command with the aim of creating shared vision based on mutual understanding and respect.
It seeks to create a gender-sensitive society in the area of women's human rights and other issues as they affect women despite their diversities. It also seeks to encourage women to realize and utilize the leadership qualities in them.
The goal of the institute was to enhance the capacity of participants to become better trainers and advocates and ensure full participation of women at all level in society using a methodology of skill building, information and experience sharing.
At the beginning of the Institute everyone was hopeful that all the objectives would be met with minimal obstacles which could be posed by time constraints and language barrier on the path of a couple of participants that speak very little English.
The objective of the first session, Power, Gender and Leadership was to discuss power and analyze the connection between power and gender. There was a brainstorm on what the terms are and is and what they are not.
Leadership is Gender inclusive, Participatory, Innovative, Listening, Responsible, Order/ empowering
Leadership is not dictatorial, indecisive, cohesive, Abusive / Authoritative
Negative use: leads to abuse of power and Deaf
The methodology used throughout the workshop was participatory. Roles were sometimes swapped. Participants were called upon to, facilitate, write on the flip chart board or call on other participants to make contributions.
Dramatization and role-play were used extensively as the participants broke into groups to take on roles, which they later presented to the larger group amidst rib cracking laughter. The session on transforming leadership couldn't have been done better. The objectives of the session were to criticize hierarchical leadership strategies and consider the principles on which a learning society could transform hierarchical leadership into horizontal and participatory leadership. Group one's presentation was based on discrimination against women in the workplace, while group two presented on communicating with members of the society. Group three presented a scenario on the unequal representation of women in politics.
Participants shared personal stories in the session titled ‘Leadership challenges, crisis and achievements'. The session afforded the participant the opportunity to share their personal experiences in the course of leadership.
After the narrations the stories were analyzed and the strategies employed were listed. The common themes in them were as follows:
Being sacrificial lambs; the quality moving to action; the quality of producing results; The quality of not talking or taking rash action when provoked; Having the clear vision of what the organisation is about and sticking to it; Information sharing and dissemination; Being cautious; Lobbying; High self esteem
Common themes were Change threatens people, Pull her down syndrome, Distrust amongst elitist women
Missing themes were Inclusiveness (sensitivity) appropriate use of language
Elements of power were; Leadership intimidates, Looking for points of dissention, Formation of cliques
The objectives of the session on communicating effectively were:
To analyse the characteristics of an effective communicator; To demonstrate the importance of communication for effective leadership; To consider how to be persuasive when motivating educating and negotiating with others and to analyse people's personal stories of communication.
The passage titled “I care and I am willing to serve” culled from the leadership Training Manual “Leading to Choices” was used as a case study. The story was discussed and analyzed. This was followed by group activity in which participants were asked to communicate unpleasant situations to each other in a way that their audience or listeners would not find offensive.
The facilitators were creative when it came to sharing the participants into groups. For example, instead of the usual picking of numbers, which was becoming too monotonous, names of heroines' fruits, animals, etc were used to group the participants. This made the whole exercise more interesting and lively. For this particular group exercise the participants went into groups of mango, paw paw and watermelon. One group was to address a case in which a colleague who had body odor was to be communicated to on her condition and what to do. The other two groups were to communicate to a group of women who have refused to have their children immunized against polio and influence a minister to get the government to abrogate a decree passed by the government, which did not favour women respectively.
After the presentation the participants critiqued the performance. In the final analysis it was agreed that effective communication involves good listening skills, good oratory skills and should be engaging.
Each day of the meeting began with a recap and ended with wrap up. These help to refresh the participants' memories and put them in the right mood for the day's activities. Still on communication, the participants deliberated on what it takes for communication to be persuasive. There was a brainstorm on this, which had this output:
Persuasive Not persuasive
Use of facts Giving ultimatum/threats
Personalising information I know it all attitude
Dialoguing Aggressive (verbal & non verbal
Seizing strategic opportunities to convey message Box people to a corner
Respecting and valuing other peoples' opinions Using questionable facts.
Giving the person the choice to decide
Awakening the person's self interest
Always remain in focus
In the course of carrying out their tasks as leaders and advocates participants would need to communicate extensively with the media, hence a session was devoted to communicating with the media. The objectives were: to consider the use of a variety of media and to identify ways of effectively getting messages across. These media include:
Print, Television, Radio, Email, Town crier, Talking drums, Theater/ drama/ music, text messages, fax, advertising & I E C materials. The effectiveness of a medium depends on the situation to be addressed.
Some participants shared with the house some of their challenging experiences in the cause of working with the media. They narrated the strategies that they used, how these mediums have worked and how they have not worked. A participant from Ghana shared that they have never had the luxury of working with female journalists in the media. She added that they did not deem it fit because it has always been the men. Henceforth they would work with female journalists. Another participant from Uganda also shared that as much as they tried to work with the media, the government has always been an obstacle. They work with the print media, and the editors are men especially who don't believe that women have rights. All they do is publish what they want and the way they want it. Some of their publications end up getting cancelled, just because it is on issues of women's human rights. It was reiterated that setting, at times also determines the effectiveness of a medium. Style was also mentioned among the factors that aid effective communication. The bottom line is that the media is important in effective communication. It is important to take into cognizance, what one is communicating, how, when, where and which message one is communicating.
7-11 February 2005
Zaria Hotel, Zaria, Kaduna State
The workshop consisted of twenty participants from all walks of life who are particularly interested in promoting and protecting human rights. The objectives of the workshop were…. At the on set of the workshop the participants expressed their expectations from the workshop and also discussed the challenges that could serve as obstacles to achieving these expectations..
Session 1 Introduction to Gender
Objectives
o To define gender
o Understanding the basics of Gender
o Analyze the implications of Gender
o Maintaining Gender equality
o Appreciate and recognize the value of understanding Gender by judicial personnel and other state agents
In the brainstorm that ushered in each session participants brainstormed on the definition of terms .e.g. “gender” There were a lot of participatory activities also. For example, in the session on gender the participants went into groups to share experiences on events that led them to realize that they are different from the opposite sex. The gender game was played. In this game the facilitator read out some activities and participants were to mention if the duties or activities were either gender or sex roles.
There was a lengthy discussion on how stereotyping add to or reduce the value of women and men in the society. The analyses were supported with examples
The crux of the matter centred around the fact that the male sex is preferred in the society and roles that are physically tasking given to males. The value of women is critically reduced especially when it comes to education. Even the girls that go to school hardly ever have time for study because most of her time is spent performing households chores.
In addition to this the society feels that the woman need to be protected because she is assumed to be the weaker sex. On the economic scene women are seen as parasites and dependants.
In the final analysis the role of different agents in the society were examined I was resolved that stereotypes have more negative than positive effects. Stereotyping encourages or worsens divisions between men and women. They promotes social, political and economic inequalities
A participant said women wait for the men to take action. Another participant countered it that there is the tendency that it kills initiatives.
Stereotypy affect women more then men because if the culture in northern Nigeria especially the religion does not allow women to lead men or the society yet some participants see this as selfish of the men who use their own vested interests tom interpret what happens in the society. For example, they claim that a woman should not lead men, and would not support a female president, yet they do not have opposition to women being senators
The issue of the universality of human rights was also extensively discussed. It was discovered that before the training a lot of people have seen the concept of Human Rights, especially women's human rights as a borrowed idea from the west. Examples were site of local customs, stories, oral tradition and proverbs were sited to debunk the idea that human rights are not indigenous to Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. A participant rounded up the discussion on this issue saying ‘human right is home to all cultural and foreign to no culture.
The issue of why it was necessary to fight for womens human right was broadly discussed. The objectives were for every body will understand the concept of women's human rights, to examine the principles of women's right as women's right. The issue of violence against women came up in the discussion on women's human rights. The emphasis bordered on psychology and physical violent perpetrated against women. It was differentiated from domestic violence which could be children against parent, wives against husband, children against their brothers and sisters etc. Some participants did not agree that marital rape, which id forceful sex could constitute an offence since the couple in question is married.
A participant wanted to know the difference between a convention and declaration. An example was given that CEDAW, ICCPR, Optional protocol are conventions, which set standards and are enforceable in courts of law. They are binding on the signatories while declaration set standards, The UDHR, which sets the standard for human rights. Participants were asked how they could help in enforcing women's human rights. The response was by creating awareness, criminal procedures and general orientation on human rights.
One of the participants opined that it is embarrassing that there were only three women among the delegates of the national confab. We need to make know the importance of equal female representation. What we should be discussing now are the strategies we are going to put forward to ensure that women are fairly represented. We could start by insisting on the nomination of at least one woman from each state. That is not to say that the figure is sufficient, but it could be a starting point. A participant said he sees a situation in which many of us have fallen into a trap they have set. If we look at the delegates that make up the delegates of the conference we will discover that they are mainly government stooges. The way forward was through media advocacy and judicial challenge. Another strategy we could employ is for the female representatives of the confab to protest.
A good starting point to seeing that women are fairly represented is to ask of a female representative from each state. Though this is still not enough, it is a good starting point. A participant pointed out that the exclusion or rather under- representation of women was unconstitutional based on section 42 sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states inter- alia that:
“A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, by reason only that he (sic) is such a person… be subjected expressly by, or in the practical application of any law in force in Nigeria or …restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria or other…sex are not made subjected…”
The session on Discriminatory Sindi facilitated practices against women. The objectives of the session were: understand the word discrimination against women; define discriminatory laws and practices; identify various agents and places where discrimination against women occur; outline some discriminatory laws and practices; brainstorm and explore reasons why women do not report cases of discrimination; discuss and examine the role of law enforcement agents in handling cases on laws and practices that are discriminatory to women.
The participants brainstormed on the meaning of discrimination as; showing differences; unequal treatment between citizens such that one person or group is favoured at the expense of another; unequal treatment of women based on sex. The discussion shifted to how discrimination affects women. A woman who is discriminated against is denied her rights and demoralized. Her self- esteem is lowered and her progress retarded. It is more painful when one realizes that this discrimination is based on sex, which one cannot do anything about.
There was controversy when one of the participants pointed out that cases of discriminatory practices against men also exist. He gave his own family as an example of discrimination because the female members of the family were well taken care of materially while the male members were neglected. It was agreed that this was so not necessarily because the girls were loved better than the boys, but because the girls were seen to be vulnerable, so it was a way of protecting them. It was argued that the boys were sent out to go and fend for themselves at a very tender age. This was countered by the fact that even the young girls too were sent out to go and hawk and this involves a lot of risks like rape and kidnapping. Special treatment is not necessarily preferential treatment.
The word discrimination connotes oppression and suppression. It is negative and debases the human person. It is an ungodly treatment, which is perpetrated by someone trying to take advantage of another person.
There are agents in the society that promote, legalize and support discriminatory practices against women. These are places of work, religious institutions, educational institutions, culture, social class, political set-up, military and para-military organizations, the media, and the international community. It was finally agreed that discrimination is associated with human beings, but the phenomena that affect people like poverty, ignorance, disease etc do not discriminate against anybody. The types of discrimination that is common in each of the mentioned places were analyzed. For example in the family we have male child preference. The community supports fattening of women before marriage
A participant shared with other participants how as a boy growing up he was not exempted from household chores like washing plates and preparing meals. He did not have any problems when he found himself posted to Sokoto for National Youth Service. Meanwhile he was friendly with a boy who was helpless because he could not perform any of those chores.
Other aspects of discrimination were the fact that women were not allowed to inherit property, female children are withdrawn from schools and forced into marriage.
It was noted that in the military or police force a woman is not allowed to marry within three years of enlistment. If she did she would be dismissed. She also has to get a certification from the force before she is finally allowed to marry at the expiration of three years. She also will be dismissed from the force in a case that she gets pregnant before being married. A participant wanted to know what the National Human Rights Commission is doing about such discriminatory laws. The response from one of the participants that works with the commission was that they have taken steps and asked the police to review such laws. The police laws we have them now came into effect in 1917 and a lot of things have changed since then. It was also added that the commission has also submitted a draft for the review of prison laws.
On the issue of male child preference an example was given of some communities in Igboland in which if all the children in the family were females, one of them would not be allowed to marry and leave the house. She would be expected to have baby boy who would be the heir in the family. A participant suggested imagine the trauma women go through when they have not borne male children. It can be so bad that a woman would even ‘marry' a wife for her husband.
Ndidi and Dr Dabo facilitated the session on International, Regional and National Human Rights Instruments. The objectives were: to create awareness on international, regional and national human rights documents; to explain the principal arguments in the debate about universality of rights and cultural relativism; to examine how personal values and deeply held assumptions about right and wrong influence our actions and relations.
· The participants did a lot of work in groups In one group work in the participants were to analyze the story of Hajara, a teenager who was a raped by her stepfather and was, in addition to that sentenced by a court to receive 100 strokes of the cane. The question the participants were to answer was who was the most honourable person and who was the most powerful person in the story between Hajara, her stepfather and if they would change their story if the roles were reversed. They were also to answer the question if honour and power have different meanings when applied to different people, as in male and female. Finally the discussion shifted to whether or not human rights can be truly universal when different values exist for men and women.
Sources of mechanisms for enforcement of Human Rights
ü International, Regional and National Courts
ü Reporting
ü Enquiry procedure
ü Need to obtain ECOSOC and observer status with enforcement bodies so that our voices could be heard
ü Complaints and communications Procedure
On the hole a participant observed that the federal government is always quick to ratify conventions and slow to domesticate them. The response to that was that the government sings, usually not out of commitment, but because she does not want to be left out. The implication for the government is that she has to send reports and she could be liable for not observing some of the provisions of the conventions.
Places one can go to seek redress are the Human Rights Commission, Civil Society Organizations, Legal Aid Council etc. However the decision on where to go for redress ultimately depends on the type of violation in question. For example, it is not every case of violation that should be taken to court. Only the High Courts have jurisdiction in Human Rights matters. The participants also discussed the procedures of arrest, bail, search etc. Participants were to note that only female officers should search women, however, a male officer could search the bag of a woman, but not her body. It was also pointed out that the law is silent on whether or not it should be vice versa.
The manual is being tested and it was realized that the time allotted to the training was too short and needs to be increased by two more days so that it would now be a five day training instead of three. |
