Category Archives: WOMEN’S EQUALITY

I am Generation Equality: Ixchel Lucas, youth advocate for girls’ leadership

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from UN Women

I am Generation Equality because…

Adolescent and young girls should have the space and opportunity to lead without fear of discrimination or violence.

I was selected by my peers to represent my class and organize students when I was seven. I liked having the opportunity to express my opinion and to participate in social and cultural events. Over time, I started raising awareness about the challenges that adolescent and young girls face in Guatemala, where I am from. More of our voices should be heard.


Ixchel Lucas. Photo: Las Niñas Lideran
Stepping up during the global pandemic

Even before COVID-19 hit, the situation was difficult for girls and women. In many places, women are still not allowed to speak up. Food is served first to boys and men, and the best pieces of food are reserved for them.

The challenges young girls face in Guatemala have worsened during COVID-19. Lack of access to the Internet, smart phones and computers is hampering their access to education. Additionally, girls are facing increased domestic violence and have been forced to continue living with their abusers, and support services are limited. As a result, we are seeing an increase in teenage pregnancies and maternal and child mortality – particularly in the rural areas, where there is a marked lack of access to proper healthcare.

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Questions for this article
 
Does the UN advance equality for women?

Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

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I had the opportunity to raise these issues during a high-level meeting  of the UN General Assembly on behalf of other young girls. Governments should invest more in supporting us by increasing healthcare services, enhancing services to survivors of violence and increasing access to education.

What keeps me going is that I have seen that [when given a platform] we can achieve.

I am part of the “Las Niñas Lideran” (Girls Lead) organization and following our advocacy work a few years ago, our municipality, Concepción Chiquirichapa adopted a new policy covering education, health, protection, participation and culture. The municipality held education fairs with multiple schools, providing children and adolescents with information on HIV, teenage pregnancy, girls’ leadership and more. There were also numerous cultural activities led by adolescent girls, [to raise awareness of] and mitigate the risk of rising suicide among adolescent girls. .

Society has a lot to learn from adolescent and young girls, as we see problems through very different lens.

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Ixchel María José Lucas Adolfo, 21, is the Training Coordinator at Las Niñas Lideran in Guatemala and a youth leader in the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence. She is also currently studying Physiotherapy. The Action Coalitions are global, innovative partnerships with governments, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector, convened in the context of the Generation Equality Forum. They aim to catalyze collective action, drive increased public and private investment, and deliver game-changing results for women and girls everywhere..

Africa Beijing+25 Youth Baraza: Fem-Foster, Enable, Mobilize

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

Video on Youtube

The Office of the Envoy of the African Union for Youth in collaboration with the Women, Gender and Development Directorate has organized five regional events of the “Beijing + 25 Mobilization of Young African Women” co-organized with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Young Women Leaders Caucus and the International Youth Task Force for Beijing + 25.

The events take place by internet.

Here are some notes from the event for East Africa that took place on October 20. For details, see the video link above.

The closing remarks were moderated by Dr. Chiamaka Nwachukwu from the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy. She introduced reports from the following breakout groups.

Ms Mohamed reported from the group on economic rights and justice.

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Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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Ms Joyce Nwati reported from the group on sexual reproductive health and rights.

Ms Joanita B reported from the group on feminist action for climate justice.

Ms Sodfa Daaji reported from the group on technology and innovation for feminist action.

Ms Steff Musho reported from the feminist movement and leadership group.

Ms Lusunga Kalanga reported from the gender-based violence group

Ms Irena Kinabo reported from the group that addressed youth silencing the gun.

Ms Gloria Mangi, speaking on behalf of the African Union Youth Task Force and the Moremi Initiative for Leadership Development and Empowerment (MILEAD) addressed the development of young women leadership in Africa.

The event for West Africa was scheduled for October 16. Click here for a video from the event.

The event for Southern Africa took place on Friday, October 23. Here is a video of the closing remarks.

The event for Central Africa was scheduled to take place on October 27 at 14H00 EAT (GMT+3)

The event for Northern Africa was scheduled for October 30.

Mairo Al-Makura African First Ladies Peace Mission is Serious Business

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from This Day Live

Inspired by the UN World’s Women Conference 1995, popularly known as the Beijing Conference, the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) is designed as an umbrella body of wives of African Heads of State/Presidents and Government to play a supportive role to the African Union, regional organisations, and national governments in fostering peace and reduce conflicts and their effects on the African continent. In this interview with Olaoluwakitan Babatunde, Special Assistant to the President on AFLPM and former First Lady of Nasarawa State, Dr. Mairo Al-Makura, who is now one in office, dissects the Mission’s journey so far and outlines efforts to rave up the organisation to better deliver on its mandate. Excerpts below:

You are now a year in office as the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on African First Ladies Peace Mission where the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari is the Acting President. How has it being, helping the First Lady run the affairs of the Mission?
It has been a tasking, but great experience. It is a kind of thing I am cut out for. Any endeavour that will promote peace and advance the welfare of women and children is my natural call. I must thank President Muhammadu Buhari for seeing the prospects the organisation holds for peace in Africa and also the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, for deeming me fit to assist in driving the Mission. As you rightly mentioned, the First Lady is the Acting President of the Mission and I am greatly motivated by her passion for peace and success of the AFLPM.

The AFLPM has been in existence since the past 23 years, yet not many appear to know much about the organisation and its mission. At most, it is since as the pet project of successive Nigerian First Ladies?

(Laughs) No, while the passion of our First Ladies towards the African First Ladies Peace Mission, AFLPM is not in doubt, while AFLPM is headquartered in Abuja,; and whereas Mrs. Maryam Abacha, was the pioneer President of the AFLPM, it is a truly pan-African organisation that has equally been headed by the First Ladies of various other African countries. I’m talking about the likes of Excellencies Madame Constancia Mangue De-Obiang of Equitorial Guinea, Madame Antoinette Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville, and Mrs. Chantal Campaore. And they have made their great contributions.

Meanwhile, as you rightly pointed out, the AFLPM is 23 years old as it was inaugurated in 1997. It was inspired by the 4th World Conference on Women, better known as the 1995 Beijing Conference. Recall that one of the affirmations was the equal rights and inherent human dignity of women and men as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The Beijing declaration equally recognises that local, national, regional and global peace is attainable and is inextricably linked with women as fundamental force for leadership, conflict resolution and the promotion of lasting peace.

Now, if you also recall clearly, Africa has suffered an unfair share of the global conflicts and instability. In particular, we had full-blown wars and all manner of conflicts in Africa around 1995. While some African countries were enmeshed in armed conflicts, some were just emerging from it, while several others were sliding into conflicts. Talk about the Burundi civil war, Rwanda civil war, Sierra Leone civil war, Liberia civil war, conflicts in Somali, Sudan, the Eritrea-Ethiopian border conflicts, the Republic of Congo, the Congo DR, and you name them. So, the African First Ladies thought it wise to come up with an international NGO, a rallying organisation to begin to mobilise both government and non-governmental resources to promote the culture of peace, to prevent conflicts, and to reduce violence and mitigate their effects on Africans, particularly the women and children.

You know, when two elephants fight, it is the grass, in this case, the women, girls, and children that bear the brunt. It is the women and children that suffer the hunger and starvation during conflicts. It is the women that are abducted, abused, raped and killed. It is our husbands and sons that are killed, leaving us empty-handed like the hen, which has been rendered childless by the kites and hawks. So, whichever you look at it, we are at the receiving end. So, our First Ladies knew they wouldn’t sit by and watch these things continue.

The AFLPM equally believes that one of the best ways of preventing conflicts is by promoting democratic principles, cultures, and institutions as well as popular participation and good governance. For instance, if elections are free and fair, if governments across Africa respect the rule of law, if they respect the separation of powers and checks and balances, if they respect human rights, and if there is less political persecution, conflicts and instability on the continent will drop drastically.

Another major objective of the AFLPM is to work hand-in-hand with appropriate international partners in promoting peace and the eradication of preventable diseases and promotion of good health in Africa.

So, these and more were the ideals that birthed the AFLPM. The African First Ladies felt they have something to contribute to advance the cause of peace and stability and by extension, development in Africa.

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Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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So, would you say that the AFLPM has truly delivered on its objectives and mandate considering that?

Indeed the AFLPM has made a lot of contributions in fostering peace on the continent, in advocacy in matters concerning the rights and protection of women, children, and the girl child from violence. The AFLPM has equally rendered support to women and children.

However, I must concede that the Mission could have made more progress but for palpable challenges, fundamental of which is resources as well as other factors such as lack of a place of our own. At 23, AFLPM is still a tenant in Abuja. These challenges have . The good news, however, is that the Acting President of AFLPM, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, is currently doing a whole lot of reorganisation and repositioning to take the AFLPM a notch higher.

On her instruction, I undertook in-depth appraisal of the place to know the challenges and how best to fix them. And I am happy that we are making great progress in terms of coordination and day-to-day running of the organisation. AFLPM is not a pet project of the incumbent Acting President or any future President of the organisation. So, we are repositioning it to run more properly as an independent and international NGO.

How much of international support do you get at the moment?

We are quite aware that AFLPM can’t achieve much without international support. Since I was appointed, we have, on the directive of Her Excellency the First Lady as the Acting President of the organisation, been building the necessary international partnerships and goodwill. We are determined to make AFLPM a respected global voice and institution the world cannot ignore.

In conjunction with the Government of Nigeria, we were supposed to host a “Roundtable on Women, Peace, and Security in Africa” in New York on the margins of the 64th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women last March. Sadly COVID-19 struck. The theme was actually “Young Women as Ambassadors of Peace”, and the First Lady of Gambia, Mrs. Fatouma Barrow; the Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, Anita Bhatia; AU Special Envoy on Youth, Mme Aya Chebbi; and Nigeria Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen were all supposed to feature at the event.
In fact, from United States to Canada and Europe, we are getting cooperation by development agencies and getting better connected to the global grid of hose who make peace and development happen.

In your statement on the occasion of the 2020 International Day of Rural Women, you bemoaned the effects of insurgency on women. Why?

(Cuts in) Yes, because as I said earlier, women and children bear the brunt of insurgency. Look at the Boko Haram insurgency and their splinter groups in the Lake Chad Region alone. That is talking about Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun, and Niger Republic. According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the insurgency affects more than 17 million people in the Lake Chad Region and more than 2.2 million have been displaced; most of them are women and children. In fact, children alone constitute half of the displaced. The women and children are in the eye of the storm and more than 10.8 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

As we stated on that occasion, whenever insurgents strike, women and girls suffer abduction, rape, violation, and fatality. So, you can see where we are coming from and why we want a strong global alliance to help Africa to flush insurgents from the face of the continent. Besides, in a globalised world, no one is really safe until every part of the world, Africa inclusive, is sufficiently safe.

Talking about violence against women, statistics showed that cases of rape rose during the COVID-19 lockdown?

That is quite regrettable. But the thing is that we are not resting on our oars in the fight against violence against women, be it rape, domestic violence, and by whatever name it is called. By the way, the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women 1993, defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.

To mark this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we are holding a live virtual event as we join the UN Secretary – General’s campaign, UNiTE to End Violence against Women by 2030. Apart from the First Lady of Nigeria, who will be delivering the keynote address, the First Ladies of Sierra Leone, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, and South Sudan as well as representatives of international organisations from the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS will be speaking a the event too.

Apart from raising awareness on violence perpetuated done to women and girls, there will equally be trauma and counseling session for the victims and those who survived such violence. We are also making arrangement to support them with relief packages.

You talked about lack of permanent office earlier. How come AFLPM does not have an office it can call its own after 23 years?

It is a long story and this has greatly hampered our programmes. Mind you that we are not talking about just office spaces. If it were so, we wouldn’t be bothering ourselves. However, because AFLPM is not a jamboree. It is utilitarian in concept and that is why we equally need a permanent office that is also utilitarian in nature.

The Acting President of AFLPM, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has made it one of her cardinal agenda to ensure we build one soonest. We will be reaching out to all African nations as well as captains of industry and public-spirited individuals across the continent, who believe the cause of peace and women for their support. We believe it is doable and we will do it in our time.

Côte d’Ivoire. Association and community leaders make their contribution to peace

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Abidjan News (translation by CPNN)

“I love my country, I participate in peace” is the slogan of the NGO “Voice of Women” for its awareness campaign in favor of peace during this election period. Through a series of tours since September 22 in the municipalities of Abidjan, Voice of Women initiated a dialogue with the populations to promote their contribution to peace. The closing stage in Koumassi on Friday, October 09, 2020 at the mayor’s office was no exception. A round table allowed the people to make their contribution to a culture of peace.

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(Click here for the original French version)

Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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Yao Akissi Cedia Christelle, president of the NGO said that the original goal of Voice of Women was to fight against violence against women and children, to build effective leadership of women and young girls in order to ensure their autonomy and development, help these women victims in the judicial and psychological process, educate and sensitize children and adolescents, educate illiterate women and create a reception center. According to President Cynthia, these objectives can only be achieved within a framework of peace, hence the need during this election period for a woman’s voice to take up her pilgrim’s staff and to go out to meet the people to talk about peace.

Mr. Koffi Wilfried Kpondou Deputy Head of the Project Commission stresses the non-political nature of the NGO. In the same vein, the sponsor Kourouma Rokia informed the audience that the Voice of Women intends to maintain this apolitical character in order to achieve its objectives.

Touré Souleymane vice president of cultural and community affairs onveyed the support of Mayor Cissé Bacongo for this initiative, which bodes well for his municipality and the whole of Côte d’Ivoire. According to Mr. Touré, his long teaching career has enabled him to know “the importance of dialogue and above all of the interest of peace and of man at the center of the debates”, he said before declaring the round table open.

Diffa, Niger: Launch of an awareness campaign to strengthen the participation of women and young people in intercommunity dialogue

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article by Mato Adamou in News a Niamey (translation by CPNN)

On Tuesday, September 29, 2020, there was a launching ceremony of the awareness campaign to strengthen the participation of women and young people in the various inter-community dialogue frameworks and to facilitate the consideration of their specific needs. This ceremony took place in the meeting room of the Governorate under the chairmanship of the Governor of the region Mr. Issa Lemine.

We noted on this occasion the presence of the prefect of Diffa, the Head of the Diffa office of OXFAM, the head of the FAO Sub-Office, the Head of Canton of Koumadougou, representatives of the Communes of N’Gourti, of N ‘ Guigmi, Kablewa, Toumour, Gueskérou and Bosso. Organized by the NGO OXFAM, this ceremony aims to put in place a holistic approach that supports the Emergency-Development-Peacebuilding triptych.

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(Click here for the original French version)

Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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In her speech on this occasion, the Head of the OXFAM office first thanked the participants for their massive participation in this ceremony before setting the objective of this activity. According to Hadjia Gouya Mahamane Delley, the aim is to sensitize communities on the importance of taking into account the specific needs of women and young people in community decision-making bodies. It is also about sensitizing these communities on the role of women and young people in the culture of peace, social cohesion, peaceful coexistence and non-violent conflict management. The Head of the Diffa office of OXFAM also noted the feasibility of presenting a plea to the leaders for a better representation of women and young people in community programs. Finally, she insisted on the important role of women in the management of conflicts linked to transhumance.

Launching this campaign, the Governor of Diffa first welcomed the initiative to involve women and young people in the different decision-making systems within the communities. Mr. Issa Lemine then underlined that the issue of local development is essential for good governance. It is a challenge for public authorities, local authorities and local communities. For the governor of the Diffa region, this approach is part of the participatory and in-depth analysis of the determinants of conflicts and factors of peace to strengthen regional and local consultation frameworks, with a view to facilitating peaceful access to natural and especially pastoral resources for a contribution to the consolidation of peace.

The International Network of Latin American and Caribbean Women is inaugurated

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from El Mostratodor

The network seeks, from a gender perspective, to foster a culture of peace and promote regional integration.

We are “Latin American women with a deep vocation for peace, committed to the democratic struggle, social equality and human rights of women and all citizens.” Thus the International Network of Latin American and Caribbean Women (RIMLAC) presented themselves on Saturday 29, via zoom.

To date, the network has 50 members from the region.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Questions related to this article:
 
Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

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The group’s statement states that “in our political and professional career we have been linked to the international field, foreign relations and feminism.”

Along with highlighting the commitment to the gender equality agenda, the document underlines the interest in “socializing collaborative practices that reject traditional dualisms” and that contribute to creating trust and reaffirming a Latin American identity, fostering a culture of peace and promoting regional integration. .

Coming from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Haiti, El Salvador, Paraguay, the women express in the document: “We promote policies and cultural changes that stop violence against women , guarantee sexual and reproductive rights and sexual dissidence, as well as the permanent fight against racism and social inequality “.

These objectives, say its members, “call us to work for fairer and more inclusive democracies, the full validity of human rights, a lasting peace and the strengthening of multilateralism at the regional and global levels.”

The initiative to create this Latin American network arose from the reflections of the Group of Women that develops the Permanent Forum of Foreign Policy of Chile.

International Alert Programme on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from International Alert

In 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1325, which stressed the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. This resolution, with its four pillars of prevention, participation, protection, and peacebuilding and recovery, has become the focal point for galvanizing worldwide efforts to deal with the many challenges that women face in situations of conflict.

International Alert is implementing a programme on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria, to support the federal government’s commitments to localising the broad goal of gender-inclusive and sustainable peace. Alert will support the Ministries of Women Affairs to develop action plans to support engagement with legislative, security and judicial actors to facilitate strategic policy-making that accounts for gender dynamics in dealing with conflict issues.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version)

Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

UN Resolution 1325, does it make a difference?

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Alert will also identify, enable and support a network of women mediators who will take tangible action on peace and security issues; amplify messaging that promotes women’s participation and leadership in decision-making on peace and security; and identify male champions to influence social behaviour change towards women’s participation in peace and security mechanisms.

This will help to increase women’s effective participation in peace and security processes, peace negotiations, and conflict prevention and resolution. It will also help improve public perception on the role of women in peace and security, at all levels.

This project is currently implemented in Bauchi, Ningi, Tafawa Balewa and Itas Gadau Local Government Areas of Bauchi and Gwer West, Guma, Logo and Agatu Local Government Areas of Benue State, respectively.

The project run from July 2019 to November 2020.

United Nations: ‘Women Rise for All’ to shape leadership in pandemic response and recovery

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from UN News

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an unprecedented global health, humanitarian and development crisis, it has also revealed the power of women’s leadership, according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General.



Graça Machel in video from UN Web TV

“Over the past months, people around the world have come to see what many of us already knew: women’s leadership makes a profound difference”, Amina Mohammed said on Tuesday.

In this devastating #COVID19 crisis we have an opportunity to hit the reset button, to deliver on the Decade of Action. This will only be possible when we recognize the value of women front and centre, together leading the way and rising for all.

“The evidence has shown — in country after country — how governments led by women are more effective in flattening the curve and positioning for economic recovery.”

Ms. Mohammed was addressing Women Rise for All, a virtual gathering of influential women from across different regions, sectors and generations, to examine how their leadership is shaping pandemic response and recovery that benefits all people.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we work together to overcome this medical and economic crisis?

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

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“We want to shape the way we define leadership. And ensure that we emerge from this pandemic with women leading, in equal numbers, and equal partnership”, she explained.

‘Silver lining’ in the crisis

Women’s proven leadership has emerged as a “silver lining” in the pandemic, one of the world’s leading advocates for the rights of women and children told the gathering.

Graça Machel believes it was no accident that countries with women Heads of State—such as New Zealand, Germany, Finland and Taiwan—have been comparatively successful in beating back the deadly new coronavirus.

“This crisis has brought to light an undeniable truth: that the leadership of women is essential for us to effectively recreate the world…that is more human-centred, that is more equal; a world in which such social justice is the goal”, she said in her keynote address.

For former Mozambican minister Ms. Machel, the pandemic must also lead to a re-examining of dominant value systems as the world cannot return to how it was prior to the crisis.

“We must live on a planet where materialism, greed, inequalities no longer divide the human family”, she stated.

Solidarity for all

Women Rise for All was launched on social media in April, to support the UN Secretary-General’s call for solidarity and urgent action during the pandemic.

Even in the midst of this “devastating crisis”, there is an opportunity to build a better world that works for all, according to Ms. Mohammed.
“That will only be possible when we recognize the value of women front and centre, together leading the way and rising for all”, she said.

(Thank you to Phyllis Kotite, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

Philippines: Women’s leadership in the time of pandemic

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article by Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Ph.D. in Business World

During this period of the pandemic, we have heard of both female and male leaders doing a great job at managing the crisis in their respective countries. However, more and more, the spotlight seems to be on the former.

For Cami Anderson who wrote in a Forbes article entitled, “Why do women make such good leaders during COVID-19,” women possess vision, inspiration, direction-setting, and creative thinking — qualities of transformational leaders. In the same vein, Michelle P. King added that “research has consistently found women tend to adopt a more transformational leadership style, which included demonstrating compassion, care, concern, respect and quality. In the context of this pandemic, women leaders were also seen as ‘other-directed’ and have ‘a sense of commitment to the common good.’”

How have women leaders in the Philippines responded to the COVID-19 crisis?

ON THE LOCAL FRONT


According to Leta Hong Fincher, one of the key attributes of women leaders appropriately responding to the pandemic is that of early and decisive action. To a large extent, this was exemplified by Isabela City, Basilan Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, one of the 11 women elected as mayors in Mindanao. When asked about strategies she used in responding to the COVID-19 crisis, she explained a five-fold approach consisting of prevention, response and management, assistance, communication and information, and data.

At the onset, prevention was the priority strategy. As early as February 2020, the Isabela City COVID-19 Task Force was established. Policies on social distancing, limitations on non-essential establishments, no angkas (riding pillion on motorcycles), curfew, and skeletal workforce systems were already implemented even before the general community quarantine (GCQ) declaration on March 25. They also set up a BalikBayani program for returning Isabelenos from Luzon and other areas with COVID-19 cases for contact tracing.

The second strategy was response and management targeting positive COVID-19 cases, should they begin to have them. According to Mayor Turabin-Hataman, they only have a Level 1 hospital catering to the entire province of Basilan. Thus, they undertook urgent actions as regards capacitation of their health workers to handle COVID-19 patients and the procurement of equipment, supplies, and medicines. They also set up a Ligtas COVID facility for the isolation of suspected COVID-19 cases and are currently preparing an identified quarantine area for the use of other Isabelenos coming back home.

Isabela City has a 52% poverty rate and many of its residents are in the informal sector. In this light, Mayor Turabin-Hataman’s third strategy was the provision for assistance. Under the GCQ, they were able to distribute assistance to 36,502 families. They also provided free delivery services for those needing essential supplies available only in Zamboanga City.

The fourth strategy revolves around communication and information that consists of having regular video messages that give updates and inform the public about preparations as well as reminders on existing policies.

And lastly, the fifth strategy focused on data. They constantly updated their data on suspect-probable-confirmed COVID-19 cases, the number of affected households and families, displaced workers, logistics (a Procurement and Inventory Committee was created), movement of people, etc. To date (as of May 9), Isabela City, Basilan has zero confirmed COVID-19 cases, zero probable, and 16 suspected cases.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we work together to overcome this medical and economic crisis?

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

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As a woman leader, she believes that leadership must provide a platform for people to work together and maximize their potential. She also believes in the currency of innovative approaches and foresight. And finally, the indispensability of human connection:

“Getting people to trust you. Reach out in every possible way you can and let them know what the city is going through. Tell the truth about the realities, while providing hope based on actual gains and positive projections.”

PEACEBUILDING AND PANDEMIC


In the time of COVID-19, peace education is most relevant for communities already under conflict and strife, for individuals battling against hatred, discrimination, and division, and for children who are the most affected by this multi-layered situation.

Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman leads the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBPM). In order to continue their mission of building a Culture of Peace and Resilience through Peace Education, they adopted a four-component strategy — assess, adapt and translate, technology exploration, and resources tapping and building. One of the results of their work was the launch of the #KumustaKa #PeaceInTheTimeOfCovid19 online campaign on March 30. As explained by Bai Rohaniza, this campaign consisted of “each day having themes that create opportunities for children, youth and adults to learn about finding peace with self and others in the midst of the pandemic.” Additionally, they launched the Peace in the Time of Covid-19 Campaign where they uploaded graphics, conducted live sessions, and received messages regarding how the sessions helped them find peace amidst the crisis.

Several factors influenced her and her team to think more innovatively about peace education. According to Bai Rohaniza, these were “1.) the immediate need for a strategic internet access and online or digital transition of peace education to address conflicts within self (e. g. depression and mental health), toxicity of social media and possible psychological and physical violence, which might emanate from inequity and poverty, brought about by the pandemic; 2.) possible worsening of existing conflict and context sensitivity issues in the communities we cater (directly and indirectly caused by the pandemic); 3.) positive opinions and response of the community with regard to physical, emotional and psychological impact and benefit of these strategies (from collected data survey); and 4.) available resources from the organization and partner organizations, which would help in the realization of strategies.”

Being a woman peacebuilder in the time of pandemic, Bai Rohaniza draws inspiration from her past experiences and learnings and the kind of ethos she has put together to meaningfully serve others. She said peacebuilding work has made her resilient and gain inner peace and taught her to adapt to difficult situations. But more importantly, this current crisis highlighted the humanity in her leadership.

“I am also the type of leader who values sensitivity, inclusivity, compassion and empathy with a strong practice of servant leadership combined with mindful and charismatic leadership styles on the aspect of continuing to serve, be inspired and driven by my conviction and commitment to our mission while making sure that other people’s needs are being served and a focus on the growth and wellbeing of those we serve. I am able to communicate empathetically and nurturing and guiding others towards our vision even under unfavorable circumstances and thinking of creative and innovative programs or solutions to address our challenges have been a part of my practice in serving our schools and communities. And in all of these, I consider everything as a gift from the Almighty as He is the reason behind the purpose and journey that I am in.”

Indeed, being a woman leader does not automatically and magically make one successful in dealing with a pandemic. However, as shown by the experiences of Mayor Turabin-Hataman and Bai Rohaniza, it is not really a matter of being better but rather doing things better that matter.
 
Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University.

Webinar and Video: Young Women Fighting for Our Planet

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An announcement and video from Nonviolence International (updated)

We are excited to invite you to join us for Nonviolence International’s weekly Wednesday webinar series called We Are All Part of One Another— April 22nd at 10:30 am-12:00 pm EDT (1430-1600 GMT). This Wednesday we focus on “Young Women Fighting for Our Planet” featuring Phyllis Omido from Kenya, Kehkashan Basu of the United Arab Emirates, Tamara Lorincz from Canada, Juhee Lee from Korea, and hosted by Dr. Maia Hallward.


video of webinar

Panelists include:


Phyllis Omido: A Kenyan environmental activist. She was one of 6 people to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015. She is known for organizing protests against a lead-smelting plant located in the middle of Owino Uhuru, a slum near Mombasa. The plant was causing lead poisoning by raising the lead content in the environment, killing residents, in particular children, and harming others, including her own child. The plant was ultimately closed.  She is the founder of the Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA).

Kehkashan Basu: A climate, ecology, and human rights activist. She is a United Nations Human Rights Champion, Youngest Recipient of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence, Winner of the International Children’s Peace Prize and Founder-President of Green Hope Foundation. She is also the Youth Lead of the Toronto-St.Paul’s Constituency Youth Council, Youngest Recipient of L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Canada, a Climate Reality Leader, TEDx Speaker, Youth Ambassador of World Future and Former Global Coordinator of Children and Youth at the United Nations Environment Programme MGFC. Her organization works with young people and other sections of civil society in 15 countries, especially with marginalized youth and women, fighting for the rights of women and children.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can webinars and online courses contribute to the culture of peace?

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

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Tamara Lorincz: A Ph.D. candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School for International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has a Masters in International Politics & Security Studies from the University of Bradford and a Law degree and MBA specializing in environmental law and management from Dalhousie University. Her research is on the climate and environmental impacts of the military. She’s a member of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Tamara is also on the advisory committee of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and the No to NATO Network. She was involved in the international 2019 No to NATO mobilization and started the monthly protest against NATO in Toronto in 2019.

Juhee Lee: A former intern at Nonviolence International from Korea, a staffer at the Korean Climate Change Center.

Our host Dr. Maia Carter Hallward, is a full professor at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA, in the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding, and Development and Executive Editor of the Journal of Peacebuilding and Development. Maia has published widely in the fields of international relations, civil resistance, and international conflict management, including textbooks on International Conflict Management (2019, Routledge) and Nonviolence (2015, Polity).  A former intern at Nonviolence International, she became a vegetarian for environmental reasons at 13.

Through these timely webinars, Nonviolence International will educate, inspire, and build a strong community as we work for a better world.

Over the coming months, we will be hosting an impressive range of nonviolent activists, thinkers, and leaders. We hope that you will make our new webinar series a regular part of your week. Each week you will hear a powerful story of how people are using creative nonviolence in these difficult days. 

We look forward to an interactive and inspirational webinar series