Tag Archives: Africa

UNESCO brochure: Africa, Culture of Peace, 2017

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A brochure of UNESCO (translation by CPNN)

UNESCO has just published a new brochure on its activities for a culture of peace in Africa, with an impressive list of activities. Here is the table of contents of the brochure with links, where available, to the CPNN or UNESCO article.

4-5 June, 2012 – Abidjan – Forum of Reflection “Culture of Peace in West Africa: an imperative for economic development and a requirement for social cohesion”

26-28 March 2013 – Luanda – Pan-African Forum: “Sources and resources for a culture of peace

20-21 September 2013 – Addis Abeba – Network of foundations and research institutions to promote the culture of peace in Africa

19-22 March 2014 – Brussels – Women’s Network for a Culture of Peace in Africa

December 11-13, 2014 – Libreville – Youth Network for a Culture of Peace in Africa

16-28 March 2013 – Luanda – Launch of the campaign “Make Peace” Luanda , Angola

July 9, 2016 – Libreville – Launch of the Youth Campaign for a Culture of Peace in Central Africa” ​​Different Words, Same Language: Peace, Libreville, Gabon

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(Click here for the original in French)

 

Question related to this article.

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

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March 31, 2017 – Launch of the Youth Mobilization Campaign for Culture of peace, Burundi

September 21-23, 2014 – Celebrating 25 years of the birth of the concept of a culture of peace : “Peace in the minds of men and women”, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

20 Sept 2017 – Celebrating the International Day of Peace, Cameroon

Sept 2017 Celebrating the International Day of Peace, Burundi

January 2015 – Decisions of the African Union

2015 – Biennial of Luanda

2017 – Yamoussoukro Project to create a “School of Peace”

2012-2017 – Culture of Peace and Reconciliation: A Case Study of Mali

May 26, 2015 – Benin – International Symposium for the Launch of the African Initiative for Education for Peace and Development through Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue

14 March 2017 – Dakar –
2017 Triennial of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)

6 April 2017 – Regional Global Education Network Meeting in Sub-Saharan Africa, Johannesburg

9-11 Sep 2017 Benin Regional Consultations in West and Central Africa on youth, peace and security

Editor’s Note: It is very commendable that UNESCO’s Africa Department continues to support the culture of peace. The purpose of the brochure, according to Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Africa, “is to draw on the sources of inspiration and the potential of the cultural, natural and human resources of the continent in order to identify concrete lines of action to build a lasting peace, the cornerstone of endogenous development and Pan-Africanism.” On the other hand, one hopes it is not a bad sign for the future that the foreward to the brochure by the new Directrice-Generale of UNESCO fails to mention culture of peace.

DRC: Meeting on the School Day of Non Violence and Peace

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by John Mukhuta Muhiana, for the World Peace Foundation / DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The World Peace Foundation, DRC, has organized an event for the school day of non-violence and peace, commemorating the death of his excellence Mahatma Gandhi. The event took place on January 30, 2018 in the Provincial Assembly of Lualaba, with the participation of the political authorities, representatiives from the mining companies, the school project Living Peace, people from India and the Representative of the Indian Ambassador.

The event began at 14:00 in the plenary room mentioned above with the slogan “peace, love and unity “. This day was initially celebrated since 1964 by the Spanish poet, educator and pacifist, Llorenc Vidal, and the day was recognized by UNESCO in 1993.

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Question related to this article:

Can you add to this analysis of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

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The event was dedicated to politicians, public officials, parents, educators and teachers, to promote lifelong education for non-violence and peace. It is essential to educate for solidarity and respect for others, because wars start in the minds of men and it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be raised. In this event, the World Peace Foundation has celebrated its 15th anniversary, the commemoration of the death of His Excellency Mahatma Gandhi and the world day of non-violence and peace.
 
At 19:00, the guests were accompanied to the Moon Palas Hotel for a cocktail and meal until 1 am. The holiday gave joy to peace supporters and participants. This event was sponsored by the Governor of the Province His Excellency Mr. Muyej Mangeze Mans who is our Universal Circle of Peace Ambassador. He contributed $ 3000 for the organization of this event. We thank also the President of the Provincial Assembly the Honorable Kamwenyi Thumbo Louis who allowed us to hold the event in the plenary hall of the Assembly.

(Click here for the French version of this article.)

Nigeria: Federal government rallies support of stakeholders to promote peace, security

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Vanguard Nigeria

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria is the responsibility of traditional rulers, media, religious bodies and civil society organisations as stakeholders.

Mohammed said this on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day conference on “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers”, held at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.


Lai Mohammed

The conference was organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Represented by the Director of International Cultural Relations in the ministry, Mr Richard Maku, Mohammed restated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring peace and security.

“It’s also a fact that until we are able to entrench a culture of peace and non-violence in our body polity, all efforts geared towards development would be a mirage,” he said.

Also speaking, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State advised state Houses of Assembly to identify a specific day for the conduct of their proceedings in the dominant language spoken in every state, saying such a practice would help in promoting the indigenous culture of the people.

“Also, our mode of dressing should be promoted culturally to enhance our esteemed culture; all of us should join hands to promote our different cultures so that it will not go into extinction,” he said through his Chief of Staff, Dr Gbade Ojo.

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Questions for this article:

How important is community development for a culture of peace?

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The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ayo Banjo, identified peace as a critical factor for steady development of any society, emphasising that a society must place a premium on its collective effort to foster peace and unity.

Earlier, NICO Executive Secretary, Mr Louis Eriomala, said the institute was established to harness the country’s rich cultural heritage for national development.

Eriomala noted that the conference was conceptualised in 2012 to underscore the importance of cultural dimension in the quest for sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.

He said peace as well as security of lives and property result in meaningful progress and development of every society, adding that urgent steps must be taken to address factors responsible for escalating conflicts such as poverty, ethno-religious bigotry and political violence.

“Failure to address these issues will lead to channelling of resources, which should have been used for human development, to military and security interventions.

“If Nigerians are adequately sensitised to appreciate the critical importance of peace and security to the fulfilment of their yearnings, threats to peace and security will be drastically reduced,” he said.

He maintained that remarkable achievements would be recorded if peace and security challenges faced by the country were adequately tackled from people’s cultural dimension.

“A constitutional role for traditional rulers is imperative, a bottom-up mobilisation approach steered by our highly esteemed monarchs will greatly complement the efforts of the nation’s security agencies,” he said.

Participants at the conference included traditional rulers as well as personnel of National Orientation Agency, Nigerian Police, other security agencies and National Commission for Museum and Monuments.

Burkina Faso: Inter-religious dialogue for peace: “It is the diversity of religions that gives meaning to religion”

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by Ibrahima Traoré for Lefaso.net

“Live in peace despite our differences”. This was the theme for an inter-religious conference for peace held Saturday, January 13, 2018 in Dédougou. The activity, initiated by the Ahmadiyya Islamic community in Burkina Faso, saw the participation of traditional chiefs, the Catholic community and the Protestant community, each of whom sent a message of peace.

A religion that does not teach love and live together does not deserve the status of being called religion. This is essentially the message of the various speakers. The aim is, according to the Regional Missionary of the Islamic Ahmadiyya Community, Abdoulaye Ouedraogo, to highlight the fact that religions do not have to fight each other; because they all emanate from one God. For him, religious coexistence in Burkina must be constantly promoted and consolidated by religious leaders and elders in order to inculcate the dynamics in the younger generation. He considers that dialogue and the strengthening of fraternity and solidarity … are essential ingredients to maintain. Hence the relevance of the theme: “Living in peace despite our differences”.

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(Click here for the original French version of this article)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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Several speeches and communications marked this day. The recent attack against gendarmes in the region (Boucle du Mouhoun) also motivates the choice of this theme, according to Abdoulaye Ouedraogo. “We want to give our support to people who have been attacked and who have been bruised in their hearts; We, as an Islamic Ahmadiyya, stand in solidarity with them. What they are doing is not Islam. It is purely barbarism, highway robbery,” he lashed out before calling the youth in particular to remain vigilant not to be caught in ignoble acts, which have nothing to do with Islam. For, he argues, the Koran states in Chapter 2 verse 257 that there is no compulsion in religion.

The Abbot Jean-Baptiste Davou pointed out that the inter-religious conference is important for the culture of peace, for the knowledge of the other. “When we accept to exchange, we get to know each other better, to love each other better, to help each other better. It is the refusal to dialogue, to exchange, which makes for ignorance of the other. And when you do not know something, you do not give it much value, “he said.

The prefect of the department of Dédougou, Emile Hien, also representing the governor, congratulated and encouraged the holding of this conference “of the culture of peace and dialogue”. He offered advice that “Religion must not be a source of division, of violence. It must be an opportunity to strengthen living together “. For Mr. Hien, it is the diversity of religions that gives meaning to religion. Let us all be peacemakers, he said, pledging to support this initiative and ensure its sustainability in the region.

Also satisfied were the traditional chiefs who believe that the inter-religious conference for peace is in line with the founding principle of the city of Dédougou which is peace.

Indeed, argues the elder Pierre Dakuo, we can not have prosperity without peace. And all that goes in this direction has the full support of the traditional chiefs of Dédougou. From the administrators and the speakers to the participants, all wished the durability of the Inter-religious Conference for Peace.

NICO partners UNESCO on peace, security in Nigeria

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An article from World Stage

 The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), is to partner the UNESCO, to advocate for peace and security in the country, an official has said.

Louis Eriomala, the Ag. Executive Secretary of NICO, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, ahead of two-day advocacy conference on peace and national security in the country.

The conference organised by the Institute, with its theme: “Culture, Peace And National Security: The Role Of Traditional Rulers,’’ is scheduled for January 30 and January 31.

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Question related to this article.

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

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Eriomala said that the conference was in furtherance of the institute’s mandate of sensitising the participants to the cultural dimension of sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.

He said that the two-day conference would look at particular reference to royal fathers, the custodians of our culture and traditions and basic objectives in maintaining and promoting peace and security of the country.

“We will talk on the importance of culture, peace and security to national development, and to promote a culture of peace and non-violence among the citizenry.

“We will sensitise traditional rulers on their roles in the sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria; as well as re-appraise the efforts of traditional rulers in the sustenance of peace and security in their domain.

“To encourage the integration of traditional and modern strategies in conflict management, and finally, to promote sustainable peace and security re-orientation among Nigerians,’’ he said.

UNAMID supports demobilization of former combatants in North Darfur

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from Relief Web

The demobilization of some 500 ex-combatants — part of ongoing efforts supported by UNAMID [African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur] and partners to reintegrate former combatants into the community — concluded on 10 January in El Fasher.


© Amin Ismail, UNAMID

The fifth demobilization exercise, which started on 26 December 2017, was supported by the Sudan Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (SDDRC), in partnership with UNAMID’s Governance and Community Stabilization Section (GCSS), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The ex-combatants — among them 85 women and 12 disabled persons — were drawn from armed movements that signed the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement and the 2011 Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.

Participants went through a verification process which was conducted by members of the Ceasefire Commission, the SDDRC and UNAMID’s GCSS. Additionally, participants received an administrative and reintegration briefing, medical checks, and were registered with the SDDRC database. Each ex-combatant was provided a reinsertion package from WFP which included dry rations for three months.

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Question related to this article:

What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?

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One of the participants, a former member of an armed group in her early 30s, explained that her future plans concerning reintegration into society include investing in agriculture and animal resource projects. She said that she planned to help promote a culture of peace among local communities in Darfur.

Another former combatant from the same group called on all parties to the conflict to address the root causes of the conflict in order to achieve lasting peace in Darfur. Mr. Mohammed urged all the ex-combatants not to return to war and actively participate in the stability and development projects in the region.

Mohamed Ahmed, Commissioner of the North Darfur SDDRC, said that the demobilization exercise will encourage more combatants to disarm, and benefit from economic and social stability projects.

“We will focus on community stabilization through the provision of service projects in the areas affected by the conflict”, said Mr. Ahmed.

Mr. Ahmed commended UNAMID for its continued commitment, coordination and support to ensure successful demobilization. He indicated that donor community support for the reintegration process contributes to achieving peace in Darfur.

Major Abdul Jaleel Fadol Hamza, Commander of the 5th Demobilization camp in North Darfur, highlighted the importance of the demobilization process for peace, security and stability in North Darfur. He expressed a readiness to receive more combatants who are willing to join the peace process and reintegrate in local communities.

Ezzedin Adam Mohammed, a UNAMID DDR Officer, said that demobilization represented the first step for ex-combatants to reintegrate into the community and return to civilian life.
UNAMID provided technical and logistical support to the demobilization. In addition, the Mission provided a financial package of 1,500 Sudanese Pounds for each ex-combatant prior to their final reintegration projects with UNDP. UNAMID has supported similar demobilization exercises that have taken place in the other four states of Darfur since 2011.

Top five solar energy inventions from Africa

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

An article from Deutsche Welle

In 2017, eco@africa featured a host of eco heroes bringing solar power to their communities through innovative business ideas and inventions. Here are our top five solar solutions from Africa.


Nigeria’s solar clock king, Emmanuel Obayagbona
(Note: Each of the examples in the original article includes a photo and a brief video)

5. Cameroon’s green car wash

The residents of Douala in western Cameroon often face water shortages but they still like to have clean cars. The problem is an average car wash in the country uses up to 50 liters of water per vehicle. Entrepreneur Sylvain Honnang came up with an idea that saves water and doesn’t pollute the air. His solar-powered mobile car wash uses just six liters of water per car. His employees also use non-toxic, organic cleaning products.  “It’s not just a machine but a whole concept and teaching people about saving water,” said Honnang, who founded the company Howash to promote the service. 

4. Nigeria’s solar clock king

Most people in southeast Nigeria are connected to the public electricity grid. But power outages are common, leaving communities in darkness at night. The situation inspired electrical engineer Emmanuel Obayagbona to make a solar-powered clock that also doubles as a lamp and a cell-phone charger when the grid fails. It takes about three hours for Obayagbona to make a clock but he hopes to mass produce his invention soon. 

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Question for this article:

Are we making progress in renewable energy?

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3. Bringing solar knowledge to Cameroon

Bolivie Wakam studied renewable energy at an Italian university and wanted to spread this knowledge in his home country of Cameroon. He started training young people in his community to install and use solar panels. Wakam has also installed solar-powered street lights and a water purification plant run on the sun’s rays. The activist wants to see the majority of Africans — particularly those in rural areas with no access to electricity — kitted out with solar panels. “Renewable energy sources can be used over again and people don’t have to pay for electricity because it’s free,” said Wakam, who founded the NGO Africa Tech Solar to promote green energy across the continent.

2. Solar-powered haircuts

In Lagos, Nigeria, many businesses rely on dirty and noisy generators as a back-up when the state’s power supply cuts out. Segun Adaju, the CEO of Consistent Energy Limited, travels around the city promoting solar panels as an alternative for small and medium-sized enterprises. The solar panels last 20 years and can be paid for in increments. Many of the city’s numerous barbershops have made the switch already.

Mobile solar kiosks bring jobs and power

Some 70 percent of Rwanda’s 11.5 million inhabitants have a cell phone but only 22 percent have regular access to electricity. That’s why mobile solar kiosks, which Rwandans can use to charge their devices for a small fee, are starting to take off.  The kiosks are the brainchild of Henri Nyakarundi of Africa Renewable Energy. So far, 40 have sprung up across the country. They are run by independent vendors who pay a proportion of their earnings to the inventor. For Nyakarundi promoting solar energy is important but so is creating jobs for those who have few opportunities to work. He hopes to spread the micro-franchise to neighboring Uganda in 2018. 

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

The League of Ulema, Preachers and Imams of the Sahel Countries: Communication to counter extremism

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article from L’Expression

The ulema, imams and preachers of the Sahel countries must imperatively use modern means of communication to counter the threat of religious and violent extremism. Extremism is changing fast. To counter it, you need a quick adaptation. In other words, the fight against extremist ideologies and violent discourses that currently use the Web and social networks must use the same communication media.

It is to allow the League of Ulema, Preachers and Imams of the Sahel Countries to achieve this goal that the [Algerian] Minister of Communication, Djamel Kaouane, received yesterday its secretary general, Youcef Belmehdi. According to a communiqué from the Ministry of Communication, Djamel Kaouane “listened, during this interview, to a presentation by Youcef Belmehdi on the activities of the League of Ulema Sahel whose principles are the peaceful coexistence with other religions and the rejection of all kinds of extremism”.

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(Click here for the original French version of this article.)

Question for this article

Islamic extremism, how should it be opposed?

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The meeting also allowed them to “review the means likely to be implemented by the communication to popularize and promote the message of tolerance and moderation advocated by this association,” says the same source. It must be said that the ulema, imams and preachers of the Sahel countries have an important mission to accomplish, that of fighting through information and sensitization against religious extremism in the region. The latter must therefore use modern means of communication to succeed in their awareness campaign.

In order to realize this preventive mission to counter the threat of religious and violent extremism, and to carry out this struggle upstream, the League has set up a program involving the intervention of imams and preachers on the Web and social networks. This “incursion” of members of the League in the virtual world, will allow to do a work of counter-propaganda blocking the road to dormant cells of extremist groups who indoctrinate and recruit victims on social networks.

The other field on which the League of Ulema, preachers and imams of the Sahel countries, wants to weigh, is that of the universities. It should be recalled that last October, the League in collaboration with the African Center for Studies and Research on Terrorism (CAERT) agreed to develop a training program for African imams and preachers. The program plans to provide Africans with the Algerian experience in preventing violent extremism and terrorism.

The League had previously organized the first training cycle for imams members of the League, which focused on topics such as “optimizing the use of the media” by imams and preachers, “the reform in Islam “and” the role of zakat and wakf in resolving social problems “.

Created in January 2013 in Algiers, the League of Ulema, preachers and imams of the Sahel works to spread the culture of peace and to ban violence and extremism in this region. It brings together ulema, preachers and imams from the region’s member countries of the League, namely Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, as well as three observer countries under of the Nouakchott Process, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea.

Gabon: Pan-African youth commit to fight against radicalization and to promote a culture of peace

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An article from UNESCO (translated by CPNN)

At the end of the second Panafrican Youth Forum for the Culture of Peace, hosted by Gabon, the hundred or so young participants committed themselves to be sentinels / weavers of peace in their respective countries, through the Libreville Declaration. The Declaration was read by Miss Julie Mutesi, National Coordinator of the Panafrican Youth Network for Peace Culture (PAYNCOP) in Rwanda.


(click on image to enlarge)

The 2017 edition of the Pan-African Youth Forum for the Culture of Peace, held in Angondjé from 30 November to 1 December, focused on “the fight against radicalization with a view to creating an early warning system in Africa.” It was organized by the Government of Gabon, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), with the support of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), in cooperation with the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace (PAYNCOP).

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( Click here for the French original..)

 

Question related to this article.

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

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During their two days of work, the young people exchanged their experiences and good practices in the prevention of radicalization through the involvement of youth movements. They also appropriated the subregional project, initiated by ECCAS, UNOCA and UNESCO with the support of the OIF, on “Capacity building of youth for management of associative movements, for creation of a system to prevent conflict and violence, and for the contribution as youth to early warning for peace and security in Central Africa” [referred to below as “the Subregional Peace Project].

Through the Declaration which completed the work of the forum, the young people called for an appropriation [of the Subregional Peace Project] by the 45th session of the ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) which will meet in Kigali (Rwanda), from 04 to 08 December 2017, and by the Summit of Heads of State and Government of ECCAS.

They also recommended the development, with the participation of youth and the support of UNOCA, UNESCO and OIF, by the General Secretariat of ECCAS of an Operational Strategy for Youth to promote its empowerment and its contribution to the development and integration of the Central African subregion.

For their part, they pledged to advocate the Governments of their respective countries to support the implementation of the Subregional Peace Project; to participate in its implementation in each of their respective countries, and to contribute to the development of the ECCAS Youth Operational Strategy.

In his closing address, Mr. Mathias Otounga Ossibadjouo, Gabonese Minister for Sports, Tourism and Leisure, welcomed the quality of the forum’s work, which was largely nourished by the young people themselves, and reiterated the commitment his country to support the implementation of the Subregional Peace Project.

16 Days of Activism 2017: Meet Mariama Sonko, Senegal

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from Nobel Women’s Initiative

Farmer and organizer for rural women. Mariama is the national coordinator of Nous sommes la solution (We are the solution) in Senegal, a rural women’s movement for food sovereignty, spreading across Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana and Guinea. Through agro-ecology practices, Mariama and her movement work with rural women to take charge of their livelihoods and create an empowering support network for each other.

Can you tell us a little bit about your work?

Our movement was born from consultations between farmers’ organisations and civil society on how to resist agricultural policies imposed by multinational corporations. This movement is Afro-centered and proposes agro-ecology as an alternative to support greater food security in Africa. Women play an indisputable role in agriculture—in the production, and the commercialization of family farming, and in consumption. Our movement is grounded in the vision of an Africa in which rural women are involved in all decision-making and grow, sell and consume the products of their family farms.

How has your movement expanded so far?

We have had a lot of success, mainly because we were able to strengthen the capacity of women leaders to articulate the value of the movement from the very beginning. This allowed us to organize with affected grassroots women, and we now have a platform of at least 100 grassroots associations. We also work with the media, newspapers and radio to spread our message.

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Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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

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Although the movement was started by women, we have expanded to include men, youth, decision makers, and other people who believe in our work. Today we have a model farm field run by rural women and a store where we sell our products. It’s about turning words into action. There is a lot that we do at the local level but we increasingly believe that it’s also critical to have networks at the international level too, to give greater visibility to the movement. This can be a powerful asset in our advocacy work.

What would you say is the greatest challenge you face?

Women are key actors but their work is not understood and never rewarded. So that is why we must really continue to build women’s capacity to communicate our views and connect with others so they know what it is we’re calling for and what we must do.

Which action would you say is essential for activism?

It is crucial to be connected with other movements in other countries to better know what they’re defending and what they’re working for, and to see how we can link alliances to be stronger. We cannot limit ourselves to what we’re doing. We need to know what others are doing to receive or give lessons to bring us to a more harmonious development.

What does the word “feminism” mean for you?

Feminism simply means social justice in our community. Injustice towards women has been present since our ancestors’ days. Feminism corrects this injustice at the local, national and international level. And that is what really drives us to be and to work with the global feminist movement, to really try to settle this injustice, to value the role women play and their place in our community.

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article)