f March 2004 G f { 1 G DRC f , nally, to nally, G f G cers, particularly f G f Executive Secretary, CONAFED G f eld of women’s promotion. Newsletter N° 9 – Brussels, March 2004 March 9 – Brussels, N° Newsletter G mine the clichés of relations between men and women in each individual province, to raise awareness of the wrongful attitudes underlying these relations, and, fi stimulate local initiatives to bring about the desired qualitative change; women, in negotiating and advocacy tech- niques; discrimination against women or to con- solidate what has already been achieved in the fi f – training of extension offi – various activities aiming either to denounce In this article we would like to share one of the organisation’s experiences in its efforts to achieve equitable representation of women in public institutions in the DRC. grammes based on the following main objec- tives: – extension of the gender approach; gender analysis to deter- context-related – G Elise Muhimuzi | f G f Newsletter G f G f G f G

f G Dimitra © Democratic Republic of Congo: Democratic Republic their participation women’s struggle for at decision-making level CONAFED, the Comité National Femme et the Comité National Femme CONAFED, Développement (National Committee for and Development), of the Demo- Women of Congo, is an extensive cratic Republic national network of women’s or mixed NGOs sharing a gender approach. It was set up in 1997 to pool efforts and focus on a common objective of improving the general situation of women and promoting the emergence of a society where there is a balance between the rights and obligations of men and women. Conafed is therefore regarded as a coordina- tion structure for the activities of NGOs com- mitted to defending women’s rights. Since the organisation has developed in a climate of deep-rooted customs hostile to women’s emancipation, its action plan has a special emphasis on advocacy. The organisation carries out action pro- f G f G f G RURAL WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN RURAL Dimitra With 48.8% of Parliamentary seats in the October 2003 working experiences in and sharing of information and with displaced populations, food insecurity, impunity with displaced populations, food insecurity, impunity with articles explaining their diffi culties, their strate- with articles explaining their diffi women to sustain their families and their communi- last elections, the Rwandan parliament counted 25.7% have contributed to this Special Edition issue. Some women’s improving par- addressed: themes are broad living conditions of rural populations, especially those living conditions of rural populations, especially those living conditions and status of women and numerous living conditions and status of women and numerous this area between civil society organisations in the three between civil society organisations in the three this area traditions in these three countries often constitute an traditions in these three ticipation in political life, the consequences of confl ict, ticipation in political life, the consequences of confl to fully participate in the political life of their country. political life of their country. to fully participate in the ties are also evoked. The governments ties are of these three important process to support and develop. important process in all sectors of society and women must often remain in all sectors of society and women must often remain in their husband’s shadow. undertaken at decision-making level. DRC, Rwanda or Burundi, as so well described by our Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi. We lay and Burundi. We of Congo (DRC), Rwanda Republic Dear friends, Peace, an indispensable factor for progress, fi nally fi Peace, an indispensable factor for progress, must be refl ected by the establishment of their equal must be refl of daily life. Net- rights in legal texts and in the reality points of view of the local organisations and we have all those who thank sincerely published them in full. We region. This is why this newsletter exclusively focuses region. policy initiatives being in line with these objectives are gies and the solutions they have found to improve the start up its activities in the countries of the Great Lakes start up its activities in the countries of the Great seems to be in sight. This offers everyone the possibility Marcela Villarreal, Chief countries of the Great Lakes region is most certainly an Lakes region countries of the Great contributing writers, do not promote women’s equality contributing writers, do not promote of women. It will be interesting to see how this mass of women. It will be interesting entry of women into politics will bring changes to lo- cal customs and women’s and expectations. Customs obstacle to women’s full participation. Traditions in the of women. The articles included here giveof women. the personal included here The articles open the pages to organisations which have us provided on three countries of the sub-region: the Democratic countries of the sub-region: on three elections won by women, Rwanda is by far the most countries have committed themselves the to improving of HIV/AIDS. Examples of survival strategies used byof HIV/AIDS. Examples of survival strategies used Gender and Development Service, FAO advanced country in terms of gender equality in politics the Before and even overtakes Sweden on this matter. and non-respect of human rights, rape and the spread of human rights, rape and the spread and non-respect As already announced, the Dimitra project will soon will soon Dimitra project announced, the As already The fundamental role of women within their community The fundamental role Africa: Great Lakes region Africa: Great SPECIAL EDITION SPECIAL EDITION fGWOMEN’SfGf REPRESENTATIONGfGfGf ATG POLITICALfGf LEVELGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG

CONTENT An active role in decision-making advocacy techniques by a Unifem consultant. After four years of particularly bloody war in- United in heart and mind in these negotiations, WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION AT POLITICAL LEVEL volving clashes on Congolese territory between the women delegates managed to get across 1 Democratic Republic of Congo: women’s struggle for their the regular armies of 8 African countries and 18 the message of their organisations and accom- participation at decision-making level illegal armed groups, the Congolese embarked plished their mission with fl ying colours. 2 Rwandan women in decision-making bodies on political negotiations which led to an agree- 3 Rural women must know their rights - and speak out to ment on the cessation of hostilities, the resto- Seize the opportunity defend them ration of the territorial unity of the country, and As a result, there is now unquestionably a CONSEQUENCES OF CONFLICT the sharing of power. larger number of women in the public institu- 4 The consequences of the war and their impact on the life Conafed played a very active role in preparing tions of the DRC - 32 of the 94 civil society del- of rural women in confl ict zones women to take part in those political negotia- egates in the Parliament are women, and 14 of 5 Population movement in Fizi Territory tions, the aim of which being to get participants those women come from Conafed affi liates. RAPE to recognise the atrocities suffered by women It must be stated that Conafed seized an op- 6 Rape: a crime against humanity during war, and to recognise the unfavourable portunity in order to achieve this excellent 7 A worrying increase in the number of rapes in Burundi situation of women in Congolese society as result – that of political negotiations with the HIV/AIDS well as their insignifi cant level of participation purpose of producing texts to govern the na- 8 Women face up to the impact of HIV/AIDS in decision-making bodies. tion for what is known as the transition period GENOCIDE Conafed organised a national workshop on in the DRC. 9 AVEGA - Association of Widows of the Agahozo Genocide these issues with support from UNIFEM, Conafed intends to profi t from this experience to avoid a future situation where women might CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA bringing together women from all prov- be disorganised in their participation in fo- 10 Promoting equality between men and women in inces and all socio-professional groups. In grassroots communities through oral African literature the course of the one-week workshop these rums, when their mission is to defend or claim 11 ‘Radio BUBUSA’ on the lips of the rural women of women drew up a list of specifi cations to be their rights. ¶ Walungu/South Kivu submitted to the persons taking part in the 12 The place of women in Burundi society political negotiations for examination and ap- 12 Remarkable progress in less than two years proval. These specifi cations demanded a rep- - Support for Promoting Gender Equality Project resentation rate of at least 30% women in all SURVIVAL STRATEGIES of the institutions of the Republic, including 14 The implications of gender-based division of labour for the Government, Parliament, and institutions agricultural production of peasant farmers: supporting democracy, be laid down in the text f Comité National Femme et Devéloppement the case of the Yaka people in the Kasongo Lunda region of the Constitution. (CONAFED) 15 “The Bipupula Mamas” On the same occasion, the women, and more 27 rue Wizelz, WOMEN’S INITIATIVES specifi cally their delegates to the political Commune de Limete – Kinshasa – DRC 16 Stories of rural women in the Democratic Republic of negotiations, were trained in negotiating and Tel: +243 99184; 1220 Congo [email protected] 17 Women carry the torch in the accomplishment and perpetuation of COPED missions 18 Adult literacy training (a tool in the service of grassroots development) 19 Women’s promotion through information and communication technologies (ICTs) Rwandan women 19 When microcredit promotes family harmony 20 Association for Women and the Environment in Burundi in decision-making bodies

Odette Kabaya | National Executive Secretary, PRO-FEMMES, Rwanda

In the run-up to the general elections, the expectations can be summarised in two points: sues in the respective districts and provinces; Pro-Femmes/Twese-Hamwe Collective or- – to be able to draw up and deliver a political – the women in charge of gender issues in ganised training courses in all of the prov- speech with a programme integrating the associations operating in universities and inces of Rwanda with a view to enhancing priorities of the population; institutes of higher education. – to identify and exchange views on the chal- As a result of this training the women soon women’s capabilities in terms of citizenship lenges facing women serving in political understood what they should do, and took an and participation. posts and to propose strategies. active part in the ongoing electoral process. A These training sessions focused on the total of 210 women candidates were registered theme of “Women can do it” and aimed Women participate for election to Parliament and the Senate, 60% mainly: The women who took part in the training of whom had attended a training course;. sessions throughout the country were poten- Women hold 48,8% of the seats in Parliament, – to enhance the skills of potential women tial candidates for election to political offi ce more than in Sweden, and 30% of the seats in candidates; and/or appointment to decision-making bod- the Senate are held by women. – to teach women communication strategies ies. The following persons were targeted in The Collective is extremely pleased with the Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa and techniques; particular: impact of this training. ¶ – to enhance women’s self-confi dence, aware- – the (women) representatives of the asso- ness and self-perception. ciations affi liated to Pro-Femmes/Twese- The timeliness of this training, which coin- Hamwe operating at the district and f PRO-FEMMES/TWESE HAMWE Collective cided with the run-up to the national elections, provincial level; BP-2758 Kigali - Rwanda was confi rmed when the participants formu- – the representatives of women’s organisa- Tel/Fax: +250 51 11 80 / 57 84 32 lated their expectations in the various training tional structures in the provinces; [email protected] Dimitra Newsletter | sessions held throughout the country. These – the deputy mayoresses in charge of gender is- 2 } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfWOMEN’SGfG REPRESENTATIONfGfGfG ATf POLITICALGfG LEVELfGf

Rural women must know their rights – and speak out to defend them

Boniface Bahizire | Communication Offi cer, SAMWAKI, DRC

This title summarises the key message in of Walungu’s rural women in par- the speech of the Chairwoman of SAMWAKI ticular, who bear a heavy burden of (Sauti ya Mwanamke Kijijini), a women’s misery caused by war. group that operates in Mugogo, in the Dem- Continuing along this theme, she ocratic Republic of Congo’s Walungu terri- called on the men and women tory. The occasion was World Rural Women’s present not to hold back any longer but to vigorously denounce the Day, which is celebrated on 15 October each widespread rapes, abuses and year. This ceremony took place in Mugogo violence which the rural women of on 16 October 2003 with a large number of Walungu have suffered, and con- participants. tinue to suffer: the most shameful rapes in history, sparing neither Around a hundred women and men from the fi ve-year-old girl nor the dying throughout the territory, and the neighbouring 70-year old woman. She launched ones of Kabare and Kalehe, took part in the an emotional appeal to all, men and ceremony, which not only included traditional women alike, to give moral and ma- songs and dances, but also a dramatic perform- terial support to the girl and women ance entitled “Omuntu n’owabo birhali byasi victims of such savagery. The Chair- by’aha chambu” – “One human being has no woman begged her sisters to alert right to treat another like a piece of rubbish”. the country women of the DRC, of Through this play, composed and performed Africa and of the whole world, so by women, the Mugogo village women could that the highest authorities of the express their own view of a women’s worth – as international community could a human being on the same footing as her be made aware of the suffering, male partner, who she must work alongside humiliation and desolation of the to maintain the social balance in the home and women of Walungu, and that help in the community if there is to be harmoni- could be brought to them. What is ous and concerted development. The women more, those responsible for these did not mince their words, as they vigorously doings must be identifi ed, brought condemned those men who reduce women to to justice and duly punished, so that © Sophie da Câmara objects, through rape and other abuses – and such behaviour does not become also those unscrupulous women and girls who established as acceptable in the minds of men How could it be, they asked, that the men they have lost all respect for the man who is, after who carry weapons, as it has among the sol- had carried nine months in their wombs could all, the pillar of the household. diers of the RCD, the Interahamwe and other turn into such murderers and rapists? And, militia pillaging the region, clearly bent on what is more, how could these same men avoid Proud to be a rural woman waging war against women instead of military thinking of them as partners and instead treat Another high point of this event was the suc- targets. them as machines? cession of women speakers. The fi rst of these The men who were present at the ceremony was the Chairwoman of Samwaki, Ms. Cecile Rural women must express themselves did not hide their feelings. Meanwhile the rural Mutuga. After welcoming the men and women Speaking emphatically on the same theme, women have had their say. These women are present, she outlined rural women’s situation the representative of the Samwaki women’s determined to play a decisive role in defending around the world, in Africa, in the Congo, and groups, Ms. Ernestine Ntamwinja, denounced their rights, as well as working to improve their in the local area. As she put it, there are rural the traffi cking in girls and young women go- households, their families, their community women throughout the world: it is something ing on in the hills of Mulume – Munen. In fact, and their country. ¶ to be proud of. It is the rural woman who sup- fi ve Ikoma-speaking Ibinza girls were recently ports her household, with hoe, basket and snatched from their village by members of a water-gourd. It is thanks to the contribution so-called Hutu militia. After having abused of rural women that the great cities and urban them, they took them to a purpose-made f SAMWAKI asbl centres are fed. It is therefore not a shame, but market-place, to sell like any other goods, to an honour, to be a rural woman. What is more others who could not be bothered to go down Sud-Kivu - DRC dignifi ed for a man or woman, than to serve to the villages that had become veritable ‘girl’ s/c APED

humanity? Here as elsewhere, she continued, supply centres. This was just one example BP 236 2004 March rural women face the same problems, and among many. The meeting concluded in an at- Cyangugu-Rwanda are subjected to the same labours, the same mosphere of great dismay and several women Tel: +250 088 80 980 exploitation in work and society, the same swore to never again let themselves be pushed [email protected] abuses. She had hard words for the situation around when it was a matter of human rights. { 3 fGCONSEQUENCESfGfGf OFG CONFLICTfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG

The consequences of the war and their impact on the life of rural women in confl ict zones

Fabrice L. Bag Essa | PACT – Action Philanthropique (Philanthropic Action), Burundi

Rural women: principal victims women and girls are illiterate they often lack In addition to their extreme poverty, rural information and know little about their rights. women are the most brutally treated during They are left to their own devices. Others have armed confl ict. been virtually forgotten and have no one to Two major confl icts have brought tremendous confi de in or to tell about their problems. They unrest and bloodshed to the region of the Great have no support except for the UN emergency Lakes, notably ethnic confl icts and armed con- relief services. fl icts, in which rural women are still suffering unspeakable pain. These confl icts have been ÿ food insecurity very similar in nature. They can evidently be ex- – shameful and catastrophic repercussions plained by demographic factors such as migra- As the obvious source of the acute food tory movements following conquests or other insecurity, the war has weakened the spirit of events and by politico-strategic or economic these rural women. It has generated a latent factors. The background underlying the de- tendency to beg, which sometimes forced them mographic factors gave rise to tribalism, regio- to prostitute themselves against their will, due nalism, ethnic prejudice and clanism. Ethnic to the anxiety caused by destitution and in- prejudice has led to carnage claiming millions ternal displacement. HIV/AIDS is now rife in of innocent victims, who continue to die to this rural areas and is spreading rapidly in spite of day. In this article we simply outline the daily efforts to raise awareness. There are very many

lives of rural women who, already shattered by widows and young single women in rural areas Diana © FAO/17629/G. the war and facing the threat of food insecurity, and because of this poverty, unless something roam the country at the mercy of nature. is done to help these women we are liable to be distributed to these groups along with several faced with an unprecedented disaster. AIDS is goats. The municipality has given fi elds to the “When two elephants fi ght, it is mainly the now also moving from the cities and invading organisation so that a permanent community grass that is trampled.” the rural zones. In many cases women live fund can be set up. The women long for peace Rural women and their children are the in despair because they don’t have access to and are absolutely delighted with the tools and main victims of the clashes between warring their land, where their crops are mysteriously seeds they have been given: 520 hoes, 5800 kg parties, which have taken their toll. In the destroyed by thieves, unknown persons, or by of beans and maize and 5200 g of vegetable Great Lakes region, from the Eastern Congo unfavourable weather conditions. seeds. This has encouraged these needy wo- to the four zones of Burundi, such as rural They need to be brave. In order to survive, they men to roll up their sleeves and prepare for Bujumbura, one fi nds the full range of terms venture out at night, at their peril, to look for the new crop season. The news has spread, relating to the dishonour, indignity and ob- food and sometimes come face to face with and the infl ux of vulnerable women is steadily noxious treatment affecting women. This war sadistic criminals who rape them to death. growing. Over 2000 have already registered has infl icted the most nauseating cruelty and Seasons can go by without them growing any and are awaiting similar support. ill-treatment imaginable on rural women, from crops. The situation is similar in East Congo, utter misery to sadism. where rural women have been buried alive or The rural woman: a hidden treasure raped and burnt alive by rebels. With the peace agreements that have been The impact of confl ict on rural women and In certain areas, drunkenness and despair have concluded, the rural women in the region the tragedy of food insecurity become a way of life, and calorie and protein of the Great Lakes are now living in relative defi ciency diseases ruthlessly attack these uncertainty. Action must be taken to restore ÿ absolute poverty destitute and vulnerable victims. Rural women the rights of these women, forgotten for so Everything has been destroyed in the events have lost their self-esteem. Their suffering is so long, through information and education, and of the war and the country is devastated. Ever great that they have become passive, silent and by giving them the means to help themselves since the country has been going through this indifferent to themselves and to the problems so as to eventually bridge the socio-economic crisis, the deterioration in the miserable social of society. and cultural gap which separates them from circumstances of women living in the rural others. Rural women are a development re- zones affected by the war has been indescri- FAO boosts morale in Mutumba source, a hidden treasure which feeds a whole bable. The outlook is bleak for these women through Philanthropic Action people from a distance. Rural areas are like a and children, particularly widows, adolescent Faced with this ocean of destitution, FAO shadow, hiding heroines who attend to and mothers, orphan girls who have become heads Burundi has set to work either by supplying are the driving force for food security in the

Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa of households and other vulnerable women. inputs itself in secure zones, or by supplying country. May peace return to them! ¶ They lead miserable lives in appalling cir- them to international or local NGOs, which cumstances. They have limited access to food in turn distribute them to vulnerable persons. and basic welfare services. Given the limited In Mutumba, where PACT operates, over 30 f PACT - Action Philanthropique economic opportunities and the deterioration women’s groups have been set up and are mo- in community support and assistance mecha- nitored by that organisation. Over 20 of them BP 3433 nisms, this population is constantly subject to collaborate closely with PACT, and, despite its Bujumbura II - Burundi [email protected] Dimitra Newsletter | trauma and displacement. Since most of these very limited means, over 150 rabbits have been

A } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfCONSEQUENCESGfGfG OFf CONFLICTGfGf

Population movement in Fizi Territory

Marie A. Kadiga | Coordinator, Wamama Tuwe Umoja Association (AWATU), DRC

As a result of the war of October 1996, number of sexual assaults increased the population of Fizi Territory was forced in all environments throughout Fizi to fl ee the so-called war of liberation ‘en Territory. As the result of this sexual masse’. Some sought refuge in Tanzania and violence, women who were raped were deserted by their husbands Zambia, whereas the majority fl ed to the and left to look after the children; interior of the territory, mostly to the bush. girls were raped and left pregnant and have now become unmarried One year later, when the repatriation of the mothers without any hope of sup- refugees had become operational and those port; they are anxious about their who had fl ed to the interior of the territory future and that of their children. began to return to their villages, the second The husbands of the women who war, that of August 1998, broke out and thus were raped have now remarried, changed the circumstances yet again. This so the women now wonder if they time many people were unable to leave since are actually carrying the HIV/AIDS they had no means of getting out. The popula- virus or other sexually-transmitted tion that remained in the territory is therefore diseases. The areas where all of subject to displacement every time the people these victims used to live are inac- © Sophie da Câmara feel threatened. These displacements within cessible due to the political situ- Fizi Territory are related to the fact that certain ation in our country. The country areas are regarded as being safer than others. is now unifi ed and there is virtual freedom – Animal farming; Major population shifts are reported in the of movement since the Mai-Mai and the RCD – Rotary loans are needed for buying hens and villages of Lweba, Abela, Kalundja and Baraka fi ghters are now working together – yesterday’s goats; Centre in the community of Tanganyika and enemies have now become friends. – Support is needed for activities: the neces- on the Ubwari peninsula in the community of sary equipment must be provided for fi sh Mutambala. Current priority needs of the population farmers in order to help them to revive their In addition, people also move from one area or activities. village to another whenever they feel unsafe. ÿ social reintegration In this case the displaced persons are those The subhuman circumstances in the envi- ÿ fi sheries who are not in their own community or who, ronments of people living in Fizi Territory in Credit is needed for artisanal fi shing, in par- although in their own community, are out- general, and in the communities of Tanganyika ticular for buying nets, lamps and canoes. side the villages where they usually live. They and Mutambala in particular, call for humani- include people who have come from remote tarian action to enable the population to return ÿ crafts areas and have had to cover long distances to normal life. Specifi cally: Tools and equipment will have to be provided on foot. – sheeting is urgently needed for reorganising for needy craftsmen. The persons benefi ting Refugees are now returning from Tanzania. temporary shelters; from this action belong to three trades: – assistance is needed in the form of food and masonry/carpentry, joinery and bicycle repair- A dramatic situation other supplies; ing. This population is currently in dire circum- – microcredit needs to be made available; and stances marked by: – housing needs to be improved. ÿ assistance for the victims of sexual violence – famine; – assistance for women who have been raped – lack of clothing (some are virtually naked) ÿ education and have subsequently been deserted by and shelter; In view of the problems connected with their husbands and for the children in their – lack of kitchen utensils and other household education in Fizi Territory in general and in the care. In this context, it would be important goods, because they left all of their posses- communities of Tanganyika and Mutambala, to provide assistance with schooling and sions behind; where we carried out our mission, it is clear medical care; – the psychosis and traumatism of the horrifi c that some schools require rehabilitation and – training for unmarried mothers in dress- events they have been through; others need to be completely rebuilt. These making and computer technology; – a high degree of poverty; and schools will have to be equipped with teaching – support for income-generating activities for – lack of housing, since most homes have material and school stationery. Pupils should the deserted wives and victims of sexual vio- been completely destroyed. be given assistance with school supplies, since lence; and The result of the two successive wars is that their parents are no longer able to support – medical assistance for women who have many schools are operating but in a deplorable them for the time being or to pay tuition costs, been the victims of sexual violence. ¶ state of repair: some schools have been seri- because their property has been looted or ously damaged, others completely destroyed. destroyed and families have thus been impov- Teaching material and school stationery were erished. We would also point out that teachers f Association Wamama Tuwe Umoja looted during the events of the wars. should benefi t from a ‘food for work’ scheme, (AWATU) since they are not being paid any salaries.

Women: victims of sexual violence Uvira - DRC 2004 March Women and children were victims of several ÿ agriculture c/o B.P. 3729 Bujumbura II - Burundi assaults during the two wars. With the pres- – The population needs seeds and farming Tel: + 257 959 292 ence of foreign militia, the FDD, the FNL, the tools, more specifi cally hoes, machetes and [email protected] Ex-Far and RCD and Mai-Mai soldiers, the spades; { 5 fGRAPEfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG Rape: a crime against humanity

Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes des Violences Sexuelles (sfvs) (Women’s Synergy for the Victims of Sexual Violence) Justine Masika Bihamba | Development Agent, Pole Institute, DRC

The context – Nyalimila Hospital Violence in general and sexual violence in – Kirotse Hospital in the Masisi Territory particular, is a veritable scourge in the life of – Mwesso Hospital in the Masisi Territory the women of North Kivu Province. Although – the FEPSI health centre in Butembo. the situation is worse in rural areas than it is in towns and cities, this does not mean that city ÿ welfare assistance for victims women are not subject to rape. The SFVS: – provides fi nancial support for special cases The torturers of rape, when requested, giving the women The principal torturers are persons who carry a sum of money so that they can start small arms, the most cruel of whom are the members business activities;

of armed groups – both foreign (Interahamwe © Sophie da Câmara – provides a vegetable diet for victims who and ex-Far from Rwanda) and Congolese (Mai- have had an operation; Mai, Mongols, Self-Defence Forces). It must be – the second was held in Butembo from 9-12 – provides support to help the victims learn noted, however, that the members of the regu- August 2003 and was attended by 32 par- embroidery and dress-making, according to lar army and police force are also guilty of rape, ticipants. The information communicated their abilities. as are ordinary civilians. What is more, women was the same as that of the Goma seminar, and girls in the working and school environ- mutatis mutandis. 2. Advocacy component ment are often tricked into rape. This component, which has the CREDDHO Specifi c actions carried out (Centre for Research on Environment, De- The response to the situation mocracy and Human Rights) as team leader We would point out fi rst and foremost that 1. Medical component in Goma and the FJDF (Women Lawyers for the circumstances in our country are the re- The medical component identifi ed over 564 the Promotion of Women’s Rights) in the far sult of the combination of war, impunity and cases of rape over the period from May to Au- North, organises two types of advocacy activi- certain perverse traditions, such as a custom gust 2003: ties: in the Nyiragongo Territory which still allows – 51 cases of vesico-vaginal fi stula repair: – preventive advocacy; and marriage by abduction, which is commonly – 428 cases of venereal infection treated; – criminal advocacy. known as “kuterura”. – 96 cases of other pathologies; Many of the affi liate organisations of the Syner- – 235 cases of free voluntary screening for Preventive advocacy consists of action aiming gie des Femmes pour les Victimes des Violences HIV/AIDS. to raise the awareness of actors at various levels Sexuelles (SFVS) come from the following main who or which can have a positive infl uence in networks: cafed, sydho, cadho, pfnde, As far as medical structures are concerned, we reducing the number of cases of sexual vio- safedi, safdef, lofepanoki, wima net- collaborate with the following hospitals: lence. We can cite the following examples: work, mumaluku and cacudeki. How- – visits to detention centres in the Rutshuru ever, SFVS is open to all organisations with a ÿ in Butembo and Nyiragongo Territories, with a view view to strengthening a particular focal area or The NGO FEPSI has one doctor, 10 male and to inquiring into the situation of women engaging in activities in an area which is not yet female nurses, one operating theatre and one detainees and gathering information in the covered. hospital ward with 14 beds. fi eld, but also to talk to the prison authori- Once the problems caused by acts of sexual ties, prison wardens, male and female de- violence targeting women had been examined, ÿ in Goma tainees, and so on, on the broader issue of the available resources and potential of the The DOCS (Doctors on Call for Service) sexual violence targeting women (the con- SFVS were pooled in the following three com- medical centre repairs vesico-vaginal fi stulas sequences for women who have been raped ponents according to the experience of each caused by rape, treats venereal infections with and even for their aggressors, the attitudes organisation: complications, and carries out free voluntary to be adopted to this problem by all parties, – the medical component, with the DOCS screening for HIV/AIDS. the precautions to be taken for women de- (Doctors on Call for Service) as team leader; tainees, etc); – the psychosocial component, with the Fed- ÿ health centres and health posts – distribution and display of 200 copies of eration of Protestant Women in North Kivu The SFVS works with 13 health centres and messages, the content of which is fi ctitious as team leader; health posts in this fi eld, scattered throughout but based on experience gained in the efforts – the advocacy and awareness component, the accessible territory of North Kivu Province. to combat acts of sexual violence committed with the CREDDHO (Centre for Research The structures treat benign cases of venereal against women. These messages are sent on Environment, Democracy and Human infection. The SFVS fi rst signs an agreement offi cially to political and administrative au- Rights) as team leader. with the persons in charge of the above struc- thorities such as the Governor, military and tures. police chiefs in the province, etc., as well as

Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa Achievements to international actors such as OCHA, ECHO, ÿ general training ÿ training MONUC, UNICEF, the Human Rights Offi ce, The SFVS has organised two seminars: The DOCS has already organised training UNDP, IRC, NRC, CONCERNE, CECI, MSF/ – the fi rst was held in Goma from 16-19 June courses for certain doctors in charge of hospi- Holland, Radio OKAPI, etc; 2003. The 30 counsellors invited to par- tals to which women who have been victims of – the daily broadcasting of these messages in ticipate were given training to enhance their sexual violence in the interior of the province the media (OKAPI Radio and the National counselling and advocacy skills, as well as are referred. The doctors trained to repair Radio and TV Broadcasting Corporation)

Dimitra Newsletter | their investigation techniques. vesico-vaginal fi stulas came from: with a view to reaching other target groups 6 } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGRAPEfGf

such as school-children, parents, women, the legal authorities in general, neighbours A worrying increase in the number of rapes who ridicule women who have been raped instead of helping them obtain justice, and in Burundi so on; – in order to get the message across – through Agnes Niyonizigiye | Programme Coordinator, CAFOB - le Collectif des Associations et ONG Féminines du Burundi the national radio and TV network, for ex- (Collective of Women’s Associations and NGOs in Burundi) ample – it needs to be broadcast three times a day for a whole week. At Radio OKAPI the messages are read out by women in French Rape: a worrying rise in cases campaign to inform the public about the and Swahili, and commentaries are also Rape, which is one of the cruelest forms of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of broadcast to explain them. Furthermore, violence infl icted on women, is now becoming Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in some organisations post the messages on widespread and Burundi society unfortunately the provinces of Rural Bujumbura, Karusi and the main door of their building. A total of just seems to shrug. Cases involving the rape Rutana and has now extended that campaign to eight messages have been drawn up and of little girls, women and elderly grandmoth- the province of Ngozi. Although it has already broadcast at the rate of one per week. ers are reported every day from various parts reached 1000 women, this fi gure is still much of the country, but action is only rarely taken too low given the tremendous task on hand. Criminal advocacy consists of: to relieve the suffering of the victims or to dis- In the same context, the Cafob Alert Group – accompanying victims or their families to courage the perpetrators from committing this organised a one-day high-profi le conference the legal authorities with a view to taking ac- appalling crime. at the United Nations Information Centre in tion against the perpetrators. They are guar- Several studies carried out by the Bujumbura order to publicise the phenomenon of rape and anteed free legal assistance. We would point municipal council and in some of the camps raise awareness in the bodies involved in deal- out that only one of the cases we are follow- for displaced persons have provided informa- ing with it, namely the local administration ing up has been brought before a court; it is tion on the various forms of violence infl icted in the municipality of Bujumbura, the police due to be adjudicated very shortly; on the women of Burundi, the extent of the corps, the media, the Ministries of Education, – drawing up letters for lobbying the authori- phenomenon, and the effects on the victims Health, Justice and Human Rights, and wom- ties in order to persuade them to act in fa- and their families, (Iteka League). en’s associations and partner organisations. vour of victims by taking the matter up and The data collected by the Nturengaho Associa- apprehending their tormentors; tion, an affi liate of the Collective of Women’s Looking to the future – contacting the authorities either in person or Associations and NGO’s in Burundi (CAFOB) The Nturengaho Association has decided by telephone with a view to speeding up legal which deals essentially with assistance for to launch an awareness campaign targeting procedures. adolescents who have been the victims of members of the army and police corps, as well sexual violence, show that certain provinces as members of armed groups, since these vari- 3. Psycho-social component are more affected than others. This is the case ous bodies are regularly accused of perpetrat- All of the victims have been given counsel- in particular in the provinces of Ruyigi, where ing the crime. The information obtained from ling by our women councillors; the following 91 cases were registered, Muramvya (60 cases), the adolescent girls who come to consult the methods are used: Bururi (36 cases) and Bujumbura Municipality offi cers in the Association indicates that 20 – our women councillors in the fi eld take (86 cases) during the period from January to cases of rape had been committed by members measures to assuage the trauma as soon as November 2003. The same source indicates of armed groups by the end of 2003 compared they contact victims before referring them to that over 90% of the victims are female and are to 23 cases by members of the government the health structures; between 10 and 30 years of age. troops. – during medical treatment the victims are Although the issue is becoming a matter of The current extent of this phenomenon has given counselling by the councillors moni- growing concern, only tentative measures have been a contributing factor in the increase of toring their case. The SFVS provides four been taken to crack down on it. For it is diffi - undesired pregnancies, with all the socio-eco- councillors, who work on a duty rota so that cult to defi ne the phenomenon for several rea- nomic consequences they entail (traumatism, one is always available at the DOCS to help sons - in particular, fear of retaliation, shame, poverty, street children), but above all it has victims. lack of support, fear of stigmatisation, fear of a contributed to the spread of HIV/AIDS, which These three components work together to pro- bad reputation, lack of credibility of the public has become a real development problem in vide the best possible support for victims. services, the weakness of the victims, and the Burundi. At the same time, the population is dispersion of families in wartime. becoming more aware and is being mobilised Donors to try to curb this scourge. Aide Humanitaire Suisse (Swiss Humanitar- A listening ear for victims As regards the prospects for the future, Cafob ian Aid) is SFVS’s only donor to date. ¶ Since March 2003 the Collective has been in- and its member associations plan to defi ne volved in action to combat violence infl icted on a concerted strategy with a view to playing a women through the establishment of a centre pioneering role in the fi ght against rape in Bu- where the women can talk to someone about rundi. A project has already been drawn up for their experience and obtain legal guidance a planning workshop, but we are still looking ¶ f Pole Institute - Synergie des Femmes through the Association of Women Lawyers, for donors. pour les victimes des violences sexuelles (SFVS) which is a member of the Collective. This centre provides assistance for an average of 82-06 avenue de la Corniche 250 women each year, while the Nturengaho Goma - Nord Kivu Association has assisted over 440 victims.

DRC Cafob carried out several fi eld activities in this f Le Collectif des Associations et ONG Féminines specifi c area in the context of the 16-day action du Burundi (CAFOB) Rwanda

campaign against violence infl icted on women, 2004 March P.O. Box 355 Gisenyi which was launched by UNIFEM and the Co- B.P. 2542 Tel: +250 08422773 ordination Offi ce for Humanitarian Affairs in Bujumbura – Burundi [email protected] Burundi in December 2003. Tel: +257 217758 http://www.pole-institute.org The Collective has already held an awareness [email protected]

{ 7 fGHIV-AIDSfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG Women face up to the impact of HIV/AIDS

Source: IRIN PlusNews, 25 November 2003

As the 10-year Burundi civil war winds down, or through their husband having extra-marital dinator in Bujumbura said: “Displaced women Kinama township, set against the hills of the sex. are very vulnerable to HIV, they need food for capital, Bujumbura, is once more becoming Another reason was that despite their HIV- their children and end up with HIV.” the bustling place it used to be. positive status, men refused to use a condom SWAA provides medical, economic and psy- with a spouse. Gloriosa’s husband refused to chological support to 2,500 people living with Living with AIDS do so until Nsabimana convinced him to get HIV/AIDS in Bujumbura and another 2,000 in A rutted dirt path just off the tarmac leads to tested, be counselled and use a condom to six provinces. Most are war-affected women a hardened mud courtyard and Gloriosa Bam- avoid re-infection. with infections dating from the fi rst years of boneyeho’s house. “Men alone have the decision and responsibili- the confl ict. In 1994, one year into the fi ghting between the ty of using a condom,” said Josephine Nyonku- Rape by soldiers, rebels and bandits during at- Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups, she fl ed her vil- ru, SWAA-Burundi (Société des femmes contre tacks or after kidnapping, has placed women at lage in central Burundi to rejoin her husband, a le Sida) national coordinator. even greater risk. security guard, in Bujumbura. Unknown to her, The female condom is becoming popular To make matters worse, traditional practices he had acquired a new wife and small child. among women living with the virus. SWAA like “gutera intobo” (sex between the father As a legally married wife, Gloriosa exercised began promoting it last year, after a survey and the daughter-in-law), “gusobanya” (sex her rights, and said: “You are my husband, this found that 87% of women who had tried the between a man and his sister-in-law) and is my house, I am staying.” She went to court femidom said it was useful, 63% preferred it to “guru” (inheriting the wife of a deceased son and obtained the right to stay in the sitting the male condom and 76% felt it empowered or brother) may also be contributing to the room while the couple shared a room across them to prevent HIV infection and unwanted spread of the disease. the courtyard. pregnancy. Three years ago Gloriosa fell sick – she was Action plan and support HIV-positive. “I didn’t know that HIV/AIDS The catastrophic impact of confl ict Now that the war is drawing to a close and existed until I came to Bujumbura,” she told Although HIV rates are stabilising in urban the country is opening up, Burundi has stepped PlusNews. areas, they have been rising quickly in the up its response to the pandemic with the im- When the second wife was also diagnosed HIV countryside, where 9 out of 10 Burundians live. plementation of its US $233 million National positive, the couple blamed Gloriosa and she “War, with its retinue of displacement, rape, Action Plan 2002-2006. was physical abused. After the death of the misery, family turmoil and lack of preven- The government, NGOs and the Catholic other woman, the husband and three-year-old tion work explains this rise,” a report by the church run 80 testing and counselling centres daughter moved in with Gloriosa. Although National Council for the Fight against AIDS nationwide. About 1,200 people are currently initially reluctant to accept them, she realised (CNLS) noted. receiving anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs). Fund- they all needed each other. Up to one million people have been displaced ing from the World Bank and the Global AIDS since 1993. Despite the signing of the Arusha Fund would enable 10,000 more to start free Women in Burundi: twice the risk of men peace agreement in 2000, armed attacks con- treatment by 2005, Joseph Wakana, CNLS ex- “Burundian women are faithful to their tinue. ecutive secretary, said. husbands. It’s in our culture, so it is a shock Women have inevitably borne the brunt of the The community-based National Support As- to fi nd ourselves HIV-positive,” said Seconde confl ict and are often forced into prostitution sociation for People with HIV/AIDS (ANSS), Nsabimana, a counsellor at the Society of to stay alive. Isabelle-Lise Barema, SWAA coor- which offers comprehensive medical, psycho- Women Against AIDS (SWAA) and President of the Burundi Network of People with HIV/AIDS. She herself has been living with HIV/AIDS since 1988. Burundian women are twice as likely to be infected as men. In urban areas infection rates for women reach up to 13%, while only 5.5% © Sophie da Câmara of men are estimated to be living with the disease. An estimated 11.3% of adults in Burundi are believed to be HIV-positive. But an increase in HIV/AIDS infections among girls aged 16 to 20 is a cause for concern. An early sexual debut and sexual relationships be- tween older men and teenage girls were high- risk factors for urban and semi-urban girls, Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa studies on social behaviour have found. “The extreme precocity of girls’ sexual rela- tions is a serious problem,” Nsabimana com- mented. HIV rates continue to rise among women in their twenties, suggesting they are infected either by marrying an infected older partner Dimitra Newsletter |

8 } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGENOCIDEGfGf

social and economic support to over 1,000 HIV- Back in Kinama, Gloriosa cooks a meal of positive people, has 550 members on ARVs, of peanuts, peas, cassava and maize, which she whom half are very poor. grows for sale and her own use on a nearby plot through a SWAA income-generating project. Changing attitudes She also regularly conducts AIDS awareness However, ARVs did not solve everything, sessions with neighbours. f SWAA Burundi warned ANSS coordinator Dr Marie-Josee In spite of the hardship, Gloriosa has learned Mbuzenakamwe. “Social stigma, psychologi- to live positively with the disease. “She has SWAA Burundi cal needs, rent, food, and school fees must be become a respected community leader, open to BP 6301 sorted out as well.” change,” said counsellor Nsabimana. ¶ Bujumbura – Burundi The staff at ANSS are now faced with the chal- Article from the website of GENDER-AIDS 2003 Tel: +257 21 14 32 lenge of helping unemployed, uneducated ([email protected]) Fax: +257 24 15 33 women taking ARVs to become productive GENDER-AIDS is an international forum dealing with the issues of [email protected] members of the community. gender and HIV/AIDS http://www.swaaburundi.org

AVEGA: Association of Widows of the Genocide – ‘Agahozo’

Dancille Mukandoli | AVEGA President

– to organise and carry out activities which can Genocide: a universal crime help to improve the living circumstances of We are already in touch with several or- widows and assist members who are unem- ganisations at the international level, and we ployed by helping them to learn a trade; plan to enhance North-South relations. Since – to promote the education of the orphans and genocide is a universal crime, it is our duty to victims of the genocide; cooperate with North and South so that to- – to seek friends who are willing to cooperate gether we can seek solutions to the numerous with the association to help it achieve its ob- consequences of the Rwandan genocide. jectives; It is our cause which empowers us. Moreover, – to develop cooperative relations with other with the cries of our martyrs how can we re- associations operating at both the national main silent or forget? and the international level; We also hope to stay in the frontline of the – to take an active part in the reconstruction of reconstruction of our country and of any activi- the country and in the development effort in ties aiming to establish lasting peace therein. the various sectors and to support the recon- ciliation efforts which the government has Women heads of household introduced; As the result of the genocide many women – to defend the interests of the widows of the have become heads of household and have 1994 genocide – social, economic, political taken over responsibilities which were cultur- or of any other nature – and to fi ght to ensure ally attributed to men. The women of Rwanda that justice is done; are fi ghting together to overcome all of the – to perpetrate the memory of the genocide legal barriers to their economic and social victims for ever. advancement. As a result of their struggle, the The AVEGA association came into being after fact that they have assumed responsibilities the genocide. It was created to give widows as heads of household, and have thus gained new hope and to reintegrate them into society. self-confi dence, enables them to take part in It is a non-profi t, non-governmental associa- decision-making bodies. tion, which was set up in Kigali on 15 January Our organisation is like a library of the geno- 1995 on the initiative of a group of 50 women cide, perpetuating the memory of events. It who escaped the genocide. acts as a meeting centre for its members and as Through its activity programmes the asso- a substitute for their families who were exter- ciation has endeavoured to help its members to minated during the genocide. readjust and to return to a normal life. We are fi ghting for a better future, a future where widows feel that they are of use to

© Sophie da Câmara The following programmes have been set up in each region: society. With the help of development, our – capacity-building programme; mission is to fi ght ignorance and to combat all Avega is an association of widows of the – programme of support for grassroots forms of violence. ¶ genocide. groups (microfi nance); Our group is composed of founding members, – advocacy, justice and information pro- general members, sympathising members, gramme; and the and honorary members. Its task is: – psycho-socio-medical programme.

– to promote the development of widows of Our group cooperates with other groups at f Association des Veuves du Génocide (AVEGA)

the genocide, who have suffered tremen- the local level and is a member of the pro- 2004 March B.P. 1535 dously as a result of the atrocities and mas- femmes/twese hamwe collective of wom- sacres perpetrated against their person and en’s associations. Kigali-Rwanda their loved ones; Tel: +250 516125 – Fax: +250 516126

© Sophie da Câmara [email protected]

{ 9 fGCULTURALfGf TRADITIONSGfGf ANDGf GENDERGf GEQUALITYfGf IN GAFRICAfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG

Promoting equality between men and women in grassroots communities through oral African literature

Badika Nsumbu | Coordinator of BRACUDE - Base Afrique Centrale du Réseau Cultures & Développement (Central African Base of the Network Cultures & Development), DRC

The oral tradition in DRC As part of the fi ght against poverty, an exper- iment is being carried out to promote equality between men and women in grassroots com- munities, using myths, folktales and other forms of oral African literature. This literature has a socialising function, that is to say, the aim is to promote or maintain the social status of one party in relation to the other. In Kongo oral literature the myth of the crea- tion of the original man describes him as a

being called Mahungu, who was both man and © Sophie da Câmara woman. This omnipotent being was able and allowed to do everything except walk around a sacred tree known as the “Ba dia nseke”, the sa- Culture: constraint and motor merous factors which greatly enhance develop- vannah palm. However, overcome by curiosity, for social change ment tools or models. Mahungu eventually defi ed the ban and walked Using elements of local culture to promote The work carried out by the Base de Recherche- around the tree, whereupon he was suddenly development is an asset that must be used judi- Action pour la Culture et le Développement divided into two parts, which were both equal ciously, because culture is both an obstacle to (Implementation Research Base for Culture and unequal. The fi rst half was male, the giver and a motor for social change within commu- and Development - BRACUDE) consists of of life, with a function of secretion. The sec- nities. In view of the fact that several outreach identifying, analysing and systematising these ond half was female, the bearer of life, with tools aiming to bring about social change in tools and the knowledge of the people in order a function of giving birth. In fact, through grassroots communities are making little head- to devise new community development tools. schizogenesis, the two beings were similar to way, the question arises as to whether the best These are generally only used at sessions in the multiplication of metazoa in biology, so means of fi ghting poverty are basically those villages and neighbourhoods, but with the that, contrary to Judeo-Christian cosmogony which have proved effective in the West or advent of community radios new information which describes woman as being descended whether it would not be better to also consider media are now within our reach in this part of from the ribs of man, none of the beings born the strong dynamic arising from grassroots the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we of Mahungu can claim original superiority. pressure or social bonds which are expressed operate. ¶ Thus, within the community, equality between in music and folktales, in other words, which men and women must be seen in a new light, are based on oral African literature. different to our traditional concepts. During the negotiations for a peaceful solution But myths and folktales do not always depict to the confl ict in the Congo, the performances harmonious relations between men and wom- of the Bejart theatre companies and the con- en. Women are often seen as the original cause certs of the star Warrason were used to ce- of all despicable acts in society. Everything ment the resolutions adopted for the country’s that is connected with the left or left-hand return to peace, which proves once again that side is feminine – “kikento”, whereas men or culture must be used to promote development.

Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa things masculine represent positive forces, the Observation of the experience gained in in- f Base Afrique Centrale du réseau Cultures right or right-hand side – “kibakala”. Hence volving the population in the most signifi cant & Développement (BRACUDE) the insult, “niama nguaku” (“the stupidity of political events of the country, abundantly BP 53 Mbanza-Ngungu your mother”) – no one would ever say, “niama justifi es using culture as a matrix for alterna- Bas-Congo – DRC s’aku” (“the stupidity of your father”). The ex- tive ways of promoting development within Tel. +243 99 255 47 pression simply does not exist. grassroots communities. Oral literature and the other elements of local culture contain nu- [email protected] Dimitra Newsletter |

10 } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGCULTURALfGf GTRADITIONSfGf GANDf GENDERGfG EQUALITYfGf ING AFRICAfGf ‘Radio BUBUSA’ on the lips of the rural women of Walungu/South Kivu

Adeline Nsimire | Coordinator SAMWAKI, DRC

The weight of tradition In traditional Bushi society, women are not allowed to attend meetings about their fami- lies, their households or their communities. And in particular they are not allowed to speak in front of men. These bans are laid down by custom and everyone endorses them, or, to be more precise, men support them and women endure them passively. The disparity that emerges between the power that men wield over women in the running of the community, in the light of what men pro- duce and what women produce in that village world was one of the reasons why the women’s organisation SAMWAKI (Sauti ya Mwanamke © Sophie da Câmara Kijijini or “the voice of rural women”) was set up in 2002. Samwaki aims to help rural women realise their full potential so that they can play society as a whole – and that is their experience, tion which Samwaki puts together and makes an active role in the development of their envi- information, a moral lesson. available to the various women’s groups and ronment. other village women’s organisations. But how can women take part in the develop- Kabubuso, a cry that has become a “radio” ment of their environment on an equal footing Whenever women are called to lend a hand in Raising AIDS awareness with their male partners if they stay huddled in the chief’s fi eld it is their husbands who order One of the main Bubusa “broadcasts”, the background, isolated and marginalised? them to go, and the next morning they rise ear- which was enthusiastically received by a wide Samwaki has a clear vision: rural women must ly. The women who are called to do this work audience, was a sketch performed by women fi rst be helped to gain access to information and have barely met or consulted together, but each on the transmission of HIV/AIDS, a play communication. They must be given a place of them knows that she will not be alone. The through which the majority of villagers were where they can express their views, display their bravest early riser breaks the morning silence, informed that there were indeed cases of AIDS talents, discuss their successes and failures, opening her lips and letting out a piercing cry. in our villages. This information contradicted and so on. The burden of custom and tradition This is the “kabubuso”, the woman’s voice. In the idea that the disease only concerned the is admittedly an obstacle in this context, but so the distance another woman replies, then an- rich, particularly people living in cities. are the many forms of prejudice which burden other... and fi nally several others join in and the women, as well as the fact that they have little whole village is alerted. They then meet on the Women speak out access to education and training. main road and walk along with their hoes on The rural community of Mugogo is now their shoulder, chanting songs and dancing. quick to respond to the Samwaki programme Promoting oral traditions This spontaneous communication, the way produced through the women’s groups. Having taken up the challenge, Samwaki has they meet and the atmosphere they create People enjoy the dances and songs, the had periods of great success, interspersed with were what attracted Samwaki’s attention and folktales and sketches. But the rural women periods of diffi culty due to the above obstacles. prompted the organisation to guide the rural always use these events as an opportunity As Ms. Adeline Nsimire, a founding member women of Mugogo to a society of information, to comment on their situation, and in this and coordinator of Samwaki explains, “the exchange and communication. Oku BUBUSA way the menfolk also have an opportunity to major diffi culty we met with when we launched is the medium of the rural women of Bushi and listen to the women in a society where, prior our activities was gender-related and con- Walungu, their mouthpiece and their rallying to the launching of Samwaki’s activities, they nected with the purpose of our association. power. were not allowed to speak out. Since the oral Before approaching the womenfolk we fi rst dimension of “Radio Bubusa” makes it similar had to identify the men to be approached Radio Bubusa: the radio of the villages to radio broadcasting, the inhabitants of our and then raise their awareness. People were Radio Bubusa is now like a real radio channel villages call the piercing cries of these women sceptical. They called us “kasahene ashubala in our villages. This rallying cry gathers many “Iradiyo Ly’akabubuso”, which means “radio oku bihebe”, that is to say, the nanny goat that women together in the information and com- using the voices of women”. ¶ urinates on the billy goat. The qualifi er was munication centres that the Samwaki has set quite intolerable, but we persevered, with the up, where they can obtain information, inform support of some of the men of course. One of others, exchange ideas or propose a complaint f SAMWAKI asbl the features of Samwaki is that it does not take to the Samwaki organisers. Radio Bubusa the place of rural women.” broaches a variety of subjects: information on Zone rurale de Walungu women who have been raped and deserted, Samwaki devotes the major part of its activities Sud-Kivu - DRC to promoting oral tradition. This is African tra- crop growing, animal farming, health, the en- s/c APED

dition, and it is also the tradition of the peasant vironment, micro projects, education, etc. 2004 March BP 236 environment, where most women have not Bubusa “broadcasts” are songs, dances, Cyangugu-Rwanda learned to read or write. But these illiterate sketches, or folktales, while the above activities Tel: +250 088 80 980 women have something valuable and better to are the equivalent of information programmes. [email protected] give other women in their environment and in They are complemented with other informa- { 11 fGCULTURALfGf TRADITIONSGfGf ANDGf GENDERGf GEQUALITYfGf IN GAFRICAfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG The place of women in Burundi society

Cyrille Singejeje | PRAUTAO, Burundi

Local sayings and women’s social position – the fact that women are making their voice It is now a recognised fact throughout the heard does not mean that they are becoming world that, although women are kept in a posi- arrogant towards men – far from it; tion of inferiority with regard to men, they play – men have no right to ill-treat their wives or to a very important role in society. It would simply be encouraged to do so by the women them- be dishonest to ignore that fact. Our associa- selves through their attitude of resignation; tion, PRAUTAO, has decided that it would be – there is no reason why the husband should more appropriate to use sayings and common be the only person to manage family prop- expressions in Burundi to describe the role erty or to enjoy that property as the sole played by women in our society so as to give benefi ciary; you a general idea of how Burundi society sees – women must be attributed the importance women, rather than to analyse the status of that is their due and the recognition to which women from our own point of view. they are entitled as the guarantors of family 1. Girls are generally called “umunyaki- welfare and thus of development. go”, which means “the one from the Our organisation is concerned about the sta- backyard” – and speaks volumes about how tus of women in Burundi since over 80% of girls are rated. our partners/benefi ciaries are women. Our 2. Then there’s the saying: “inkokokazi ntibika methodology is to bring about the creation of isake ihari”, which means, the hen can’t peasant women’s associations, even if it means

sing when the cock’s around” – meaning Diana © FAO/17617/G. subsequently providing technical, moral and that women must lower their voice or indeed fi nancial support for them. We thus collabo- say nothing in front of men. when a family is hard up, the man is served rate with over 500 rural women’s self-help as- 3. If a woman leaves home after a row with her before his wife and children and, if neces- sociations scattered over six of the provinces in husband she generally goes back to her par- sary, he is the only person to be served. our country. Our organisation works in rural ents, and her mother says to her gently but 5. Burundis nevertheless understand that with- areas, where it tries to increase the volume and fi rmly, “subira yo ni ko zubakwa”, in other out women they would get nowhere, and the quality of the ‘family cake’ to be shared out, words: “Go back. That’s life together” – a they express this in the saying: “umuhusha- so as to reduce the sources of disputes, while saying which requires the woman to resign tunga ahusha umugore”. This expression is encouraging exchange and dialogue. ¶ herself to the way things are, since she has diffi cult to translate, but means more or less: no other choice but to return to her husband “The surest way to miss prosperity is to end and give in. up with a bad wife!” 4. Another saying that one often hears is: “amazi akenye aharirwa impfi zi”, which can Changing the situation of women f Collectif PRAUTAO In Prautao we have thus concluded that: be translated more or less as follows: “When BP 1488 Bujumbura - Burundi – women must no longer be excluded from there’s not enough water for the herd, the lit- Tel: +257 23 32 15 any important decisions; tle that’s left is for the bull.” In other words, [email protected]

Remarkable progress in less than two years – Support for Promoting Gender Equality Project - Burundi

Ouedraogo Assèta | International expert, UNIFEM/UNDP, Burundi

Social change objective is a change of mentality at the cul- has been translated into Kirundi, the national The social change associated with the advent tural level, so people are encouraged to adopt language, and a study has been carried out of equal and equitable gender relations has an attitude in line with the concerns of human on capacity-building needs in the Ministry of made lightning progress in Burundi as a result rights and social justice vis-à-vis the weight of Social Action and the Promotion of Women. of a sustained action launched by a MASPF tradition. The present article illustrates the work that has (Ministry of Social Affairs and Women’s Pro- However, there have already been several been done. motion) project which was fi nanced by UNDP achievements – we shall cite but a few: a na- and implemented by UNIFEM, entitled Projet tional gender policy has been adopted, 400 Adoption of a national gender policy Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa Appui à la Promotion de l’Egalité des Genres people have been trained, gender units have in Burundi (the Support for Promoting Gender Equality been set up in all ministries, there are 35 The adoption of a National Gender Policy Project) or APEG. national gender trainers, a gender database by the Burundi Government on 30 September Although launched in 2001, this project has has been created, and a parliamentary bill has 2003 is undoubtedly a major accomplishment only been fully operational and fully staffed been introduced on inheritance, systems of of the efforts made in the gender fi eld in Bu- since July 2002. Its overall objective is to create matrimonial property and gifts. Furthermore, rundi, and one of the leading achievements of an environment conducive to gender equality. the Convention on the Elimination of all forms the APEG project, since awareness and advo-

Dimitra Newsletter | An important prerequisite for achieving this of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) cacy are absolutely essential elements of the 12 } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGCULTURALfGf GTRADITIONSfGf GANDf GENDERGfG EQUALITYfGf ING AFRICAfGf

work to change the existing social structures and ingrained socio-cultural practices. The culmination of these efforts – the adoption of the policy by the Council of Ministers – was very carefully prepared through several train- ing and awareness workshops. The highest authority in the country, Domitien Ndayizeye, the President of the Republic, had stated in “Equité-Infos” (Equity-Info), the newsletter of the APEG project published in April 2003, that he would “give precedence to a woman can- didate in appointing persons to senior posts, where candidates had equal qualifi cations”. For his part, the Vice-President of the Repub- lic, who comes from a different political-eth- nic background, acknowledged at the session of the Council of Ministers on 30 September 2003, which he chaired, that women were sub- ject to inegalitarian and inequitable treatment as regards participation in decision-making in © Sophie da Câmara Burundi. Both of these leaders have therefore been won over to the gender approach. for 400 people in all socio-economic sectors adoption of the National Gender Policy and A further unmistakable sign of progress ob- including members of Parliament, Senators, the relevant plan of action, it has just acquired served at the recent congresses of the main members of the government, women leaders, rich and exciting raw material for future ap- parties in power, i.e. the Front pour la Dé- trade unionists, journalists, and members of plication. And the outlook is very promising, mocratie au Burundi (FRODEBU), which is the civil society. since the project has just got off the ground. party of the President of the Republic, and the Gender units have been set up in all ministries. It will need means to implement its policy so Union pour le Progrès National (UPRONA), Of the 35 national gender trainers, 5 were given as to embrace the many and varied aspects of the party of the Vice-President of the Republic, further training abroad. These motivated units promoting the gender approach. was that both parties independently expressed generally exert infl uence on the people around their desire to apply a women’s participation them; several networks have been created and Towards a veritable revolution of rural rate of at least 30% in the governing bodies of others are in the pipeline. Concrete actions women with regard to Burundi tradition their parties. Yet the Arusha Agreement, which are reported regularly; we shall cite two as an The most striking example in this fi eld is a se- is the basic reference text, only made provision example below. ries of ongoing negotiations aiming to achieve for one woman in fi ve in certain institutions, The gender-trained team of journalists in the full investiture of Burundi women in the social such as the National Assembly. Burundi Press Agency, including the president category of elders (abashingantahe). It is an of the journalists’ union, have revolutionised illustration of how the APEG project supports Improving women’s representation the procedure for proposing the allocation of other projects for promoting the gender ap- On the other hand, contrary to all expecta- a fi rst home to members of staff by getting the proach. tions, the decrease of almost 5% in women’s principle accepted that any member of staff, According to Burundi tradition, only men have participation rate in the last government of irrespective of any property bought by her or been able to be invested as “elders”. These are 23 November 2003 came as a surprise and his spouse, can be allocated a fi rst home on persons of great integrity and with very high disappointment to the supporters of social the basis of the criteria of years of service and social status, which is strengthened by the fact justice, equality and equity amongst citizens. repayment capacity. Several female members that they settle disputes at all levels of social It was all the more diffi cult to understand of staff had formerly been penalised on the and national life, particularly in the immediate since the same government had just adopted pretext that their husbands had already bought environment, on a voluntary basis. The wife the National Gender Policy on 30 September housing. This was a notorious form of injustice of an “elder” (mushingantahe) also enjoys a 2003, which included precisely a women’s par- towards women, particularly when a marriage certain level of social esteem but does not have ticipation rate of at least 30% in its objectives failed. access to the social and public functions of the for the immediate future. This contradiction This achievement has placed all women in mushingantahe. This institution has thus con- underlines the need to include this progress in middle and top management in a position stituted a form of social injustice. statutes and regulations such as the Constitu- where they can purchase their fi rst home, a With the contribution of the Support for Pro- tion and to exert pressure to obtain budgets measure which will no doubt gain ground in moting Gender Equality Project a negotiation which will guarantee that the gender approach the other regions of the country. process was recently opened with a view to is integrated. A further example of awareness with concrete having women accepted as “elders”, mushin- In conclusion, the National Gender Policy is results has just been illustrated in the Burundi gantahe. The project hopes that this process an important tool with which pressure can National Radio and Television Corporation, will lead one day to the full investiture of Bu- be brought to bear on all actors in the gender where a memorandum protesting against in- rundi women. ¶ equality fi eld to eradicate discrimination and justice towards women in promotion to senior other gender-based disparities. The fact that posts has just been drawn up and signed by this policy covers all aspects of the life of the almost 100 members of staff, both men and country is very positive. women. These irregularities are expected to be f “Appui à la Promotion de l’Egalité des genres” rectifi ed very shortly. Furthermore, specifi c ra- (APEG) - UNIFEM/UNDP Training for concrete results dio broadcasts promoting the gender approach

The other extremely important aspect of the are planned, which will focus in particular on BP 6269 2004 March tremendous work carried out by the Support activities in the rural world with local press Bujumbura - Burundi for Promoting Gender Equality Project are the correspondents. Tel: +257 243990 measures taken to step up training and pro- After two years of operation, the APEG project [email protected] mote awareness. Training has been provided has thus achieved remarkable results. With the { 13 fGSURVIVALfGf STRATEGIESGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG

The implications of gender-based division of labour for agricultural production of peasant farmers: the case of the Yaka people in the Kasongo Lunda region

Pélagie Makiendika | PDF - Pôle de Développement pour la Femme (Centre for women’s development), DRC

It is a well-known fact that 80% of the Yaka population, 550 km to the South West of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, depend on farming for a living. Agricultural produc- tion is traditionally the women’s task.

This gender-based division of labour, which has become established as a principle in Africa, has many different implications on household agricultural production. This is particularly the case for women, who are the main agents and driving force behind the rural economy and who provide for the family and cover social

needs. They are overburdened with hard and © FAO/17626/G. Diana heavy work ranging from household tasks to farming activities (sowing, crop and soil maintenance, harvesting, selling produce, etc). whereas men devote themselves mainly to pre- paratory tasks which range from slaughtering to clearing and, to a lesser extent, harvesting. Furthermore, since the subsistence economy is the predominant, or indeed the only, model (PDF) has thus carried out actions targeting Women organise themselves found in farming activities, the efforts of local rural associations and focusing on wom- Despite the many-faceted crisis, local rural the rural population in general and of rural en’s rights and fundamental freedoms in an ef- organisations have been running campaigns to women in particular, are limited in that yield fort to change this mentality, which subjugates raise awareness at grassroots level under PDF depends primarily on muscular strength and Yaka women and relegates them to the rank supervision and have been helping the popula- rudimentary crop-growing techniques (hoes, of second-class members of society. There is tion to organise to a greater extent by forming machetes, rakes, etc.). fi erce cultural resistance to gender awareness, associations and collectives in order to cope As the result of climate change, continuing de- but the participation of Yaka women them- with the system. forestation and advancing savannah, this form selves and the strategic involvement of men are One tremendous problem remains, however, of agricultural production is steadily declining now proving necessary, and indeed essential, if and that is the problem of improving the state and the purchasing power of the population is sustainable development is to be achieved. of roads and fi nding the necessary means for dwindling. In the same line of thought, these rural women facilitating the evacuation of products to con- in the Kasongo Lunda region (some 550 km sumption centres. It is by opening up roads Awareness-raising work south-west of Kinshasa in the DRC), like all that we will be able to promote and maintain The concept of group-work and partnership other peasants, are faced with the problem of the associations that have already been started between women and men in farming the land optimising agricultural production, since it is and that we can help to raise the income level and managing resources is still a myth in Yaka very often the dealers buying their produce who of the Yaka women of Kasongo Lunda. ¶ rural communities, due to a number of stereo- fi x the prices, regardless of the sacrifi ces made typed ideas, misconceptions and prejudice, by these peasant women. These dealers have particularly with regard to women. a virtual purchasing monopoly and demand The ‘Pôle de Développement pour la Femme’ half of output as payment. In other words, if 50 bags of ground nuts are produced, they charge 25 bags for transporting the other 25 to the marketing centre with a view to earning a f Pôle de Développement pour la Femme (PDF) profi t; otherwise, produce is sold for one-third Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa or one-quarter of the price of manufactured BP 10 827 products. This is a situation where women are Kinshasa 1 – DRC veritably exploited by men. Pélagie MAKIENDIKA: Responsable Given this state of affairs, the level of income Cellule PDF/Kasongo-Lunda © Dimitra of these Kasongo-Lunda peasants is far from Tel: +250 99 32 992 improving; in fact poverty, with all of its corol- [email protected] laries, is on the increase. Dimitra Newsletter |

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‘The Bipupula Mamas’

Charlotte Kashamura Mwarabu | IDEF - Initiative pour le Développement de l’Entreprenariat (Initiative for entrepreneurial development), DRC

There has been an acute problem of poverty namely small-scale trading and market other off (about the arrival of boats or trucks, amongst women in the Democratic Republic gardening (vegetables), the rearing of small etc.), the aim being to earn something at the of Congo (DRC) for over a decade, and the animals, food processing, etc. Agricultural end of the day. produce is either consumed directly or sold situation of women has steadily deterio- at the market. A distinction is made between The formal and informal associative world rated as the result of looting and succes- low income-generating products (amaranth, Another strategy employed is to join an organi- sive wars. Despite the efforts made by the pondu or cassava leaves, matembele or sation, whether structured or informal. The government and by civil society organisa- yam leaves) and high income-generating desire to increase their incomes or enhance tions, Congolese women are still subject vegetables which are highly prized in urban their purchasing power can induce women to to various forms of discrimination, which centres, such as aubergines, celery, cabbage, join an association (an NGO or other organisa- chives, cucumbers, etc. tion) in order to benefi t from the assistance of prevent them from playing an effective role The income obtained from the sale of agricul- that structure, the survival of which depends, in the reconstruction of the country. tural produce often serves to feed the family, amongst other things, on membership sub- cover medical care, and fi nance the children’s scriptions. As the result of structural adjust- The fact is that women account for 51.5% schooling. This form of farming lacks in- ments and other numerous factors such as of the Congolese population; 90% of the novation and is carried out with rudimentary looting and war, Congolese women have population is living under the poverty line, and tools, often in an unhealthy environment, in long realised that forming associations is an- women account for over half of that number. which the women themselves are not protected other way to survive. There are two forms of After the crises that have shaken the country, against injuries of any kind. In short, they know association – informal likelembas or tontines, 80% of households now owe their survival to nothing about modern farming techniques, and formal associations. It is the tontines – an women, who, although traditionally confi ned and when they do manage to use fertilisers or informal form of solidarity – with which these to the household, have been engaging in infor- other chemicals they do so without any expert women are most familiar. However, these mal survival activities in the streets for over a guidance. Compost is beyond their means due groups are becoming less popular, as the result decade. Due to their initiative and know-how, to the lack of appropriate advisory services. In of the current crisis. For how are women to pay women play a key role in the perception of short, these women use the methods and tools their subscriptions if they cannot cover their household problems. They devise solutions that were used by their grandmothers. families’ basic needs? So Congolese women and do not hesitate to take action – with or The same applies to the processing activities are caught in a vicious circle – although one without their husbands’ blessing. In their sur- which they carry out with rudimentary equip- still fi nds occasional tontines that have man- vival strategy they have family labour at their ment (mortars, boards, axes, etc.); this equip- aged to keep going. disposal – i.e. the children (of both sexes). In ment requires tremendous physical effort and The formal associations are either NGOs their efforts to develop activities to cope with eventually damages their health – as is the case, or other structured organisations. Whereas their destitution, these women have extended for example, with the making of ‘chikuangue’ community initiatives have been emerging in their maternal refl exes to small-scale pro- or the use of fi rewood, etc. the DRC to cope with the threat of poverty, duction, particularly where they can use the women have long remained on the sidelines, experience they have gained over time and Strategies employed confi ning their role to that of invisible actors broaden their role in the community (street Several strategies are used to try to remedy the in the community. NGOs have been developing catering, work in the fi elds, raising of small situation, starting with solidarity amongst the rapidly in the DRC since 1990, whereas those animals, etc). women themselves. This can be developed in which women are visible have only been They have taken to fi eld activities, supported within the family or community – tribal or emerging tentatively since 1995, as the result to a lesser extent by rural men and even less by other – or can focus around a church or other of campaigns on gender awareness, women urban men, who have unprofi table jobs or have targeted activity. in leadership and the involvement of women in lost their jobs. It is these women who produce decision-making bodies (in 1996). 75% of the food consumed1, despite the many “The Bipupula Mamas” Groups in which women form the majority of problems with which they are confronted The “Bipupula2 Mamas” and/or “handy ma- the membership now abound, not only in the regarding access to and control of resources mas” are an example of solidarity between city of Kinshasa but throughout the country. and inputs. economic actors who carry out the same activ- Women are making their voices heard in every ity, and the “sisters” are another example of fi eld – in development NGOs, NGOs working Several factors have contributed to the solidarity focusing around a church. “Bipupula in the human rights fi eld, NGOs working for deterioration of the situation of women: Mamas” are women who help fl our merchants peace and democracy, etc. ¶ – It is customary for women, who are moth- to divide up sacks of cassava either in the ers, to be the main providers of food for warehouse or at the market for shoppers who 1 DSRPI2000 2 “bipupula” means “to dust” the family. They are responsible not only for do not want or cannot afford to buy a whole providing the meals that are eaten but also bag – and they keep any leftovers (“dust”) and for fetching water, collecting wood, work- other scraps for themselves. This “dust” is ing the land, trading on a small scale, and intended either for domestic consumption or f Initiative pour le Développement de generally engaging in inventive self-help for sale at the evening market. “Handy mamas” l’Entreprenariat (IDEF) activities. work as messengers in markets and never miss

– Another factor is the lack of effi cient man- a chance to manipulate naive customers, fi ddle BP 16 772 2004 March agement of the activities in which they are things, auction things, etc.; in fact they will do Kinshasa 1 - DRC involved. In most cases farming activities re- anything, if it means that they can take some- Tel: +243 99 45 607 main the primary resource and the main ac- thing home with them in the evening. These [email protected] tivity on which all other strategies are based, groups work together in solidarity and tip each { 15 fGWOMEN’SfGf INITIATIVESGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG Stories of rural women in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Marie Jeanne Tusey | Coordinator of LICODFE - the Ligue Congolaise pour les Droits et Développement de la Femme (Congolese League for the Rights and Development of Women), DRC

The celebrations for World Rural Women’s Day went on for a fortnight in the DRC, from 15 to 30 September 2003. Several activities were organised to honour Congolese rural women, both in the provinces and in the capital city of Kinshasa.

On that occasion the Ligue Congolaise pour les Droits et Développement de la Femme (Congolese League for the Rights and Develop- ment of Women – LICODFE) brought together 200 women farmers and market gardeners and fi sherwomen living in the villages of the Maluku municipality, a rural municipality on

the outskirts of Kinshasa. © FAO/17621/G. Diana The organisation of this Rural Women’s Day had two objectives: fi rst, providing information for rural women in order to raise their aware- ness, and, second giving them the chance to speak in order to make their voices heard.

Lack of information: a major constraint Rural women in Maluku play a major role in the food security of the urban population of their experiences; and their agricultural pro- their suffering and on the hardship of daily Kinshasa by supplying agricultural commodi- duce was displayed and sold. life in rural areas. Several pressing problems ties such as cassava – a staple in the Congolese include the improvement of housing, access to diet – sweet potatoes, beans, vegetables, fi sh The importance of agricultural work to drinking water and primary healthcare, as well and mushrooms. In addition to their agri- development as access to microcredit. cultural production, they play a stabilising The Minister of Women’s Affairs and the The women expressed deep concern about the role in rural areas. But these rural women Family and the Minister of Rural Develop- attitude of sponsors, who devote much more are confronted with the serious problem of ment congratulated the women on the highly attention and fi nance to urban environments, lack of information due to the long distances commendable and benefi cial work they do leaving out rural areas, which act as grain sup- between their villages and the city centre and for the benefi t of the urban population. They pliers to the towns and cities. They expressed the lack of electricity and sources of informa- stressed the importance of agricultural work their hope that both the local and the national tion such as radio, television and newspapers. in development and the role played by women authorities as well as international partners This situation fosters ignorance among rural in household stability both during and after would come to their assistance to improve women, who are unaware of their rights and of the war. their living conditions. the advantages that are vital to their develop- Ms. Marie Jeanne Tusey, the Licodfe Coordina- The event concluded with the exhibition and ment, such as education, training, and access tor, informed the women on their right to own sale of agricultural and fi shery products. De- to microcredit and to agricultural and fi shing land (right of ownership) and asked the Mayor lighted participants and visitors marvelled at inputs. to act as the rural women’s spokesman in con- the large quantities of cheap cassava tubers, The rural women of the DRC do not yet realise tacts with the traditional chiefs to help them vegetables, and fi sh and purchased a week’s that they are entitled to their own land, as land obtain low-cost land. provisions. in the Congo traditionally belongs to men, Ms. Tusey also spoke of women’s right to With the guidance of Licodfe, the rural women while women work on it and give away half of health, emphasising reproductive health and of the DRC appeal to anyone who can help the yield to pay the rent. This keeps women in protection against and/or prevention of sexu- them improve their living conditions. ¶ a state of poverty, since they work with hoes on ally transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. She small plots and have to share the harvest with explained the various means of infection and the landowner. described preventive methods for avoiding it. World Rural Women’s Day was celebrated in She also advised the women to practice birth the women’s communal fi eld in Maluku on 18 control in order to avoid too frequent and

Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa September 2003. The women were honoured repeated pregnancies, which are one of the

by the presence of the Minister of Women’s causes of the high maternal and infant mortal- f Ligue Congolaise pour les Droits Affairs and the Family, the Minister of Rural ity rate in the DRC. et le Développement de la Femme (LICODFE) Development and the Mayor of the municipal- ity of Maluku. The day was marked by three Hardship of daily life in rural areas Kinshasa - DRC major events: the rural women were informed The rural women then took the fl oor to Tel: +243 9943657 through the various messages received; they express their thanks for this fi rst opportunity [email protected] then took the fl oor themselves to speak about to express themselves and spoke at length on Dimitra Newsletter |

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Women carry the torch in the accomplishment and perpetuation of COPED missions

Abbé Jean Berchmans Nzisabira | Director of COPED - ‘Le Conseil Pour l’Education et le Développement’ (Council for Education and Development), Burundi

Although rural women’s development is the central role played by women in the home not the fundamental priority of the Council and thus in rural society in Burundi. They play for Education and Development (Coped), a predominant role in development and educa- tion in the rural world. the Council has come to realise over the The major areas on which Coped focuses its years that without women the results of its action in its efforts to fi ght hunger are: the dis- actions would be very weak. For although tribution of microcredit in rural areas for crop the NGO has worked to promote women and animal farming, projects to improve cattle through several specifi c projects, it is now and goat breeds, action to provide breeders’ seeds, action to promote fi shing in Lake Tan- abundantly clear, after 30 years of opera- © FAO/17643/G. Diana ganyika, the distribution of food in the context tion, that the positive results achieved are to of humanitarian aid, the running of nutrition a large extent the fruit of women’s efforts. centres, measures to provide training in the management of microcredit, etc. Coped was set up in 1974 with the objective of Women are involved in all of these activi- providing gender-neutral socio-economic sup- ties; over 75% of the persons involved in the port for rural populations. To begin with, its designing and actual implementation of the fi eld of action covered the geographical region various projects launched are women. One by health centre agents, nurses and/or doctors of the south of Burundi: Bururi, Rutana and might – understandably – imagine that men are are very sporadic, it is the womenfolk who Makamba. The main missions assigned to the still the main actors because they are often the provide this care to the best of their ability and organisation were to fi ght hunger and poverty, fi rst to be approached, but this is merely an il- often with great diffi culty. to fi ght ignorance, and to fi ght disease in rural lusion. The menfolk are like the title of a book Coped sees women as absolutely essential areas, although its efforts were not limited to in block capitals; the womenfolk are the thou- partners in the accomplishment of its mission these activities. As the various projects pro- sands of lower-case letters which ultimately to fi ght disease. gressed, however, Coped gradually changed make up the subject matter and give the book In all of these efforts to combat disease, the and its fi eld of action rapidly expanded. It substance. majority of the partners are women. The serv- became a regional non-governmental organi- However, it need not pride itself on being the ices address women as the main actors in the sation (NGO) in 1989 and soon afterwards the only organisation which has this vision of family health fi eld. Here again women play an General Assembly decided to extend its area of things, for it is in fact patently obvious that essential role: they form the majority of the involvement to cover the entire country. women are the driving force behind the efforts organisation’s partners both upstream and The organisation operates in 11 of the 17 prov- to fi ght poverty in the rural environment. Most downstream, working to implement projects inces of Burundi with an annual operations importantly, it is also women who strive to keep and to uphold objectives. budget of over € 2 million; it has a permanent the projects going as long as possible. It is they To sum up, the Council for Education and staff of some 50 agents and executive employ- who perpetuate our work. Furthermore, the Development owes a great deal to women in ees. number of women members of the Develop- the accomplishment of its missions. The very In addition, just recently, the EU member states ment Committees in the various administrative positive results obtained in almost 30 years of decided to set up Coped Belgium with a view to districts (hill country, regions, municipalities, effort to fi ght poverty, ignorance and disease serving this cause even more effectively. etc.) is steadily increasing. can be attributed to the extensive participation of rural women in its projects. The place of women in Coped actions Fighting ignorance However, it is after the implementation of Women have proved to be the real driving One might be tempted at fi rst sight to think projects that their contribution becomes even force behind Coped missions; they act dis- that women tend more to be benefi ciaries more valuable. Coped is convinced that women creetly but are like a quiet force that moves rather than actors in this fi eld, but the con- account for 80% of the sustainability of its fun- mountains. It is women who to a large extent tribution which women make in projects for damental objectives. The organisation there- have borne the burden of the organisation ever combating ignorance is irrefutable. Projects fore has a certain moral debt, which it must try since it was established. It was not obvious in have developed considerably over the last few to pay by devoting a larger share of projects to 1974 when the organisation was established, years thanks to support from partners who action geared exclusively to women’s develop- but now that 29 years have elapsed and the are very aware of the problem. The crisis in ment. ¶ results have been assessed it can be said with Burundi has not only exhausted the economy; hindsight that Coped owes a great deal to it has also destroyed a large proportion of the women in its projects, particularly with regard country’s human capital and of the offi cial and to the sustainability of its action. informal education structures. f Le Conseil Pour l’Education et le Développe- Women: a driving force in the fi ght against Fighting disease ment (COPED) hunger and poverty Women are the central fi gure in the home, Imbl. Le Savonnier

The photo of a woman with a child on her and it is they who are the fi rst to suffer the ef- BP 3792 - Bujumbura 2 - Burundi 2004 March back, a hoe on her shoulder and a bundle of fects of poverty, ignorance and, in particular, Tel: +257244627 – Fax: +257243 756 fi rewood on her head is the cliché of rural disease both physically and psychologically. It [email protected] women in Burundi. It is perhaps a picture is diffi cult to quantify the efforts they make in http://www.coped.org that shocks, but seen positively it symbolises this fi eld in the rural environment. Since visits

{ 17 fGWOMEN’SfGf INITIATIVESGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG

Adult literacy training: a tool in the service of grassroots development

Pascasie Kana | OAP - Opération d’appui à l’auto-promotion (Self-help Support Organisation), Burundi

As part of its programme for support- The programme pursues the following objec- Partial results of the programme ing self-help initiatives in the grassroots tives: Rural libraries have been set up and are now community, OAP – l’Organisation d’appui – to teach the population, and in particular operating in all of the centres. This enables suc- the members of grassroots associations and cessful students to continue to read and to take à l’auto-promotion’ – (Self-help Support groups, the basics of reading, writing and correspondence courses in rural development Organisation) intervenes through various arithmetic; using the books of INADES-FORMATION. activities, in particular project funding, – to change the mentality of illiterate peasants The acquisition of reading, writing and train- training and awareness campaigns. so that they can become real actors in devel- ing habits are consolidated by regular visits to opment, able to take initiatives and bring the library, where readers can borrow books This community is composed of numerous about innovation; to read at home. Rural women, who formerly groups and associations with a wide range of – to encourage those who have achieved lit- spent all of their time on rural and household objectives, and most of its members are illiter- eracy to improve their production activities tasks, now fi nd a few minutes to sit down in ate. The high rate of illiteracy in its structures through rational management; the library. has a negative effect on results. Women are – to enable the illiterate to gain access to The management of the activities of the groups often excluded from management organs modern means of communication through and associations is now becoming transparent because they cannot read or write, whereas it reading and writing. in many places, because these structures now is they who take an active part in the various In order to achieve these objectives 35 exten- have treasurers who can read and write and actions that are launched. Their access to or- sion offi cers/adult literacy trainers were trained thus keep accounts. We have in fact observed ganisational training is also limited. and given the task of teaching literacy to the that structures in which all of the members have population in the surrounding areas. Once that taken part in literacy training programmes are Progressive and ongoing action initial training session had been completed coping very well with their organisation, each OAP, which is convinced that literacy 24 adult literacy centres were opened in the member making his/her own contribution in a training is an important development tool 11 municipalities which make up the province democratic and transparent manner. and means of raising awareness, launched of Bujumbura Rural. The exchange and circulation of information a functional literacy programme in 2002 at has been facilitated: the population no longer the request of the community with a view to Programme assessment: has to travel elsewhere to present grievances ensuring that activities would be well run and – 2002: over 500 people, 70% of whom were to OAP or other partners. Successful students profi table. This programme, which comple- women, received the fi rst certifi cates after now send their claims far afi eld by writing ments other training courses, targets adults passing a test on completion of the 6-month campaign letters and sending letters of com- in the province of Bujumbura Rural, which training course; plaint and letters claiming their rights to the is the organisation’s impact area. Action will – 2003: over 1 million people are currently competent authorities. be progressive and continuous with a view to undergoing literacy training. The literacy programme has been very ben- enabling the majority of the members of the efi cial for women, who are proud to be able population to monitor and manage their devel- to write to their children or friends living far opment through reading and writing. away, without having to disclose their secrets to an intermediary in order to have letters writ- ten or read. Through reading, rural women have now become aware of the scourge of AIDS. Rural libraries thus constitute a community tool for helping women to obtain information easily on the dangers of AIDS and how to fi ght the disease. Women now have a place in organi- sations which raise awareness and organise grassroots development. In fact now they can even pass on messages – something which as illiterates they could not, and did not, dare to do. ¶ Special Edition: Great Lakes region of Africa

© FAO/17639/G. Diana f Opération d’Appui à l’Auto-Promotion (OAP)

BP 506 Bujumbura - Burundi Tel: +257 21 17 89 [email protected] Dimitra Newsletter |

18 } GfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfWOMEN’SGfG INITIATIVESfGfGf Women’s promotion through information and communication technologies (ICTs) CPVI - Centre pour la Promotion et la Vulgarisation de l’Informatique (Centre for Promoting and Extending Computer Technology), DRC

Computers are proving to be an indispensa- ties in the effort to promote peace in the Demo- Having taken part in the peace negotiations ble and essential tool for strengthening the cratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to in the DRC, women are still in the minority in advocacy skills of women in civil society. train women in leadership so that they are able almost all of the institutions established for the to fully participate in the professional world transition period: 12% in the Parliament, 3% in Yet most of them know nothing about this on an equal footing with men. In addition to the Senate and 0% in the Presidency. new multimedia technology, although it is a broadening the women’s information and In order to ensure that information is widely potential source of relevant and useful informa- communication knowledge and activities, these disseminated, in line with its main objective, tion for enhancing their ability to participate in training sessions also help them to acquire new the CPVI has opened two information centres decision-making and for actions to promote knowledge and socio-professional skills in the specifi cally in the outlying municipalities of their social advancement and defend their fi elds of electronic collection, processing and N’djili (in Bonsomi School) and Kintambo (in rights. In view of this deplorable situation, the dissemination of information. This opens up the Mbungu Gallery), and a third centre has Centre for Promoting and Extending Computer new prospects for them and enhances their just opened in Alfagiri School in Bukavu. Technology (CPVI) has been organising train- advocacy skills as well as their ability to present It is no longer surprising to see that there is ing sessions in computer skills ever since it was arguments to defend their rights. Through the now a majority of women in the CPVI cen- set up in 1998. information that is available on the Internet tres; they come to read or send e-mails, type Realising the growing importance of objective, they learn to correspond with associations up documents or correspond with their new relevant and useful information for strategic operating in other parts of the world to defend partners on the latest information received on decision-making and for planning advocacy women’s rights and discover other forms of the violation of women’s rights in the occupied action, the CPVI makes its computer equip- advocacy and means of denouncing the abuse, territories of the DRC or on the Comprehensive ment available to women for training sessions. crimes and violence infl icted on women. All of Agreement and the Transition Constitution. ¶ These focus on Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, this information exchange constitutes a formi- and an introduction to creating Web pages. dable weapon and a body of knowledge with f Centre pour la Promotion et la Vulgarisation Impressed by the boundless functionalities of which they can take informed decisions and de l’Informatique (CPVI) computers, the women have realised that it is adopt positions, particularly with a view to the essential to master this new technology. forthcoming elections in the DRC. A synergy Ave Ngabu 9-11 has been created between the various women’s Immeuble Sofi de Exchange and networking networks which exchange information and Kinshasa-limette By organising training sessions in computer organise colloquiums, conferences, symposi- 1247 - RDC skills the CPVI aims to highlight women’s abili- ums, discussion forums, and so on. Tel: +243 880-5952

tre’s credit policy, and joint security. When microcredit promotes family harmony The credit granted takes the form of revolving loans in these groups with an annual inter- The Olame Centre – DRC est rate of 10% spread over 11 months. Given the high demand compared to the amount of funds available, we are able to lay out an aver- Today the important role and place of Archdiocese in South Kivu Province in the east age of $500 per group of +/-18 members. women in socio-economic life in the DRC of the DRC, which is responsible for promot- Recovery is facilitated by the loan committees is an established fact. For ever since the ing women and the family. that are set up in each group by the members Congolese State has been failing to assume themselves to ensure self-administration. Entrepreneurial spirit In each household the couple manages the its responsibilities towards the population The Olame Centre has been involved in en- amount borrowed, since their mutual agree- (poor governance, failure to pay wages couraging self-help initiatives since 1959 and ment is one of the preconditions for obtaining and salaries, etc.) women have developed currently supports 28 women’s groups, 90% of the loan. This is then granted to the partners survival instincts that are adapted to the which are in rural areas. The dynamism of the as a couple, who then automatically become extreme situation imposed on the Congo- women of South Kivu Province deserved sup- responsible for the amount advanced. These lese population. port, and the idea of granting credit was moti- loans are seen as a real breath of fresh air in vated by developing the entrepreneurial spirit our society, which has been torn apart by an They are thus prepared to take numerous risks displayed by certain members of the partner unprecedented economic crisis exacerbated by in self-help initiatives in order to feed “God’s associations. In order to compensate for the seven years of war. bits of wood”, to use the expression coined absence of savings and credit institutions and Despite these challenges we manage to achieve by Sembene OUSMANE. This woman, who is thus of a banking system in the Congo, the a recovery rate of 76% by the repayment date, fi ghting for the survival of her family in a pre- Olame Centre courageously embarked on a and the impact is encouraging, since families dominantly agricultural and entrepreneurial programme of microcredit. manage to cover their basic needs such as society, is central to several activities associated The fi rst stage of the process involves identi- schooling for the children, medical care, cloth- with artisanal production, transport, process- fying the fi nancial management skills of the ing and food. ¶ ing and marketing of goods. group or association, and working with the The Olame Centre, which proposes its long members to identify which activities are eco-

f The Olame Centre/Bukavu 2004 March years of experience in the granting of micro- nomically profi table in their particular envi- credit to development associations with a ronment and analysing their potential fi nancial BP 2 Cyangugu – Rwanda view to supporting entrepreneurship amongst yield. This is then followed by training courses Tel: +243 081 515 04 04 women, is the Technical Branch of the Bukavu in how to run a small business, the Olame Cen- [email protected]

{ 19 fGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfGfG Association Femme et Environment au Burundi (AFEB) (Association for Women and the Environment in Burundi)

Godelieve Karikurubu | AFEB, Burundi

The Association for Women and the areas. These themes integrate the population- ment, by multiplying projects aiming to in- Environment in Burundi (AFEB) was set up development-environment dimensions. tegrate environmental protection into action in 1995 during the political and economic Our fi elds of intervention are land and water, to enhance food security, promote health and crisis which Burundi was, and still is, going wood and energy, farming and food produc- energy production and develop tourism in tion, fi shing and fi sh farming, biodiversity, grassroots communities. The result will help through, and which has resulted in a vicious human culture and settlement, and health. to eradicate poverty and protect the environ- circle of environmental deterioration and ment. ¶ increasing poverty. A participatory approach The projects we run in the various communi- f Association Femme et Environnement Women, who are at the very heart of human ties are launched through an inclusive and par- au Burundi (AFEB) reproduction and education, as well as house- ticipatory process. We carry out assessments hold and community food security, are the using the Accelerated Research and Participa- BP 1250 worst affected by this tragedy. Unfortunately, tory Planning Method. Bujumbura - Burundi the fact is that they play a major role in the Our activities include: Tel: +257 2260 57 deterioration of the natural resources which – projects which integrate crop-growing, Fax: +257 22 32 86 they constantly exploit using archaic methods. forestry and animal production practices [email protected] What is more, the social and legal status of (mixed farming, goats, cows, trees for affor- women, their heavy workload in terms of time estation, multipurpose trees and fruit trees); and the fact that they are illiterate are all factors – a project for developing a model village which constrain their integration as actors for offering optimal living conditions: decent sustainable development. housing, availability of water and electricity, The overall objective of AFEB is to contribute a primary school and a vocational school, to the national programme for rehabilitating a health centre, a farm that uses modern and protecting the environment and eradicat- crop-growing techniques, and a pleasant Rwanda ing poverty in Burundi, by providing gender environment for 100 families of vulnerable support and training for the rural people. women in the context of integrated rural Democratic Republic of Congo Burundi Our specifi c objectives include gender-focused development; support and training for groups in rural com- – alternative activities structured around the munities on sustainable management of natu- Kibira National Park such as mushroom ral resources; promotion of job-creation and growing and fi sh farming combined with income-generating projects which are educa- animal breeding (goats, rabbits, hens, pigs, tional and demonstrative and have a multiplier cows, etc). effect; and promotion of environment and peace The plan for the future is to make a signifi cant education, by developing themes linked to these contribution to sustainable human develop-

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Eliane Najros, Project Coordinator Tel: +32 2 5490310 Judith Gracey, Project Offi cer Tel: +32 2 5496168 Tiziana Franceschelli, © Dimitra Project Assistant Tel: +32 2 5490285 Fax: +32 2 5490314 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.fao.org/sd/dimitra FAO Dimitra Project 21 rue Brederode, b-1000 Brussels, Belgium With the fi nancial support of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (DGDC) Belgium and of the King Baudouin Foundation. The content of the articles does not necessarily refl ect the view of FAO © Sophie da Câmara Design: Atelier voor grafi sche & aanverwante toepassingen, Ghent Printed by Parys Printing, Evergem-Ghent

Editor: Eliane Najros FAO Dimitra Project FOOD AND 21 rue Brederode AGRICULTURE B-1000 Brussels ORGANIZATION Belgium OF THE UNITED NATIONS

20 } http://www.fao.org/sd/dimitra