Our Journey: Advocating for the Rights of African Women Our Journey: Advocating for the Rights of African Women Compiled by: Njoki Wainaina, Founding Member and Chairperson of FEMNET Executive Board (1992-1996) Concept and Interviews by: Fatma Alloo, Secretary and Member of the FEMNET Executive Board representing Eastern Africa (2003-2010) Edited by: Rachel Kagoiya, Information Manager, FEMNET Design & Production: Centrepress Media Limited, Tel: +254 20 21 00 705, +254 772 72 66 96 • [email protected] Table of Contents Acknowledgement 4 Acronyms 6 Foreword 8 Introduction 10 Chapter 1 - The Genesis: How it all began 11 Chapter 2 - The Birth of FEMNET: a Network of Women, by Women and for Women 19 Chapter 3 - FEMNET’s Defining Moments 27 Chapter 4 - Experiences of African Women’s Rights Pioneers 45 Chapter 5 - New Era: A Feminist Approach 73 Chapter 6 - Leveraging on Strategic Moments and Forging Ahead 97 ‘. diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal Acknowledgement in value no matter what their color.’ enowned African-American poet, author, actress, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said, diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no Rmatter what their color.’ The journey of weaving FEMNET’s story began as a dream that culminated into this rich and diverse recollection of experiences and memories by the founders, members, staff of FEMNET and friends of FEMNET. FEMNET wishes to acknowledge with much appreciation the efforts and commitment of several people that worked tirelessly to the success of documenting Herstory. First and foremost, we appreciate FEMNET founder members: Dr Eddah Gachukia, Njoki Wainaina, Sara Longwe, Fatma Alloo, Prof. Norah Olembo, Dr Pamela Kola and Mama Koite Doumbia who have shed so much light into how this great network of women in Africa came into being from the early ‘80s. We continuously applaud their generosity and gesture in walking the talk and talking the walk in the last over twenty years. Specifically, we thank Fatma Alloo who jump-started the process of documenting FEMNET’s story and Njoki Wainaina whose commitment resulted in the final writing and publication of this inspirational book. Appreciation to Zarina Patel DINAH MUSINDARWEZO who proofread the content of the book and ensured professional punctuation Executive Director, FEMNET and uniformity in the flow of the content. 4 Our Journey: Advocating for the Rights of African Women Our thanks go to the current members of the Executive Board and Board of (CTA), DFID, UNDP, UNHCR, Trust Africa, Fredskorpset, Global Ministries, Trustees for their continued stewardship and support under the leadership of Global Knowledge Partners, Partnership Africa Canada, CCP-AU, ACCORD, the Chairperson, Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo. KULU Denmark, DVV-Germany, IPAS, World Summit for Information Society, Communication for Social Change, UN Women. Several staff at the FEMNET Secretariat have been instrumental in the success and completion of this work, including former Executive Director, Norah Matovu; We thank the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) for supporting former Head of Communication Carlyn Hambuba; Programmes Manager this project, financially and technically. Roselynn Musa; Information Manager, Rachel Kagoiya; Executive Office Manager, Rose Akinyi; Finance Manager, Martin Odera; Exchange Programme We would also like to appreciate all who have rendered different services to Fellow, Ntswaki Mahlangu; and Communications Intern Hannah Ondiek. FEMNET at one point or another, including consultants, printers, suppliers, translators – to you all we say thank you for journeying with us! Over the years, FEMNET has continued to enjoy the support from many development partners and friends to whom we are immensely grateful, including: Enjoy the read and share with us your feedback by email to communication@ Carnegie Corporation, Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation femnet.or.ke (ICCO), Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), Oxfam NOVIB, Global Fund for Women (GFW), African Women’s Development Fund In sisterhood, (AWDF), UNIFEM, Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF), HIVOS, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Mama Cash, Ford Foundation, Women Environmental Development Organization (WEDO), UNESCO, New Field Foundation, Afrodad, Eurodad, Pay de la Loire, Action Aid International (AAI), CIDAGESP, Oxfam GB, Fahamu DINAH MUSINDARWEZO Trust-Network for Social Justice, Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-A), Open Executive Director, FEMNET Society Institute (US, East Africa, West Africa, UK), GTZ, European Union, Norwegian Church Aid, Technical Centre for Agriculture & Rural Co-operation 5 CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CIDA-GESP Canadian International Development Agency – Gender Equity Support Project Acronyms CONGO Conference on Non-governmental organizations CSOs Civil Society Organizations CSSDCA Conference on Security, Stability, Development and AAI Action Aid International Cooperation in Africa AALAE African Association for Literacy and Adult Education CSW UN Commission on the Status of Women AAWORD African Association of Women Research and Development CTA Technical Centre for Agriculture & Rural Co-operation ABSF Africa Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum DANIDA Danish International Development Agency ACCORD African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes DAW Division for the Advancement of Women ACDHRS African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies DFID Department for International Development AISGWG African Information Society Gender Working Group DVV Adult Education Development Cooperation-Germany AMARC World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters EAC East African Community APC Association of Progressive Communication ECOSOC United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Council ARSC Africa Regional Steering Committee EU European Union ASF African Social Forum FAWE Forum for African Women Educationalists AU African Union FEMNET African Women’s Development and Communication Network AWCIN African Women and Child Information Network FERFAP Federation of African Women’s Network for Peace AWD African Women’s Decade (2010-2020) FGTT FEMNET Gender Training Team AWDF African Women’s Development Fund FIDA Federation of Women Lawyers CCP-AU Centre for Citizens’ Participation in the African Union FIFA International Federation of Association Football CECORE Centre for Conflict Resolution FK Fredskorpset CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination FLS Forward Looking Strategies against Women GA General Assembly CEEWA Council for Economic Empowerment of Women in Africa GEAR Gender Equality Architecture Reform 6 Our Journey: Advocating for the Rights of African Women GFW Global Fund for Women SADC Southern African Development Community GSWG Gender Strategies Working Group Sida Swedish International Development Agency GTZ German Agency for Technical Cooperation SOAWR Solidarity for African Women’s Rights HBF Heinrich Boll Foundation TAMWA Tanzania Media Women’s Association ICAE International Council for Adult Education UAF-A Urgent Action Fund-Africa ICCO Inter-church Organization for Development Cooperation UN United Nations ICTs Information and Communication Technologies UNDP United Nations Development Programme IPPF International Planned Parenthood Federation UNECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa IWARAW International Women’s Rights Action Watch UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural KANU Kenya African National Union Organization KULU Women and Development Denmark UNFPA United Nations Population Fund MEGEN Men for Gender Equality Now UNGASS United Nations General Assembly Special Session NABW National Association of Business Women UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund NGO Non Governmental Organization UNICEF/ESARO United Nations Children’s Fund, Eastern and Southern African Region NGOCC Non-Governmental Organization Coordinating Council Zambia UNIFEM United Nations Fund for Women (now UN Women) NGOCSW NGO Committee on the Status on Women Geneva USAID United States Agency for International Development OAU Organization of African Unity (now African Union) WEDO Women Environmental Development Organization PAC Partnership Africa Canada WHO World Health Organization PAP Pan African Parliament WIDE Women in Development Europe Network PC/GA Programming Conference and General Assembly WILDAF Women in Law and Development in Africa PFA Platform for Action WSF World Social Forum PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy and Papers WSIS World Summit on Information Society PSC Peace and Security Commission ZARD Zambia Association for Research and Development 7 t gives me great pleasure to write this Foreword, and especially to celebrate the fact that I have had a part to play in the FEMNET Herstory. Indeed, my own personal, professional and political growth, struggles, challenges and Ivictories have many parallels with the FEMNET Herstory. As we reflect on the Foreword journey we have come the last thirty years, we see a clear pattern of growth and development that is reflected in the personal, national, sub-regional and global achievements of the women’s movement. In the decade of the seventies, most of us experienced great awareness of and dissatisfaction with the disadvantaged and unequal status of women and started grouping to fight together. Although