And it all started on ecademy
Should Women in Africa care about International Women’s day?
It is I
nternational Women’s Day a day to celebrate women’s achievements. This year’s theme is equal rights, equal opportunities and progress for all.
Very good I say but the cynic in me can’t help but ask what this really means for women in Africa especially the poorest in African communities?
Late last year I was introduced to a group of internally displaced refugees from Northern Uganda, that have become known as the Women Of Kireka (WOK). These women fled the war in Northern Uganda and ended up on a quarry in Kireka a suburb of Uganda. I had the opportunity to meet these women after a chance meeting with @tmsruge on twitter. Find out how that went on this short video clip.
A lot has happened to improve equal right and equality of opportunity for women and one could say that we are almost there. But what can be done for women in Africa? is it right that women should pass their days working on a quarry to feed their children?
The women know this is no way to earn living and are fighting back by making hand made jewellery from paperbeads.
http://projectdiaspora.org/2010/01/23/women-of-kireka-jewelry-shoot-in-kampala-uganda/
If equality of opportunity and progress for all are to be experienced by all then we should all be doing our bit to end the unfair situations that women such as the WOK find themselves in.
I do wonder sometimes whether we are fighting a losing battle. Strange thing to say I know, following that visit to the quarry Teddy, Kayongo and I were at a diaspora conference in Kampala. I was shocked to hear one of the politicians dismiss our efforts to extend equality of opportunity to these women. If current and aspiring politicians do not acknowledge the existence of these women ans their circumstances, can they realistically hope to ever have a better life for themselves and their children?
When will those rights that women fought for all those years ago on the first ever International Women’s Day be felt by the Women of Kireka in Uganda?
Have you got a view? Then let’s here ?
The economic consequences of domestic violence
When I was at University one of the core modules for my area of study Housing Management and development was DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE LAW. Domestic violence was considered in the context of property rights but for the purpose of this article I would like to look at the impact of domestic abuse on the economy.
A tall order perhaps but bear with me whilst I illustrate my point.
The fact about domestic abuse is that it ebbs away at the confidence and self esteem of the person at the receiving end of it. It makes them question their self worth making ineffective in all areas of their lives.
Imagine if you will a woman who is responsible for ensuring that the family is fed, clothed and has to work the land to grow the food to feed the family but is beaten by her spouse on a daily basis!
In some cases she is indeed the sole bread-winner in the family as the man’s income is spent on alcohol! What sort of life would children growing up in such a household have to look forward too!
It is widely accepted well as least in the case of African countries that the economic development of these countries rests with women. That being the case what would happen if women are ordinarily unable to participate in economic generating activities due to domestic abuse?
Does society owe such women the duty of care to secure the economic development of a county? What form should that care take?
I am happy to note that in Nigeria steps are being taken to address the issue of domestic abuse. The idea is to provide some for of safe house for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. You can read the rest of the story here
The question is most African countries are so conservative, how will such a facility go down in society? Will women have the courage to seek support and refuge in such a facility?
What will their peers make of it?
My first job as a Social Housing practitioner saw me in charge of just such a facility here in the UK and it gave women new hope and a chance to rebuild their lives and those of their children.
I am therefore hopefully that this type of facility becomes common practice in African countries too.
As usual your points of view are welcome