PROJECTS: PREVENTION

23 25 April Kopanong Conference Centre - Johannesburg

Namibia LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT AND AWARDS

365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AND

EMPOWER WOMEN

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE VIOLENCE THROUGH HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES IN CAPRIVI REGION

WE IDENTIFIED HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES AS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGH:

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

Womens Rights and Writing workshops Womens Rights and Photography workshops Participatory field research
EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE:

Harmful cultural practices expose women to all forms of violence, including sexual violence, violating their dignity, bodily integrity, sexual and reproductive rights and health
Harmful cultural practices are still hidden and taboo Harmful cultural practices are not yet recognised as violence against women in their communities Current legislation does not specifically name and address violence against women through harmful cultural practices
EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THE CAPRIVI FOR WOMENS RIGHTS PROJECT

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

Building womens leadership and creative expression Building local womens groups Regional and Community Dialogues Development of Educational and Advocacy Materials Media Work Ongoing Participatory Research
EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

TIME-FRAME FOR THE CAPRIVI FOR WOMENS RIGHTS PROJECT

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

2006 -2009: Writing Workshops, Research, Materials Development 2010 2011: Regional and Local Training, Advocacy

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

KEY TARGET GROUP AND INVOLVEMENT OF MEN

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

Key target group:

Women, young women and girls in 16 villages in Caprivi Region

Involvement of men:
Men were engaged as traditional leaders, teachers, pastors, husbands, members of regional and local councils as well as relevant state agencies and NGOs
EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE PROJECT

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

Village level: Traditional leaders / courts Schools and Clinics Civil society Regional level: Caprivi Regional Council Katima Mulilo Town Council NGOs and state agencies Media

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES MOBILISED

Funds from donors Leadership and activism by local facilitators Local volunteers mobilised through womens groups Public support and organisational assistance from the Regional Office Support from regional NGOs with advocacy amongst their constituencies Support from state agencies with distribution of advocacy materials

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

USING ARTS, CULTURE, MEDIA TO RAISE AWARENESS

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Participatory Action Research involving: Oral feedback and progress reports by local facilitators Regular field visits and support by progamme staff Regional and local evaluation meetings with all stakeholders Evaluation visits to selected villages

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

Rural women have emerged as strong leaders and advocates for womens human rights and the prevention of violence through harmful cultural practices
Awareness has been raised in communities on the need to prevent violence against women through harmful cultural practices Traditional, state and civil society leaders have spoken out publicly against harmful cultural practices and the need to develop policies and strategies to prevent violence in the name of culture. Womens voice and creative expression have been developed through this project.

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS T0 CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

IMPACT - BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOL TARGETS

Through the Caprivi for Womens Rights Project, the Womens Leadership Centre has contributed towards the following targets:

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

Enact and enforce legislation prohibiting all forms of gender-based violence

Review and reform criminal laws and procedures applicable to cases of sexual offences and gender-based violence Adopt integrated approaches including institutional cross sector structures to reduce current levels of violence Reduce maternal mortality Develop and implement policies and programmes to address the mental, sexual and reproductive health needs of women Develop gender-sensitive strategies to prevent new HIV infections.

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION

Sustainability lies in: The building of rural womens leadership and activism, with a special focus on young women as agents of change
The building of local womens groups in 16 villages Awareness raised in communities, among state and civil society actors and institutions Broad distribution of educational and advocacy materials in English and Silozi Replication: A comprehensive Participatory Action Research Report has been produced that could be a guide to others for replication.
EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

LESSONS LEARNT
The importance of participatory research that builds local knowledge and empowers rural and marginalised women to examine and critique their own culture as a first step towards personal and socio-cultural change

PROJECTS: PREVENTION

The importance of going beyond a human rights/womens rights framework and engaging in feminist analysis and critique of patriarchal discourses, practices and institutions as they relate to the issue of culture
The need to engage men, including traditional leaders, in processes of cultural change Womens empowerment, voice, creative expression and activism must lie at the heart of the transformation process. Socio-cultural transformation is a long-term process requiring sustained engagement as all levels.

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

ANY QUESTIONS?
PROJECTS: PREVENTION

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS TO CHALLENGE HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES