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A Report on Gender Equality on Womens Forum Organization
"HIV / AIDS and gender need more support," notes Civil Society
About 20 civil society organizations, which include the G20 in Mozambique, met with Government and donors at the Ninth Session of the Centre for Development, held last April in Maputo. Civil society provided input regarding the five pillars that comprise the PARPA. The Women's Forum (Coordination for Women in Development) was the representative of the Cross Cutting Issues, which includes the area of gender.
About HIV / AIDS and gender have been raised some findings such as poor integration of gender in response to HIV / AIDS and clear initiatives to reduce the pandemic. The weakness in the collection and dissemination of data by sex desegregates, including poor gender mainstreaming in economic sectors and the state budget were other Constraints referenced.
The recommendations are to beset the need to take measures against the feminization of HIV / AIDS, due to its strong impact in accelerating the spread of the disease, and increased poverty.
Implementation of Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) for mothers, and extending it after delivery, as well as filling gaps already identified statistics with regard to desegregates data by sex, especially in economic sectors and the state budget, was another recommendation.
Even within the group made by findings in Sectional Affairs, made a reference to the absence of an effective system of monitoring and evaluation of gender issues. In response, it was stressed that one should focus on the implementation of the various tools and strategies adopted in recent years, and accountability to oversight institutions of its kind, including civil society, on the results achieved, not achieved and the causes of failure.
We need to give a greater focus on women and girls in rural areas with a view to reducing inequality in terms of management positions in local districts and municipalities, was another recommendation made at the ninth session of the Development Centre.
Noted that there were two meetings in preparation for the Development Observatory where civil society organizations raised questions and recommendations that have been harmonized in a single document and presented by the G20 at the ninth session of the OD.
Attempts Women Entrepreneurs Success Stories
Several women entrepreneurs and success stories in business, joined for the presentation of a video documentary containing their professional experiences.
In coordination with the Women's Forum, the participants were selected from the provinces of Sofala and Nampula, specifically the four districts, including Nhamatanda and Gorongosa. The entrepreneurs are the most outstanding in their communities, as successful women in various work areas.
The success stories focused on the areas of Crafts, Sewing, Tourism and Trade.
The documentary highlighted how the participants started the business with few resources and procedures used to achieve high yields.
The Craft was the area in which withdrew one of the most beautiful experiential, considering the positive results and impact achieved.
The purpose of the projection was to convey the experience for other successful professional women as a way to boost the practice of income-generating activities within the target group.
Impact of Economic Crisis on Women Domestic is debated
On the occasion of International Women's Day held a debate on 8 and March 13, a debate with the theme "Women in the World of Work and Employment: Challenges for Regional Integration and Global Crisis." The sub-themes were the Impact of Crisis World of Integration and Regional maid for the woman, and women in the labor market.
Organized by the Women's Forum, the meeting was Nzira speakers of God, coordinator of Economics and Gender, and Maria Helena. Also participating in the ladies Ana Matilde - President of the Association of Women and Domestic Employees (AMUEDO), Elsa Tusini - Secretary of the Association of Widows and Single Mothers (AVIMAS) and Association of Victims of Domestic Violence (AVV). Present were the women members of these associations, especially the Association of Women and Domestic Workers and the Committee of Women in Trade Unions.
A major objective was to make a reflection about the impact the global economic crisis has for women, considering that many people still have no notion that women are most affected by the effects of the crisis. In this context, they emphasized the fact that women are the maids who suffer most from the economic crisis. Low pay they receive in the workplace, and lack of contracts between them and their employers, are some factors behind this vulnerability.
Added the issue of companies that are affected by the crisis, select the women’s as the first target group in the list of redundancies.
HIV / AIDS were another issue raised by the participants, because when a woman gets sick maid, often in danger of being dismissed by the employer. Given this action, this is a case of discrimination that must be filled by the conclusion of contracts, and knowledge of human rights by women.
Other proposals have been raised to solve the problems that affect women, including literacy, vocational training, and knowledge of the Regulation of Domestic Work adopted in November 2009, the Ministry of Labour.
Law on Domestic Violence against Women is presented in public
Held the First National Meeting Presentation to the Law on Domestic Violence against Women, which was attended by representatives from the provinces of Maputo and around the country. The event took place in Maputo on March 25, where did mension of the process of drafting the Act, the overall presentation of the law, procedural matters and contextualization in terms of Human Rights.
After the general presentation of the Law, the themes and issues were discussed in working groups.
The Law on Domestic Violence against Women was adopted in 2009 by the Assembly of Republic, and enacted this year by the President.
Youth reflect on the effects of AIDS on gender inequalities
"The Role of Sex Education in the Prevention of HIV / AIDS for Adolescents and Youth" was the theme of a discussion with about 54 activists of the Biz Generation Program, and students of Josina Machel. The event was organized by the Women's Forum in collaboration with the Association of Mozambican Youth Coalition.
The aim was to promote a reflection on the impact of the disease aged 15 to 24 years, considering that young people are one of the groups most affected.
The main point discussed was the Gender-related statistics of HIV / AIDS, pointing to the existence of a large number of girls infected. The data show that the number of girls infected is three times higher than the seroprevalence rate of boys.
During the meeting the young people had an active participation by exchanging experiences and questions. Some participants opined that women are seen as the most infected, by being tested for HIV / AIDS in greater numbers compared to men.
Moreover, it was found that the fact that women are more vulnerable physically makes them more susceptible to contracting the virus.
Among men, these were identified as being those with greater ability to influence women to practice unsafe sex. Promiscuity in men was highlighted as another factor for the spread of disease.
However, for gender equality, young people demonstrated a poor knowledge of the matter.
In the end, proposals have been launched to solve the problems raised, giving greater emphasis to the need for greater youth participation in decision-making forums.
The performance of most debates is one of the future actions to be implemented by young people themselves in order to raise awareness about the impact of HIV / AIDS.
African Alliance meets for access to resources
Held in Johannesburg, the Second General Assembly of IANRA held between 16 and 19 March, which was attended by 40 delegates.
During the meeting, were elected new members of the Management Committee ianram (Steering Committee), and Malawi - chairman of the board through Rafik Hajat, and Mozambique, represented by the coordinator of Mugede, Saquina Mucavele, and was appointed vice presidency. At the time the Women's Forum was appointed an alternate (backup) of Mugede.
The ianram is an International Alliance for Natural Resources in Africa, which works since 2008, the intensification of the struggle of rural women through access to resources. One of the main objectives of the organization is to promote unity among African countries to strengthen support to communities in protecting local resources.
The emergence of this network was driven by ACTION AID INTERNATIONAL and NIZA, and has about eight African countries, namely South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ianram was launched in Mozambique in November 2009 and included the participation of different civil society organizations, government and research institutions in the field of natural resources. The network will work in 3 thematic areas, including land, mining and community mobilization. The focus will be to monitor the activities of mining companies and land in order to verify that they have respected the rights of communities. The survey is a tool to be used by ianram, as an advocacy tool.
In several African countries, poor management of natural resources has had a negative impact on women living in rural areas, because multinational corporations have developed a business plan for the protection of local communities. These companies do not respect the agreements made between countries, which recommend the replacement of trees in the areas explored, water treatment in case of pollution and conservation of areas reserved for the communities.
The ianram aims to trigger actions to change that, to safeguard the rights of rural women in accessing resources.
By:Isaura Mauelele
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