Crossing the Line in Malawi

Tonight we decided to chill – candles, blankets, drinks, chips; creating the kind of accommodating and comfortable atmosphere that would allow the us to engage effectively with issues that are regarded as very personal, reflective, spiritual – a challenging process indeed.

To address issues of discrimination, especially those related to the politics of sex and sexuality, and sexual rights, we chose to cross the line, by working in the margins, and taking some significant risks. We adopted a diverse range of strategies to bring subjects which are often considered controversial and insignificant from the periphery to the centre of our discussion. LBGTI issues came into the conversation (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, intersex). The women looked disgusted, and some swore that they had never heard of such wickedness. However, one young woman shared that women had sex with each other in schools. So much so that they did not want to see boys during the holiday.

We continued to provoke this particular discussion until another participant shared that when her husband died, her grandmother advised her to get sexual pleasure from another woman. Slowly the truth emerged. The women spoke about how women pleasured each other sexually in the past and how they (some of the ‘participants’) also did it as they were growing up.

I believe that next time these kinds of discussions will be easier to initiate. It was an interesting conversation and we truly saw people crossing the line.

~ Hope Chigudu

Part three of a four part series. Next - The Flame that Will Build a Movement

Malawian women’s stories may surprise you!

Some of us wore expressions of a most unprofessional glee as Victoria, one of the women at the workshop, a teacher by profession, made us smile by sharing a story of how she has been using also the training acquired in the last JASS workshop to ‘disorganize’ her church. She demanded to talk about HIV and AIDS, thus ending the culture of silence and stigma regarding the subject. We used her story to invite the other participants to share their own experiences.

We heard how petite Doreen used the leadership skills she acquired in the Blantyre workshop to lobby the company, for which she now works, to provide seeds to women living with HIV and AIDS.

Asnat went to the District Commissioner’s office, bypassing ‘hidden powers’ and using the power within to demand to see the DC; she did. She demanded that seed coupons be given to HIV+ women.

Lillian ‘crossed the line’ (her words) by fighting for mobile clinics to provide ARVs for adults and children on the same day so that women don’t have to travel long distances, many times a week to access ARVs for themselves and their children.

Many women shared how they had used the power to and within to mobilize and make demands.

On advocacy – many of the women boasted that their leadership skills have been transforming their lives and those of fellow women and girls by challenging systemic inequalities (including service delivery, especially of agricultural inputs; resource allocation such as land; laws and policies).

We have asked the women to write their stories; we really hope that they will do so.

During yesterday’s discussion there was some concern that there has been a growth of people and organizations providing ‘cheap’ counseling services. These often draw on people from the local community (often women) who do tireless work in providing home-based care and community-level counseling and support. Most of these people tend to have minimal training and minimal support. Actually, the majority is affiliated with religious institutions.

There is little oversight concerning the content of counseling advice, which is problematic given that counseling can reinforce rather than challenge prevailing gender norms (for example, in the case of faith-based counseling, women spoke of counseling against condom use in marriage as well as dissuading ‘clients’ from using ARVs so that they depend on prayer).

In addition there is almost no discussion around creating more empowering counseling and psycho- social frameworks for women and girls. Considering how culture, tradition and religion are still being used to control women’s sexuality, perpetuate violence against women, and ensure that women remain subordinate to men, proper counseling is needed.

A case in point: some women confided that they had not had sex because they don’t have partners and also don’t trust men (so have backaches from lack of sex). The question that we discussed was a delicate one: if one has not had sex for ten years and just wants sex to recover from a backache, is love necessary and important? The aim was not to come to any conclusion but rather to leave it to each one of us to reflect.

The women understood the need to continue to interrogate the linkages between patriarchy, violence against women, denial of resources and service delivery and the feminization of HIV and AIDS, and to find ways of dealing with any of these critical issues in their plans (which they are working on as I am writing).

Inevitably, the discussion touched on sex workers. We concluded that irrespective of the moral and/or other judgments one might have about sex workers and the industry, in so far as human rights are indivisible, the abuse and denial of basic human rights of sex workers must be addressed.

~ Hope Chigudu

Part two of a four part series. Next - Crossing the Line in Malawi

I Am My Sister’s Keeper!

Jass in Malawi - 1st day

Our lives are written on our bodies.

Sisters!

Women living with HIV who are leaders in the AIDS movement in their communities in Malawi came together for the start of a four-day workshop organized by JASS. They started by creating startling and beautiful body maps. They did it without any artists to help. In groups of five, the women started by outlining their bodies on large sheets of paper. Each woman was drawn by the other women in the group. People stayed in their small groups to do this, sharing magic markers and other art materials. Through a series of imaginative exercises they added parts to the outline of their bodies. Then they added words, symbols, and pictures relating to their health, their history, their points of personal power, and their life goals. In this way, each woman recorded and shared her unique story of living with HIV or just of being. This was both a serious and playful process. (The Maps were taped up on the wall and enabled us to claim the workshop space as our own.)

“This picture and this project tell the story of my life: the hurts, pains, burns and the various opportunistic diseases are all written on my body. But it also tells the story of victory,” said Doreen.

Body mapping helped the women to make visible that which ordinarily is invisible to others and, sometimes, invisible to themselves. The process created a safe space where each woman spoke openly about her journey with HIV and other struggles. Women were also offered support from those who best understand their situation: other women living with HIV. We wove movement building into this artistic process by offering opportunities for the women to discuss their health in the context of the stories told in their body maps, and the need to organize and mobilize to form a bigger movement to demand, fight back and claim their citizenship. It’s difficult to fight back without hope. Through the mapping process and the discussions, one could see nuggets of hope surface. Although it brought up some bad memories and fears, the process was therapeutic and beautiful.

This morning, the collective organizing, mutual responsibility, and principle of sisterhood were reinforced by each participant taking on the responsibility of being another participant’s ‘guardian angel’ throughout the workshop. Standing in a circle, with no front or back, with no leader or follower, with no distinction between the participant and workshop facilitator but as women, we realized that however different our journeys, experiences, or possibilities in life, we are united in our common experiences as women who have vaginas.

We reminded each other today that this is a meeting where every woman has the right to life, protection, safety, dignity, and respect, irrespective of class, educational background, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or preference, and any other distinction. It was therefore hoped that each participant would leave with an awareness of their basic human rights and how to assert these rights, having shared an opportunity to learn about, claim and contribute to the women’s movement.

Since trust and confidentiality are critical at this meeting, participants were asked to reflect on and answer this question, “If you had a secret that you wanted to share, what kind of person would you share it with?” Some said that they would never share a secret but we agreed that life involves risk taking and we have to learn to take risks and to trust if we are to build a movement. At the end of the discussion, it was agreed that in order to share a secret, a person should be trustworthy, honest, non-judgmental, patient, caring, respectful, and understanding. We were all asked to embrace these qualities, and be the kind of person we would confide in.

During our discussion, sex workers were accused of being ‘bad women’ because they do not behave the way society expects ‘good women’ to. We paused and engaged in a conversation on what it really means to be a ‘good’ woman? (This happened in the last meeting too.) How easy is it for any woman to live up to society’s expectations? Who has the power to set these expectations? Should women strive to meet these expectations, even when they are oppressive and limit them from realizing their full potential? How do sex workers perceive themselves? These are some of the questions that the participants sought to answer. We discussed the dangers of labeling, self perception, and self empowerment. As participants explored the societal and internalized perceptions of what ‘good’ and ‘bad’ women are, they were able to identify the impact these have on them, as well as the ways they use these perceptions to discriminate against others. We made it clear that if we continue to divide women into good and bad, we shall not move together as women fighting for the same thing. A movement can’t be built on stereotypes.

As I am writing the participants are sharing their experiences regarding how they used the knowledge they acquired during in the last workshop and how they are building movements from where they are. The experiences are amazing, and powerful...a moment for JASS to be proud.

~ Hope Chigudu

Part one of a four part series. Next - Malawian women’s stories may surprise you!

Mobilizing against Homophobic Legislation in Uganda

Uganda’s proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill is generating outrage among African human rights advocates. A strong argument comes from Solome Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe, Executive Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika and author of a chapter in JASS’ collection Women Navigate Power. Calling the Bill “an alarmingly retrogressive piece of legislation, aimed at legalising hatred against a section of the Ugandan citizenry,” Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe points out the dangers to all civil liberties, highlights the “value” of this debate as a pre-election distraction from urgent national priorities, and names some of the rightwing American Christian organizations funding this homophobic agenda.

Repression in Honduras

We have been receiving message from Daysi, a young woman who is a feminist in Honduras, writing from the frontlines in Honduras.

22 September, 2009 - Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Early this morning, military forces attacked those of us outside the Brazilian Embassy. There are no words to describe the brutality of the attack—they chased us, threw bombs, beat us and now are hunting down everyone who took refuge in the surrounding area. There are 65 of us, mostly women and children here; we are under siege, our telephones are tapped, there is a squad three houses away and they are making rounds searching for signs of life to burst in. We have very little water and no food, the tear gas has permeated the atmosphere and our eyes and noses are irritated. Some of the women have been taken prisoners and according to the last communication they have been taken to a stadium called Chochi Sosa. The electricity went back on recently and so we are able to send this e-mail. We can hear the military movements outside, the cars, helicopters, bombs, shots, clashing of metal, stomping of boots, sirens and in a cruel joke on all Honduran citizens they are playing the national anthem at full volume over and over.

We call for support for all the people who are being protected by Feminists in Resistance and for the compañeras who are doing everything possible to get us humanitarian aid despite the fact that the armed forces won't let anyone through, not with medicines or food or anything. We're completely isolated; we want everyone to contribute by denouncing the violation of basic human rights being perpetrated by the military forces of the de facto regime.


This message was received later the same day.

Friends:

We are living in an environment of war. Upon leaving the CEMH offices we can see that the atmosphere in the streets is tense and the demonstrations elevate the tone: in my mother’s neighborhood there are burning tires and although the streets are closed for the people that are not active in the resistance, they are announcing national electrical energy cuts for today at 7 pm and we don’t know how long it will last but there are rumors that it could go on for 48 hours. I mention this in case you can´t reach me via e-mail. We have cell phones but don’t know if they will be working. Some are saying that there will be a raid on the embassy when they cut off the electricity, but we don't know anything for certain. In any event, international pressure must continue in any way possible. There is already speculation of food prices.

We are preparing to confront these horrible attacks. It is truly sad and enraging to walk through streets where war, injustice, and madness reign through the power of weapons.


A resilient hug,
Daysi, Honduran Feminists in Resistance

For further information visit: http://www.justassociates.org/actions/honduras/honduras_action_090922.html

Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997) Visits Atenco

Furthering our solidarity with the people of Atenco over the past two years, JASS, the Nobel Women’s Initiative, and Mexican allies brought Laureate Jody Williams to San Salvador Atenco on September 8 to support women struggling for voice and land rights, and to pressure the Mexican government to halt repression and fulfill its promises. Jody Williams speaks from the frontlines.


The women -- I don't even know what to say. Strong, defiant, so sad because of the 12 political prisoners. They called me from prison. They sent me a letter. Here is one paragraph:

"Al enterarnos de su presencia y participacion en Atenco hemos querido aprovechar esta oportunidad para pedirle a Usted que nos ayude en la medida de sus posibilidades para que sea nuestra voz que grite, anuncie y denuncie la injusticia que han hecho con nosotros el gobierno mexicano mediante la represion y tortura de la que fuimos objeto los dias 3 y 4 de mayo en Texcoco y Atenco....."

["When we heard about your presence and participation in this meeting in Atenco, we wanted to take this opportunity to ask you to help us, in as much as you can, so that our voices can be heard, loudly and clearly announcing and denouncing the injustices of the Mexican government, through the repression and torture that we were subjected to the 3rd and 4th of May in Texcoco and Atenco...."]

Then they called again in the public event and one of the women held the microphone to the cellphone and we (mostly) could hear. Two women standing behind me with their machetes started silently crying. Mothers of two of the prisoners. I had to get up and hug one and she started sobbing on my shoulder. It leaves me like a limp dishrag.

It fills me with rage. Disposable people. As one described herself/them, "We are cannon fodder."

Separately Rachel and I spoke with three of the women who had been raped. More rage.

I bought one of the amazing drawings by the political prisoner who is now sentenced to 112 years in prison. Dona Trini's husband. Sorry his name escapes me.

I can't write more at the moment. The dishrag is emotionally spent.

Su companera en la lucha,
Jody

Media Ignores Escalating Sexual Aggression Against Honduran Women Protesters

Escalating Sexual Aggression Against Feminist And Women Protesters Against Military Coup In Honduras Ignored By Global & National Media

By Margaret Thompson
FIRE – Feminist International Radio Endeavour/Radio Internacional Feminista

August 17, 2009 - Tegucigalpa, Honduras -- Global & national media are ignoring the growing intensity of sexual aggression and torture of women demonstrators in Honduras after the military coup d’etat & and violent repression, according to Honduran feminists and activists.

“The media (in Honduras) are manipulating our minds, because we see (in the streets) what is really happening” and they are not reporting the reality of the violent repression by the military and police, declared Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, the first lady of Honduras and wife of Pres. Zelaya, who spoke to a Forum by Feminists in Resistance of Honduras today. Most of the mainstream media are owned by supporters of the military coup, so their reports reflect efforts by the defacto regime to create an image of “normality,” that all is well, that there was in fact no military coup, they merely ousted an ex-president who violated the constitution, according to Castro de Zelaya.

The first lady spoke to an audience of about 120 mainly women, including an international delegation from Central America, Mexico, Canada, Spain and the United States participating in a Feminist Transgressional Watch . The group is visiting Honduras for Women’s Human Rights Week, and conducting a feminist observatory of violations of women’s human rights, and feminist strategies of resistance to the military coup.

As popular resistance to the military coup continues with massive daily street marches, military and police officials are becoming more aggressive with both female and male demonstrators, beating them with clubs, shooting into crowds with (rubber or real) bullets, conducting large scale arrests or detentions, torture, and assassinations, little of which is covered in many media reports, said Indira Mendoza of Catrachas. Mendoza has videotaped some of these incidents directly or has testimony of witnesses. Hospitals and clinics are filled with young people in particular, with broken arm or leg bones, head injuries, and (rubber) bullet wounds.

Women’s and human rights groups are receiving reports of escalating sexual aggression against women both in the demonstrations and in detentions, ranging from verbal obscenities and threats, to women being grabbed or beaten with batons on their buttocks, to torture and rape in detentions, noted Adela Coria of the Center for Women’s Studies (CEM). In today’s Forum in Tegucigalpa, Yadida Minero reported that she had just taken a young woman to a radio station to denounce her torture and rape with a rifle while in detention at a police station.

Likewise, in the United States, the diminishing number of media reports on Honduras reflect how Pres. Obama led by Secretary State Hillary Clinton is backing away from his originally strong condemnation of the coup which ousted the legally elected President Zelaya, according to Breny Mendoza, a Honduran living in the US, and professor at California State University in Northridge. The intensive US news coverage and outrage in the US mainstream media about the controversial presidential elections in Iran is a stark contrast to the minimal coverage of the military coup in Honduras which ousted a democratically elected president. And the front and center role of women including feminists in the massive demonstrations, and the increasingly aggressive reaction of military and police to the women are also absent in media reports.

Despite the growing sexual aggression against women in Honduras, they are not filing complaints with the police for a number of reasons. Sara Rosales, a human rights lawyer with CEM, noted that women are afraid to report any violence since it is the police and military who are in part responsible for the violent repression, and the women also figure that such efforts are futile, because nothing will come of it.

After years of national and global campaigns about domestic violence, complaints filed by women had been increasing in recent years, says Rosales, also a member of Feminists in Resistance in Honduras.
There were 12,000 complaints filed with police in Honduras denouncing violence against women in 2007, and 20,000 reports last year, noted Rosales. But since the coup there have been very few complaints filed, which clearly demonstrates the connection between domestic violence and violence against women in armed conflict, both of which have increased in recent weeks.

Also, feminists and women’s activists are very disheartened that the de facto coup government kicked out the Minister of Women under Pres. Zelaya, Selma Estrada de Uclés in late June with the coup, and installed María Martha Díaz, a member of the ultra conservative Catholic group Opus Dei. Díaz has refused to process any complaints filed regarding violations of women’s human rights since the coup.

When feminists rallied outside the Institute of Women (INAM) to protest the policies of Díaz as de facto minister, she called in the military, who beat the protesters with batons.

Women are well aware of the irony of this assault. Years of struggle by feminists and other women is now lost, said Rosales. “It all changed in one day,” noted Breny Mendoza, a professor at California State University in Northridge and originally from Honduras.

Honduran feminists and investigators have received a vast number of complaints about violations of women’s human rights by the current coup regime in the past six weeks, and have conducted interviews for testimonies of 18 women. As part of the feminist observatory, human rights lawyers and activists are working with Honduran feminists to prepare a report on these 18 cases, which were presented to the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights, which is also visiting Honduras during the week of August 17th.

In the meantime, women including Feminists in Resistance are continuing to be front and center in the marches. “No more coups (golpes), and no more golpes (beatings) of women!” shout the women as they take to the streets. “Quien somos? Somos Feministas en Resistencia!”

###

US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton has refused to declare the siege a coup d’etat. Some say that this is because it would mean cutting all military and economic aid, beyond the small amount frozen in early July. And Clinton, along with US Sen. John McCain recently met with de facto coup Pres. Michelleti in Washington, who had come to meet with members of Congress as well to convince them that all is well in Honduras. Clinton is also on the board of the Millennium Development Corporation, which has continued to distribute millions of dollars to Honduras since the coup, according to Bill Conroy, as published in The Narcosphere on August 9, 2009.

Margie Thompson is a member of an international delegation that is in Honduras this week (August 17-21) conducting a local and virtual Observatorio de la Transgresión Feminista (Feminist Transformation Watch) to shed light on women's rights violations that are occurring under the de facto regime that overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup d'etat on June 28th. For more information visit http://www.justassociates.org/actions/honduras_action_coup.html.

Feminists in Resistance

It has been an intense couple of days since we arrived in Honduras on Sunday. When I catch the words “I’m tired” coming out of my mouth I stop myself because standing next to my feminist sisters from Honduras, I have nothing to complain about. These women have been marching every day, EVERY day, rain or shine, military or no military, sometimes with bruises from the march the day before. We joined the march today and there was so much energy, you would never know that they had been doing this for 52 days. One of the woman screamed “Estan cansadas!? (translation: are you tired!?) to which everyone responded with a resounding “NO”. Incredible…but not surprising given what has been happening in this country since their democratically elected president was forcibly removed from his post in a coup d’etat on June 28th.

Under the military coup, women’s rights have suffered a huge blow. Yesterday, during a forum organized by Honduran Feminists in Resistance at the nurses college (whose administrators, when they discovered the reason for the meeting, informed us that we can no longer hold events there because of the anti coup content), participants shared stories of physical and verbal intimidation and harassment by the military. Policemen have used their batons to strike women’s private parts (in some cases sticking them into their vaginas) and are using their words to make derogatory and sexual comments to women participating in marches. These accounts are appalling and clearly intended by the military to deter people from continuing to march or speak out against the coup but instead they are having the opposite effect – they are strengthening the solidarity and resilience of those in resistance. As the slogan goes, “Nos tienen miedo porque no tenemos miedo” (“They fear us because we are not afraid”). There is so much more to share but it will have to wait for tomorrow because the Feminists in Resistance are about to meet to plan and strategize for tomorrow’s march. Onward!

International Delegation Amplifies Honduran Women's Voices

TEGUCIGALPA – JASS (Just Associates) announced that an international delegation arrived in Honduras Monday for a week-long women’s rights watch. The delegation is conducting a local and virtual Observatorio (Feminist Transformation Watch) from August 17 to 21 to shed light on women's rights violations occurring under the de facto regime that overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup d'etat on June 28th.

The delegation comprises representatives of JASS, Honduran Feminists in Resistance, Las Petateras, Radio Feminista, Nobel Women’s Initiative, and the Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equality, and includes human rights activists, researchers, legal experts and journalists from Central America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The purpose of the mission is to gather information, to denounce the coup, and to increase awareness of the impact of the crisis from the perspective of women.

Honduran women continue at the frontlines of pro-democracy actions and resistance against the de facto regime that ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Women’s organizations are under surveillance and members’ lives continue to be threatened as they practise non-violent resistance to the repression and demand a return to the rule of law, an end to violence, and respect for human rights.

A central imperative for democracy is that the perspectives and voices of Honduran women must be included in the resolution to the current crisis in that country. Systematic violations of women’s rights can be traced back to the 1980s dictatorships, with the cycle of violence and oppression continuing today within a culture of impunity. In the current crisis of ruptured democracy, these systematic violations and abuses have increased. Without a commitment to breaking the impunity, there can be no sustainable democratic resolution in Honduras.

To document the human rights violations against Honduran women that have occurred since the coup on June 28th, the delegation is conducting interviews and collecting testimonials from Honduran women and organizations, and engaging in dialogue with feminists and other Honduran women about their strategies of resistance and their actions in response to the coup. This information will be disseminated through national, regional, and international media.

For more information visit http://www.justassociates.org/actions/honduras_action_coup.html.

A View from Fairview

As the 8 women in the planning meeting go to their rooms to retire for the night , I reflect on the day's proceedings.What have we achieved, what are we going to do, where are we going? These are the questions going through my mind.Looking back and reflecting on the conversation we had during the day of the different contexts of the region.The appointment of Jacob Zuma, the GNU in Zimbabwe, the creation of COZWHA+ in Zambia , recession in the USA and the impact of the OBAMA administration on the world.Am asking myself, how much impact do all these situations have on the work of JASS, Southern Africa.Will we be able to carry out our objectives, strategies and visions/goals for the next 3yrs.As much as we went into detail on the different threats and opportunities , for me , it will be a situation of how we can make the best of our situation to advance our agenda and I think with the team we have ,we will be able to achive all we can.As the saying goes'You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you dont try'.
Patience Mandishona

JASS Strategic Planning in Nairobi - Reflections

It has been a long and intense day, emotionally draining - but in the spirit of strategizing for Southern Africa Women's Movement Building as JMBs, it was well worth it. The honesty that is not feasible in mainstream NGOs, the bonding across color, class, religion; and the "dinosaurs and chickens" working harmoniously together, arguing, disagreeing, building consensus... yes, we can! It could only happen in the middle of the most African city, where we can pretend we do not know about the monstrous traffic jams just a hundred meters away. Amandla!!

Reflections from JASS Southern Africa Planning

As i end the day , i would like to share my thoughts on the process on Planning for the Southern African Region.It has been an interesting process to be involved in, its shaping and defining Jass Southern africa as an organisation .It enables us to organise thoughts and plan for actions on movement building in the region through a process of reflection about what we've done as Jass southern africa in the past six moinths and where we going in the region.We have been able to come up with a great vision/goals of what we would like to see or achieve in the next 3years which is exciting and empowering as a JASS Movement Builder.I look forward to the next steps , which is linked to systems, structures and roles that will assist our implementation plans for the next year.Its also been a difficult process, but its been good.Ive had fun.
-Sindi Blose-

JASS' Role at the NWI's "Women Redefining Democracy" Conference

JASS was thrilled to play a significant role in conceptualizing, planning, and facilitating the Nobel Women's Initiative's international conference entitled Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality that was held in Antigua, Guatemala from May 10-12, 2009. More than 100 women from around the world, including four women Laureates, gathered to examine the challenges of democratization, and to reshape democracy through the lens of women's experiences. The JASS community was represented by more than twenty women, including our allies Petateras and Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE), who participated in the three day strategy meeting by speaking on panels, acting as moderators, and documenting the conference.

Addtionally, Lisa VeneKlasen, JASS Executive Director, collaborated with Alda Facio, a JASS Mesoamerica regional advisor, in authoring the concept statement of the conference. And the Declaration of the Nobel Women’s Initiative Conference on Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality, was drafted by two JASS board members, Malena de Montis and Srilatha Batliwala, based on input from the participants. The declaration is available in Spanish as well.

Religious Harmony via Feminism in Israel: A Discussion with Ms. Roula Deeb

Carrie, Carmen and I had the privilege of meeting with Ms. Roula Deeb, Director and Co-Founder of the Israeli-based feminist organization Kayan. Prior to Kayan, Ms. Deeb worked at Isha L’Isha- Haifa Feminist Center, whose aim is to achieve “equality for all women and” to promote “peaceful coexistence between Arab and Jewish women.”

Kayan seeks to empower Arab-Israeli women, who often face “double discrimination” as women and as Arabs, through grassroots capacity building mostly in the northern Arab-dominated regions of Israel. Kayan’s scope of work includes community action, legal aid, governmental policy change and advocacy. They primarily empower women through workshops, community meetings, lectures and publications. Kayan was also the incubator for ASWAD- the Palestinian gay rights organization.

Prior to delving into Kayan's work, Ms. Deeb enlightened us with a background on Arabs in Israel (total population 7.7 million) and religious differences that exist within the Arab community. Of the 1.2 million Arabs living in Israel, 80% are Muslim, 10% are Christian and 10% are Druze, which is an offshoot of Islam. Civil marriages do not exist in Israel; all marriages are religious institutions and are governed by the laws of Israelis' respective religions.

Interestingly enough, some of Kayan's largest donors are Jewish organizations based in Israel, Europe and the U.S. For the past three years, a Jewish organization has been the main financial support for perhaps Kayan's largest achievement: the expansion of the public transport system to the Arab dominated northwest. This implementation of infrastructure has literally mobilized the Israeli-Arab women in the community, who had previously been very confined in their homes.

Through our lively discussion, we realized that Kayan and JASS share many key similarities in strategy and vision. Particularly interesting was Kayan's approach to getting people involved in the movement. Kayan inspires women who are leaders in their communities to "energize" other women in their communities to get involved in the public sphere. These women in turn go out and advocate women's rights issues throughout Israel, building movements and creating waves throughout Arab communities in Israel. One example of their work was a protest against a high-level mayor who essentially condoned an honor killing in his town. Though the mayor was not prosecuted in the end, Kayan's members were especially empowered by this event because they worked through their own fears and doubts to speak out against injustice, and became stronger in the process. Ms. Deeb and her colleagues at Kayan are proud to call themselves feminists, but are equally proud to let everyone define feminism in their own terms.

In short, our meeting with Ms. Deeb was inspiring, heart-warming and eye-opening. We hope to work with Ms. Deeb and our Middle Eastern counterparts in the very near future, sharing in our endeavors to empower women across the globe.

-Vyjayanthi

Declaration of the Nobel Women's Initiative Conference

Declaration of the Nobel Women's Initiative Conference
on
Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality
Antigua, Guatemala
May 10-12, 2009

[The declaration was drafted by JASS board members: Malena de Montis and Srilatha Batliwala with input from all participants.]

We call upon all states and multilateral institutions to recognize that the democratization process is incomplete, and does not end with elections. No country or society can claim to be democratic when the women who form half its citizens are denied their right to life, to their human rights and entitlements, and to safety and security. Despite this, we women have made extraordinary efforts to democratize the institutions of society that frame our lives and the well-being of all humanity – the family, the community, clan, tribe, ethnic or religious group, political, legal, economic, social and cultural structures, and the media and communications systems. But our search for justice is continually overwhelmed by the violence perpetrated upon us, by the exploitation and colonization of our bodies, our labor, and our lands; by militarization, war and civil conflict; by persistent and increasing poverty; and by environmental degradation. All of these forces affect us, and our children, far more severely and in unique ways. We know that democracy that comes from the heart is not the rule of the majority, but safeguards dissent and difference with equal rights, and fosters a culture of peace. We are in search of democracy that transforms not just our lives, but all society – and we will not be silenced until it is achieved in every part of the world.

Reflections on the NWI Conference and Guatemala Observatorio

After the Nobel Women’s Initiative Conference in Antigua, a group of us – Petateras, JASS, FIRE, and key international allies – conducted an Observatorio and Fact-Finding Mission on the situation of violence against women in Guatemala.

As we heard accounts, statistics and testimony from indigenous women leaders, organizers, activists and human rights defenders, I was struck by the level of violence and the level of impunity that prevails in Guatemala. We kept hearing from the women we spoke to that the levels of violence in general are even higher today, 13 years after the signing of the Peace Accords, than they were during the internal armed conflict. I also found myself thinking about why, what are some of the root causes for the violence targeted against women - and in the Guatemalan context forms of violence that target and are especially vicious towards indigenous women, pointing to a deep-seated racism that is prevalent not only there but throughout the region.

I remember one of the panelists at the NWI Conference, Eva Mappy Morgan from Liberia, spoke about how part of the work that they are doing is on a grassroots and society-wide level changing the way that women - women's lives, women’s roles, women’s bodies - are perceived. Creating a shift in consciousness - through education efforts and effective law-enforcement and prosecution - whereby it is no longer seen as an acceptable solution/act to rape or kill women. In the Liberian context, having a woman president and other women in all levels of decision-making is, according to Morgan, beginning to create that shift in perception, with men (and other women) accepting and seeing the added value of women in leadership roles. This was one of the things that Rigoberta Menchú spoke about as well - changing the perception of politics from being automatically corrupt and "dirty" to a shift whereby it would be plausible for a Mayan woman, not tied to corporate, military or other traditional/corrupt power structures, to be president of Guatemala.

There is work to be done in terms of challenging images and discourse, which have an immediate, life-or-death impact on women.

An article that I received today, about Femicide in Baja California, reminded me of that as well. The last paragraph states:
“Most local reporting on women’s murders in Baja California could be classified as falling within the school of sensationalistic crime reporting, with very little follow-up investigation or analysis of the deeper causes of violence against women.
An unscientific, online-poll conducted May 18 by the Baja California Internet news site Lacronica.com asked readers to select from several possible explanations of the murders of sex workers. Of 1092 responses, 81 percent selected two answers that explained the murders in terms of the women’s lifestyles. Slightly more than 9 percent of responses picked a serial killer as a possible reason, while a small minority- just above three percent- considered lack of law enforcement or public security as reasons for the homicides."

To read the full article, go to: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=c4dace58475880c3117d3eb2a3a38850

There are some key opportunities both to deepen and regionalize the analysis, and also to look at some of the strategies that are already in place or being developed to combat the corruption, impunity, and begin to combat some of the root causes of violence.

During the fact-finding mission, we heard about some key strategies -- around the elections, electing new magistrates who are not tied to trafficking rings and prosecuting lawyers who are part of trafficking rings; a lot of the work that UNAMG, Actoras de Cambio and other orgs are doing around healing and empowerment for women survivors of rape and other forms of violence; the work that Moloj is doing in different areas, including indigenous women's political participation. These and other strategies should also be highlighted - it's the "trabajo de hormiga" that women do that does have an impact on individuals', families' and communities' lives, but often goes unrecognized.

-Alejandra

Participant Profile: Safaa Adam

End of Day Two of Nobel Women Conference

Day Two Reflections

Context: Guatemala

36 years of violence and oppression because of the armed conflict in Guatemala left more than 100,000 dead, 50,000 disappeared, 250,000 orphans, more than 350 communities erased from the map, tens of thousands displaced, and hundreds of indigenous communities destroyed. Clandestine cemeteries are still being uncovered and countless human rights violations are left unpunished. Waves of violence continue to plague the country, affecting women in particular.

End of Day One of Nobel Women Conference

Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire closes day one of the international conference "Women Redefining Democracy." Participants reflect on the full day of learning and knowledge, and proceed to a lively reception hosted by Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum.

Participants Reflect on Day One: Morning

Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum Opens Conference

Rigoberta Menchú Tum welcomed participants to the second international conference of the Nobel Women's Initiative in Antigua, Guatemala on May 10th. She introduced the Vice President of the Republic of Guatemala, who welcomed the women on behalf of the President.

JASS at the Nobel Women's Initiative Conference in Antigua, Guatemala

JASS, along with the Nobel Women's Initiative and the Rigoberta Menchu Tum Foundation, are convening an international conference, "Women Redefining Democracy" from May 10-12th in Antigua, Guatemala. Follow the JASS blog for up to date blog entries and videos from the conference. You can also read more on the NWI Conference Blog and Open Democracy's coverage of this important event.

Prejudices

I was looking forward to a restful Easter, when on the eve of Good Friday I went into a meeting where I thought I would be in a safe space. This was a feedback meeting from those who had attended the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The UN CSW was held in February 2009 in New York, and a number of Zimbabwean organisations who are seen as the leaders in advocating around gender equality, women’s rights, and anti-stigma and discrimination of vulnerable or marginalised communities. One of the organisations present is a male-led men’s organisation that focuses on challenging the traditional concept of male dominance over women, seeking to transform men’s mindsets into treating women as equals, with respect and dignity. The other four organisations are women-issues-focussed, led by women proponents of women’s rights as human rights.

I must say I went into this meeting by default – my organisation which is a network of positive women was never invited. The director of one of the organisations that I work with received an invitation, and as she was unable to go, she asked me to represent the organisation at the meeting. Other participants in the meeting were from Harare-based NGOs, one based outside Harare, and legislators. Each participant in that meeting was asked to introduce themselves by saying their names and the organisations they represented. When it was my turn, I decided that I would introduce myself as who I identify as, considering the nature of the meeting and the gathering. I said my name, and stated that I am a feminist. The response was laughter around the room – I am not sure why they laughed.

Then the first shocker in that meeting then came from one of the women – a respected lawyer, working for a women’s organisation that looks at women’s rights in regards to the law – “Oh! So you don’t do men!” It was not a question – a statement that shocked me in terms of what being a feminist had to do with “doing men or women”; why such a “safe space” all of a sudden was apparently not so safe for all women. I assumed by her saying that I don’t do men she was insinuating that I was sexually attracted to and slept with women. After the first reaction of shock, I became disgusted by the whole system and the process we engage in – calling ourselves advocates for human rights of all, when some of us can unashamedly display such homophobic and discriminatory statements in the presence of other human rights advocates. In the meantime, no one else said anything about that statement. To me, that meant the derogatory statement was condoned, and that if there were any same-sex loving people in the room, they lost hope of ever having the “human rights advocates” ever stand for their rights.

The main issues discussed were to do with care work and criminalisation of HIV. It was revealed in this meeting that the law on criminalisation that is applied in Zimbabwe today was passed in 1996. The questions were what position we take as a nation. On the criminalisation issue, one of the prominent women leading lawyers stated that she suggested we take a position to keep the law as it is, proposing that it was a good law that protects women. I was astounded as I wondered whether the law gurus who speak for us and protect our interests had ever cared to consult with the women in the communities, explaining the law and hearing their views. In the absence of full information, and adequate health services that ensure access for every Zimbabwean citizens, those whose mandate it is to ensure that the service is there are the ones who should be prosecuted under this law, as they are failing the nation.

While the experience frightened and immobilised me for a while, I committed to say this out loud. Maybe some day, some people will learn. Maybe some day, human rights advocates will learn to truly encompass human beings in their advocacy for human rights.

Guatemalan Lawyer Gladys Monterroso Kidnapped and Tortured

March 25, 2009
Gladys Monterroso, lawyer, University professor, and Secretary General of the Encuentro por Guatemala party, and wife of Human Rights Ombudsman Sergio Morales, was kidnapped in Guatemala City on Wednesday March 25 at 7am and released 13 hours later. She was interrogated and burned with cigarettes on different parts of her body; no ransom was demanded.

The Guatemala Human Rights Commission and our Guatemalan partners (including UDEFEGUA, CALDH, CIIDH, GAM, SEDEM, IECCEG and ODHAG) express outrage concerning this attack.

This violent attack occurred just eleven hours after the Human Rights Ombudsman’s release of the first report on the contents of the police archives discovered in 2004. Over 11 million documents were cleaned, scanned, and filed out of over 80 million documents that exist from the 1960-1996 conflict.

The report includes information connecting the Guatemalan National Police to atrocities committed during the war and provided the evidence needed to detain two former members of a police unit linked to death squads that operated during the internal armed conflict. This is the first time that police officers have been detained for involvement in any of the over 47,000 cases of forced disappearances during the 36 year conflict.

GHRC and our Guatemalan partners condemn this violent and criminal act against Gladys Monterroso. We demand that Guatemalan Government authorities and the Public Prosecutor’s Office fully investigate the crime in order to identify, process, and sentence the material and intellectual authors of the crime. We demand that the necessary steps be taken to dismantle the criminal structures that obstruct citizens’ rights, liberties, and guarantees under the Guatemalan Constitution.

Furthermore, we demand immediate protection for Gladys and the Human Rights Ombudsman’s staff throughout Guatemala, to allow them to carry out their work. We also demand protection and guarantees of security for the Historical Archives of the National Police, in order to continue the investigation process linking state entities to crimes of the past. We express our solidarity and concern for Gladys Monterroso, her family, the staff of the Human Rights Ombudsmans Office, and the party leaders of Encuentro por Guatemala.


The following article appeared in Siglo XXI, 28 Marzo 2009:

Kidnapping of Guatemalan Lawyer, Wife of Human Rights Ombudsman
Lawyer Gladys Monterroso, wife of Human Rights Ombudsman Sergio Morales, was kidnapped on Wednesday March 25, 2009.

“The least we can hope for is justice,” said Emilio Alvarez Icasa, member of the Federal Human Rights Commission. “It was a cruel, cowardly, and inhuman attack,” said Rigardo Vargas, President of the Central American Human Rights Ombudsman and Public Defender’s Coucil from Panama.

Álvarez Icasa complimented the work of Sergio Morales and said that he is a reference for all of Latin America for his bravery and work for an open and participatory democracy. “Those clumsy men are mistaken if they think that, through these actions, they are going to slow down the Guatemalan people in seeking peace,” he emphasized.

The Interamerican Commission of Human Rights experessed their concern, and in a memo stated that they are asking for information related to the case from the Guatemalan Government.

Dunia Tobar, Adjunct Human Rights Ombudsman, informed that Monterroso is in stable condition and under medical treatment in a hospital in Guatemala City.

http://www.ghrc-usa.org/Resources/UrgentActions/Gladys_urgentaction.htm

Diversity of Feminisms at the XI Latin American and Carribean Feminist Encuentro

Over a thousand women from all over Latin America and the Carribean have gathered for the XI Feminist Encuentro in Mexico City. The debates have been lively, the ideas and questions brought up in the opening panels and in a number of the self-organized spaces very though-provoking. Among the many women who are here, the presence, voice and demands of indigenous, afro-descendant and transgendered women, and the autonomous women's movement have been felt. From Martha Sanchez and Jenny de la Torre Córdoba, who were on the opening panel, to the autonomous women's declaration and the Manifesto of the Transgendered Brazilian Women, posted on the Petateras Blog, many voices and a diversity of feminist expressions have indeed gathered in this space. So much diversity (in terms of different currents of feminist thought, women who don't necessarily identify as feminists but are coming into this space in a spirit of dialogue, and in particular indigenous and african-descent women who speak about how their experience as women and as feminists is different because of their distinct contexts and life circumstances, and the added layer of racism that they face in society, as well as some expressions of racism and paternalism that they have encountered from other feminists) is not a simple thing to manage. Even with these challenges, many of the women present express their desire to be in dialogue and to continue these dialogues, to hear one another's viewpoints and begin to tease out what we mean when we talk about feminisms, a diversity of feminisms, so that from there we can build a solid ground on which to strengthen the feminist movement and feminist action in the region.

Las Petateras at the Feminist Forum in Mexico City

JASS and Las Petateras are participating actively in the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City. The 6th Feminist Transformation Watch began with Radio Petatera, a radio program broadcast on Feminist International Radio Endeavor (FIRE). Guests to the show included a transexual woman who sparked an intense debate about the necessity of feminist spaces to be inclusive of all women, regardless of weather or not they were born into female bodies. Today´s program brought up issues of indigenous women´s movements as well as the inclusion of women with disabilities in feminist spaces, with two visually impaired women interviewed during the program. JASS and Las Petateras also convened a workshop on Technology for Feminist Movements, delivered to a packed audience, that provoked a lively and intense discussion about the use of new media tools for organizing and building women´s movements. Las Petateras held a space for the Feminist Transformation Watch were diverse women were able to share their stories about how they came to feminism and how they cross the line in their personal lives. The session produced a very intimate and open space for sharing and connecting among us that is an often overlooked and vital part of our movement building. The feminist movement, historically fractured and divided, needs more spaces like these for listening to each other and understanding each other in order to build upon our differences and create a stronger and more unified movement.

Encuentro Feminista in Mexico City!

JASS and our Mesoamerican allies, Las Petateras, are attending the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City. Martha Sanchez, an indigenous leader from Mexico, carried the opening plenary with her outspoken and fiery commentary. The 6th Feminist Transformation Watch kicks off today with a Radio Petateras show from 1 to 2 pm local time. Tune in to hear the voices and expressions of the Latin American feminists present at the forum. This afternoon JASS and Las Petateras will hold a workshop titled "Technology for Feminist Movement Building," where participants will engage with a variety of new media communication tools and discuss the ways that Web 2.0 technology can amplify women´s voices and struggles worldwide. Check back soon for more updates!

IWD Still a long way to go!

Not yet Uhuru!

March 8 was International Women’s Day. This is a day marked to ‘celebrate women and recognize the great role they play in the world’. Women are not just women they are mothers, lovers and caregivers too.

Yet for many women this day really had no meaning, not because it’s not special but it does not fulfill any purpose in their lives.

Women bear the brunt of social, political, economic woes, yet they are still treated as second-class citizens.

On this day I felt that as a woman living in a country in which women are not only treated inhumanly but not respected as well, I had nothing to celebrate.

Why should women celebrate when many cannot even afford to buy a packet of sanitary pads, which are sold at ridiculous prices, yet they are a basic need. I’ve heard of stories of women resorting to olds pieces of cloth and papers as an alternative, risking their health in the process.



It is an open secret that many women are languishing in poverty and have to scavenge for everything from food to water. In most instances many go to bed hungry.


I have visited most cities which are hard hit by the water crisis, and I will testify that I have seen women and children risking their lives by fetching water from unprotected sources. The men will of course either be battling for power, or drinking their sorrows to oblivion.

As the adage goes where to elephants mate it is the grass suffers, thus women have fallen victim as they are at the receiving end of violence, whether in the home or in the country.

Women cannot walk freely at night without being harassed by not just men but police agents as well, accusing them of ‘loitering for the purposes of prostitution’. Not only is this dehumanising but mind -boggling as well.

To date many women still face physical, sexual and emotional abuse regardless of the Domestic Violence Law which to me really is just ‘a loud sounding nothing’. Owing to the fact that many women are still vulnerable and have little or no say over their bodies. They are subjected to Rape, crimes of passion and willful transmission of HIV/AIDS.


Although women experience all the insurmountable challenges their efforts go unnoticed, even when it comes to decision-making and positions of authority, very few women if any at all are given the opportunity to show their prowess.

This is why I feel although there is a day set aside to celebrate women, more still needs to be done, respect, recognition and love is still lacking. Until such a time when women’s efforts are recognized and acknowledge it is definitely not yet Uhuru for the fairer sex.


By Patience

JASS at the Feminist Forum in Mexico City

JASS and our Mesoamerican allies, Las Petateras, arrived in Mexico City to participate in the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City that begins on Monday the 16th of March.  JASS and Las Petateras will conduct various workshops including a Tech Camp where new media web tools will be taught and discussed in relation to movement building and strengthening women's collective power.  Also, the 6th Feminist Transformation Watch will take place beginning on the 17th until the 19th with a space on Feminist International Radio from 1:30 to 2:30 pm local time. Goals for this Watch include documenting and reporting on feminist thought and action during the Feminist Forum as well as providing an open space for discussion and expression.  In conjunction with the radio show, participants in the Watch will have a space to report findings and observations from 6-7 pm during the Forum, as well as publishing reports on the Petateras blog and right here on the JASS blog.  So check back often for updates, photos, and reports from the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City! 

Pens and Presentations Down

A session that was supposed to be about experiences of hate crimes, and remembering people we have lost at the hand of homophobia ended up into something else. The session started so well, we had panelists who did presentations and expressions from different organisations, but same people that we always see in these meetings and panels. I loved what Chan from Zambia, if not mistaken said, who he identifies as a transmen. He feels that there is no unity within the feminist movement. A lot of people identified with her.

Two Palistinine women expressed their views on what they think about homosexuality in which a lot of people felt uncomfortable hearing such expressions and called them homophobic, especially in AWID. Isn't that interesting? But what we need to realise is that, they have their own different background, and to quickly judge and crush is really not a strategic move, especially when we are in one struggle for change.

Like I said, what was suppose to be a session about hate crimes and experiences ended up into an emotional session where people expressed their anger and hurt by organisations. These are some of the quote:
We attend matches, risk our lives on TV and papers for change, we write about our sad stories on books during the 16 days of activism, we attend the same meetings that are facilitated by the same people, the terminologies are beyond our understanding, and there is never a follow up. Follow up, is it important?

After our brave efforts on TV and papers, we are never called the next day just to check how we travelled home and if we are safe or not. The same people in the townships that victims us sexually maybe, pose treads, we speak about these issues to the same orgs that we make efforts for in solidarity but there has never been a change to protect us. No empowerment for those who need it, those who risk their lives to advocate for change, but we are in solidarity.

Some felt the need to go corporate because the movement is not inclusive of other marginalised people, doesn't recognise the need to empower when necessary. In South Africa, black lesbians have taken a brave stand to speak out as an effort to change and be part of but it is not in reality, it is an ambition I say. We have never seen a young, black lesbian in any of these panels, representing other young voices in our language unlike the number you see in the street, outside the courts.

A lot of people, particularly black lesbian feels that they are important during the 16 days of activism and matches but never in these spaces.

Others felt that they are not feminst and in fact the movement on its own is divided. There is no unity.

As a young, black feminist with a lesbian identity, I share the same sentiment with those who expressed how they felt. It is painful, it is tiring. Some even gate crashed the meeting just to be in the space and express these issues.

Are we really in solidarity? Is empowerment important and for who? We are represented, wow, great effort but is it how we would want our voices to be painted?

-Keba, South Africa