Africa

URGENT ACTION: Sudan: Two Sudanese Activists At Risk Of Flogging

On 13 November two activists in Sudan are due to stand trial for ‘indecent behaviour’. They are at risk of imprisonment or flogging.

On 21 October Najlaa Mohammed Ali and Amin Senada were arrested by members of Sudan’s police and security forces who raided their car in Port Sudan. Najlaa Mohammed Ali, a lawyer and human rights activist, she met with Amin Senada, also an activist, to discuss the planning of a workshop. After their meeting, both of them got into the car that Najlaa Mohammed Ali had used to get to their meeting point. During the journey, their driver received a phone call and stopped the car to answer it. Minutes later two armed men came to the vehicle claiming to be from Sudan’s Public Order Police. After that another six men from the police and security forces joined them. They accused Amin Senada of placing his hand on Najlaa’s shoulder and ordered them to come with them to the Police Public Order Department. They threatened to take them by force if they refused to comply.

Plus de 70 organisations africaines demandent les Etats africains à soutenir la résolution de l'Assemblée générale des ONU sur la protection des femmes défenseurs des droits de l’homme

Objet : PROJET DE RÉSOLUTION SUR LA PROTECTION DES FEMMES DEFENSEURS DES DROITS DE L'HOMME

Nous vous écrivons en tant qu’un groupe de défenseurs des droits de l'homme Africains et des organisations de la société civile travaillant un peu partout sur le continent tant aux niveaux national, régional et international. Nous suivons avec un grand intérêt les négociations sur le projet de résolution sur la protection des femmes défenseurs des droits humains actuellement en discussion d au sein du Troisième Comité de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies. C'est la première fois qu'un projet de résolution qui traite exclusivement de la protection des femmes défenseurs des droits de l'homme est discuté au sein de ce comité. Ce projet représente une initiative extrêmement importante et significative pour les sociétés africaines.

Les femmes qui s'engagent dans la défense de tous les droits de l'homme et tous ceux qui défendent les droits des femmes et travaillent sur les questions liées à l'égalité des sexes apportent une contribution essentielle aux processus démocratiques, à la construction de la paix et au maintien de la sécurité, du développement et le respect des droits de l'homme dans nos communautés. Cependant, dans ce travail, les femmes défenseurs des droits humains peuvent faire face à une série de violations et d'abus - y compris les violences fondées sur le sexe – de la part des acteurs étatiques et non étatiques. Les États doivent porter une attention particulière aux risques encourus par les femmes défenseurs des droits de l'homme, reconnaître la valeur de leur rôle, et s'engager à assurer leur protection. C'est le moment pour tous les États de faire preuve de leadership en soutenant une résolution qui vise à reconnaître ce rôle au plan mondial.

Over 70 African organisations call on African States to support the UN General Assembly resolution on WHRDs

RE: DRAFT RESOLUTION ON PROTECTING WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

We write to you as a group of African human rights defenders and civil society organizations located across the continent working at national, regional and international levels. We are following negotiations on the draft resolution on the protection of women human rights defenders currently being advanced in the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, with great interest. This is the first time a draft resolution has been put forward focusing exclusively on the protection of women human rights defenders. It is a hugely significant and important initiative for African societies.

Women who engage in the defence of all human rights and all those who defend the rights of women and work on issues related to gender equality make a vital contribution to democratic processes, securing and maintaining peace, and ensuring security, development and respect for human rights in our communities. However, in doing this work, women human rights defenders can face a range of violations and abuses – including gender-based violence – at the hands of State and non-State actors. States need to pay attention to the risks faced by women human rights defenders, acknowledge the value of their role, and commit to ensuring their protection. This is the time for all States to show leadership by supporting a resolution that seeks to do this globally.

Urgent Call to Denounce Sudanese State Violence

Our Sudanese allies have come together to denounce the violence perpetrated by the Sudanese government. Below you will find their message and petition. Please sign and circulate widely amongst your respective networks.

September 2013 saw hoards of people taking to the streets of Sudan in protest, sparked by the government’s lift on fuel subsidies in the already impoverished country. Sudanese police and intelligence forces shot more than two hundred people dead. The fact that the authorities’ guns were aimed at people’s chests and heads indicates that the aim was to "shoot to kill."

On Monday October 21st Elsafie DafAllah and Hyatham Karar will hold a hunger strike in front of the White House (October 21st-25th).

Sudan: Call for solidarity with Amira Osman - woman who refuses to wear hijab faces flogging

Public Statement

A call for solidarity with Amria Osman and women living in Sudan under the terror of Sudan Public Order Regime

Africa's Most Outstanding Emerging Women Leaders: Aya Chebbi

We are extremely proud and excited to announce that one of our networkers, Aya Chebbi, has recently received the prestigious award as one of the 28 Africa's most outstanding emerging Women Leaders!

Les Femmes de La Révolution

Les tunisiennes ont impressionné le monde entier en se levant pour défendre leurs droits en tant que femmes et en tant qu'êtres humains. Epaules contre épaules elle se sont soulevées aux côtés des hommes afin de défendre leur nation pendant la révolution.

Force Feeding in West Africa: Body Image Experts Discuss Beauty Around The World

Young women in West Africa are routinely force fed to help them find a husband, say recent reports.

Very slim women are seen as poor and unable to afford food in West African culture, and overweight women look more affluent.

As a result big is not only beautiful, but a goal that women strive towards.

Déclaration du Réseau Femmes sous lois musulmane sur les violations des droits des femmes dans le conflit au Mali

Le Réseau Femmes sous lois musulmanes (WLUML) exprime sa profonde inquiétude face à l’escalade de la violence au Nord Mali. Les associations féminines, les ONG, diverses organisations des droits humains nationales et internationales et du système des Nations-Unies, ainsi que les media nationaux et étrangers n’ont cessé d’en relayer les nouvelles. Elles ont rendu compte des exactions terribles que subissent les populations locales, depuis le début du conflit armé qui a vu la sécession gagner le Mali.

Promises, Power, and Poverty: Corporate land deals and rural women in Africa

The new wave of corporate investments in land seems intent on expanding and intensifying a short-sighted farming model that, to date, has marginalized women‘s voices and interests. As with sisal, tobacco, and tea in the past, today‘s private investors in soya, jatropha and eucalyptus crops continue to dismiss small-scale food production by women as unimportant and irrelevant. They could not be more wrong.