Burundi
| Burundi is one of the eight member countries of EASSI. This francophone country participates through the main organ of CAFOB. Le Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization created in 1994 under the initiative of 7 women’s organizations and with the support of the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI). It was registered with the Ministry of the Interior January 20, 1997. It is composed of 63 associations acting in different sectors of development. More..http://www.refugee-rights.org/NGODirectory/CAFOB-Burundi.htm |
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After recent elections in February 2007, CAFOB has a new executive committee as shown below:-
President and legal representative: Madam Claire SINARINZI
Vice President: Madam Léocadie NZIRORERA
Secretary General: Madam Consolée KAMARO
Treasurer : Madam Jusine NISUBIRE
Vice Treasurer : Madam Cecile NINDAGIYE
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Eritrea
| Eritrea is another dynamic member of EASSI. Through NUEW and NUEYS, they are able to contribute to EASSI's activities and vision. |
| The National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) was established in 1979 as one of the mass organizations of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front. In its current form, the NUEW is an autonomous non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the status of Eritrean women More... www.nuew.org |
The other focal member from Eritrea is National Union of Eritrean Youth & Students (NEUYS) -
This is a non-governmental, non-profit, democratic organization dedicated to the well being of Eritrean youth and to the public in general. NUEYS works in the areas of health, education, human rights, evironmental management and strengthening the civil society in Eritrea. For more information, go to
http://www.eriyouth.org/
Recently in Eritrea, FGM was abolished.
Eritrean Governments’ proclamation on to abolish Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (generally known by its acronym FGM) is a more accurate description of what has been done to between to approximately 100-130 million girls and women around the globe. Everyday, 6000 more are mutilated and 2 million more victims each year .
The practice of FGM in Eritrea inflicts girls between the ages of 7 days and 10 years. It has been frequently observed that female genital mutilation enforces female subordination and represses female sexuality. In the country, women who do not undergo these practices are seen as "impure," having uncontrollable sexual impulses which drive them to sexual dalliance and prostitution, put them outside the category of "respectable" people and make them unsuitable for marriage. Parents wanting to make certain that their female children do not follow the "wrong path" believe that genital mutilation will curb the girl's sexual appetite. At the same time, genital mutilation is also considered a social rite of passage that can be avoided only at the cost of ostracism.
A health and demographic survey carried out in Eritrea in 2002, pointed out that in spite of effort made by the government and Non-Government Organizations to sensitize and create awareness 90% of women in the country practice FGM . This indicated the need for further complementary measures in the fight against the practice in the country. After an intensive advocacy campaigns(by women’s’ organizations like National Union of Eritrean Women, Community based activists and parliamentarians) against the practice of female circumcision carried out in all administrative regions, the Government of Eritrea on 4th April 2007 issued a Proclamation abolishing female circumcision.
Proclamation 158/2007 notes that female circumcision is a procedure that seriously endangers the health of women, cause them considerable pain and suffering besides threatening their lives. It also provides that FGM violates women’s basic human rights by depriving them of their physical and mental integrity to freedom of violence and discrimination, and in the most extreme case, their life. The Proclamation comprises of five Articles including whosoever requests, incites or promotes female circumcision by providing tools or any other means and whosoever, knowing that female circumcision it to take place or has taken place, fails without good cause to warn or inform the proper authorities promptly, shall be punishable with a fine and imprisonment . The specific punishments are stated in the article below;
Article 4. Punishment
(1) Whosoever performs female circumcision shall be punishable with imprisonment of two to three years and a fine of five to ten thousand (5,000.00 to 10,000.00) Nakfa. If female circumcision causes death, imprisonment shall be from five to ten years.
(2) Whosoever requests, incites or promotes female circumcision by providing tools or by any other means shall be punishable with imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of three thousand (3,000.00) Nakfa.
(3) Where the person who performs female circumcision is a member of the medical professions, the penalty shal be aggravated and the court may suspend such an offender from practicing his/her profession for a maximum period of two years.
(4) Whosoever, knowing that female circumcision is to take place or has taken place, fails, without good cause, to warn or inform, as the case may be, the proper authorities promptly about it, shal be punishable with a fine of up to one thousand (1,000.00) Nakfa(local currency .
Proclamation 158/2007 came into effect as of 31 March 2007.
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This move by the government makes the nation one of the few in the region to outlaw the practice of FGM. It is such a commendable step by the government in creating towards an enducive environment within the society where its women are protected against any kind of violence and discrimination. Beyond inscribing a law making it a practice or a reality which is the enforcement of the law has much importance. Therefore the government should continue with this commendable effort to curb the practice by making sure the enforcement of the law.
It should also be noted also that the main reason for the wide spread of the practice in the country is cultural values and attitudes attached to it. And it is known that cultural change comes in a long period of time and requires extensive awareness creation and sensitization of people of the pros and cons of practice on girls/women. Hence forth there still is a lot to do in the fight against the practice of FGM in Eritrea
Afrah Negash The Harmful Practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Eritrea. Op-Ed Commentary. April 13th, 2007. |
National Union of Eritrean Women (NEUW) - www.nuew.org
National Union of Eritrean Youth & Students (NEUYS)
- www.denden.com
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is truly a gem in the sub-region. Graced with beautiful people, it works veryhard to promote women's causes. The two focal organisations in the region are:-Christian Relief & Development Association - and Ethiopia Women’s Network(NEWA)
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Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) is an indigenous non-profit umbrella organization. It is an association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in relief and rehabilitation, developmental activities focusing on poverty alleviation and policy advocacy and lobbying.
Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) is an indigenous non-profit umbrella organization. It is an association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in relief and rehabilitation, developmental activities focusing on poverty alleviation and policy advocacy and lobbying. More ...www.crdaethiopia.org |
Christian Relief & Development Association - www.crdaethiopia.org
Ethiopia Women’s Network(NEWA)
Kenya
Kenya is part of the newly established East African Community. Its capital Nairobi is a fast and evolving city. Our member organisation Kenya Women Political Caucus, changed its name recently to Caucus for Women in Leadership (CWL). The reason for this change, was that while previously the mandate was to advocate for affirmative action, ten years down the road and there was not much change. The need to nurture women from the grassroots level has developed the need to change the name and focus. They also realised that the scope for the caucus was not only at National level but for all women. CWL has developed Regional Assemblies which concentrate on three areas namely:-
1. Prevention of HIV/AIDS and positive culture
2. Enhancement of women's political voice and participation.
3. Economic empowerment
Other websites that are helpful in searhing fro information on Kenay are:-
Coalition on Violence Against Women - www.covaw.or.ke
Education Centre for Women in Democracy - www.ecwd.org
FEMNET (African Women's Development and Communication Network) - www.femnet.or.ke
Maendelewo Ya Wanawake Organisation - www.maendeleo-ya-wanawake.org
Another recent move in kenya which is qa plus for women is th new initiative to set aside a fund for women.
KENYA: EXCLUSIVE BANK FOR WOMEN
 
Kenya makes a mark in money matters for women. Equity bank rolled out a Sh5 billion lending programme to women in a joint plan with United Nations Development Programme. The lending initiative seeks to increase the competitiveness of businesses owned by women. An initial 2,000 businesswomen have been selected for training in the joint programme organised by the bank, UNDP, International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
By The Standard (Kenya), by Washington Gikunju | 06.22.2007
Equity Bank CEO, Mr James Mwangi, said women involved in the programme would benefit from business loans advanced by the bank and free training from the partnering organisations. "Our aim is to produce globally competitive business women through offering them skills and financing in the five year programme," said Mwangi. Three exclusive Equity Bank branches targeting women shall be opened in Nairobi to kick off the programme. President Kibaki will officially launch the programme on Monday.
Speaking during a media luncheon, Mwangi said Kenya had now gained world recognition in microfinance through the Global Vision award that his bank won early this month. "It will be hard now to talk about microfinance and leave out Equity Bank and Kenya just as it was to leave out Grameen Bank and Bangladesh prior to this award," said Mwangi, while referring to the Bangladesh microfinance bank that was founded by Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus. He added that the Chinese Development Bank was studying the bank’s model with the aim of replicating it in their country.
Mwangi was recently appointed an advisor to the newly formed United Nations advisors group on inclusive financial sectors. The group’s first meeting shall be held in Nairobi between June 27 and 29.
Key personalities are expected to attend the meeting including African Development Bank President, Mr Donald Kabureka, and Central Bank of West African States Governor, Mr Damon Baro, who are the only other Africans on the advisory panel.
The panel shall then share their recommendations with President Kibaki as well as representatives from the ministries of Finance, Trade and Industry, Planning, Youth Affairs and Gender. Speaking during the same function, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Elizabeth Lwanga, said her organisation was interested in replicating the programme in the entire east African region. "I have no doubt that this programme will be hugely successful and I have even received a call from UNDP headquarters who are interested in spreading the programme in the entire region," said Lwanga.
UNDP estimates that 53 per cent of rural women and 63 per cent of their urban counterparts live below the poverty line. The estimates also show that 85 per cent of businesses in the informal sector and 48 per cent of small and micro enterprises are owned by women, who face the twin challenges of lack of business skills and financing. Mwangi said branches dedicated to women will be run based on the experience drawn from the bank’s long working relationship with women, who comprise 54 per cent of the bank’s customers. One of the three branches shall be located in the Central Business District while the other in Community area while the third shall be housed at the bank’s new headquarters at Capitol Hill.
Source: http://www.eastandard.net/
Coalition on Violence Against Women - www.covaw.or.ke
Education Centre for Women in Democracy - www.ecwd.org
FEMNET (African Women's Development and Communication
Network) - www.femnet.or.ke
Maendelewo Ya Wanawake Organisation - www.maendeleo-ya-wanawake.org
Rwanda
Rwanda, in east-central Africa, is surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. It is slightly smaller than Maryland. Steep mountains and deep valleys cover most of the country. Lake Kivu in the northwest, at an altitude of 4,829 ft (1,472 m), is the highest lake in Africa. Extending north of it are the Virunga Mountains, which include the volcano Karisimbi (14,187 ft; 4,324 m), Rwanda's highest point.
Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe - www.profemme.org.rw
Somalia
| Somalia is one of the eight member countries of EASSI. Very well represented under IIdA which si diligently represented by Ayaan, the current situation is quite disheartening. With the ongoing humanitarian crisis, it is difficult to find sufficient time to monitor the progress on women's concerns. We are grateful to the following organisations for their support. |
DALLALO under the Umbrella Organisation for COGWO Mogadishu - www.dallaalo.org
IIDA |
DALLALO under the Umbrella Organisation for COGWO Mogadishu
- www.dallaalo.org
IIDA
Tanzania
Officially called the United Republic of Tanzania, it is the largest of the countries in Eastern Africa.
he United Republic of Tanzania is located in Eastern Africa between longitude 29o and 41o East, Latitude 1o and 12o South. The United Republic of Tanzania was formed out of the union of two sovereign states namely Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Tanganyika became a sovereign state on 9th December, 1961 and became a Republic the following year. Zanzibar became independent on 10th December, 1963 and the People's Republic of Zanzibar was established after the revolution of 12th January, 1964. The two sovereign republics formed the United Republic of Tanzania on 26th April, 1964. However, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic consisting of the Union Government and the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government. Tanzania is the biggest (land area) among the East African countries (i.e. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). Tanzania has a spectacular landscape of mainly three physiographic regions namely the Islands and the coastal plains to the east; the inland saucer-shaped plateau; and the highlands. The Great Rift Valley that runs from north east of Africa through central Tanzania is another landmark that adds to the scenic view of the country. The country has the largest concentration of wild animals. It also has pristine sandy beaches and Africa’s highest and snow-capped mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Tanzania is home to the world famous National Parks and Game Reserves of: Ngorongoro Crater, Selous Game Reserve, Gombe Stream, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Mikumi, Arusha, Ruaha, Saadani, Udzungwa Mountains, and Mkomazi Game Reserve. Other Game Reserves include: Amani, Kigosi, Lukwika-Lumesule, Maswa, Monduli Mountains, Msangesi and Ugala.
Dar es Salaam is the commercial capital and major sea port for Tanzania Mainland and it serves neighbouring land-locked countries of Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as Eastern DRC. Other sea ports include Zanzibar, Tanga, and Mtwara. Because of its geographical and locational advantage, Dar es Salaam Port presents itself as the gateway into East and Central Africa. Furthermore, this renders Tanzania as a logical investment destination for investors.
Amongst the member organisationnns of EASSI are:-
Tanzania Media Women's Association (TWAMWA) - www.tamwa.org
Tanzania Association for NGOS (TANGO) - www.tango.or.tz
Tanzania Gender Networking Programme - www.tgnp.org
Briefly about TGNP.
The Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), established in 1993, is a Tanzanian non governmental organization (NGO) working in the civil society sector, focusing on the practical promotion and application of gender equality and equity objectives through policy advocacy and mainstreaming of gender and pro-poor perspectives at all levels in the Tanzanian society, including the public and governmental sectors. These broad objectives have been effected through:
1. Activism, lobbying and advocacy
2. Training and capacity building
3. Networking and
4. Action oriented research.
Briefly about TAMWA (Tanzania Media Women's Association)
The Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA) is a non-governmental Organisation (NGO) formed in 1987 by 12 women journalists and broadcaster who strongly opposed the way media portrayed women and determined to join hands to remedy the situation.
TAMWA programmes
1. Promioting visibility of the women factor in development
2. Campaign against HIV/AIDS and FGM
3. Eradication of the worst forms of child labour.
Tanzania Media Women's Association (TWAMWA) - www.tamwa.org
Tanzania Association for NGOS (TANGO) - www.tango.or.tz
Tanzania Gender Networking Programme - www.tgnp.co.tz
Uganda
Uganda, once called the Pearl Of Africa by Sir Winston Churchill, is proud to host the Eassi Secretariat. Wit eight full time paid staff, the secretariat has a whole range of programme activities which it undertakes with the aid of donors and the assistance of partner and member organisations.
This year 2007, Uganda is hosting CHOGM, which is the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meting. precding this meeting, workshops and meetings have been held with Government representatives from the Commonwealth, Civil Society Organisations and Women organisations on the plight and future of women. EASSI is proud to have been at he forefront of hosting several of these deliberations.
Member organisations from Uganda are Uganda Women's Network. This is a body that constitutes women member organisations of teh country. A few details from recent successful proceedings within the secretariat are:-
Commonwealth Partners; Forum, which is a session of workshops leading to Women's Affairs Ministers' Meeting, deliberating on women's issues.
Amongst the key concerns were:-
The need to include Gender Financing in their budgets.
Greater political space for women.
Gender budgeting and gender mainstreanming critical to the achievement of gender equality
Financing of women's organisations and national machineries critical to the socio-economic development of women.
At the Secretariat, there is also an intern programme where four young women aged 20-30 from the member countries undergo a nine month intensive internship for the empowerment. This has proved successful and mopre information can be achieved on the Intern page.
There have been several empowering workshops with partner organisatiosn amongst them:-
Online scholarly publishing workshop with Makerere University
Uganda Land Alliance monitoring workshop
Uganda Women's Network training workshop
African Women in Leadership Training
KCC One stop youth centre project |
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Uganda Women’s Network
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