The Women’s Leadership for Peace and Security on the Greater Horn of Africa held a high level mission on ‘Women Building Peace’ in Hargeisa, Somaliland from 10 to 14^th February, 2012. The mission was led by P.M. Kjell Magne Bondevik, a Club of Madrid Member, and former Prime Minister of Norway. The project was launched in 2009 through a partnership of the Club de Madrid (CdM), Isis Women’s International Cross‐Cultural Exchange (Isis‐WICCE), the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Group of 40 Women Leaders (G40) in the region. The project seeks to maximise the participation and contribution of women in national and regional dialogue and decision making on peace and security issues in the greater Horn of Africa, under the UNSRC 1325 framework. The G40 is a community of teachers, humanitarian workers, lawyers, grassroots peace activists, researchers, political scientists, business professionals, historians, social workers, human rights defenders and journalists that bring fresh thinking to crisis prevention and recovery in the greater Horn of Africa. They also initiate new ideas and action through the communal forces of women’s networks and constituencies in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia (Puntland and South Central), Somaliland, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

The mission to Somaliland aimed at engaging with relevant decisionmakers on peace building and post conflict reconstruction issues pertinent to the women of Somaliland. The Vice President of Somaliland Abdirhman Abdallahi Ismail chaired the meeting which was attended by the chair of the Parliament, the First Lady Mrs. Amina Sheikh Mohamed, the Minister of Planning Dr. Sacad Cali Shire, the Minister of Social Welfare Lihaan Maxamed Jaamac, and the Director of Peace and Security at IGAD Honorable Netsannet Asfaw.

G40 members demanded that the government of Somaliland ensures that gender is mainstreamed in all government policies particularly the National Development Plan and the Joint Programme for Local Governments by applying gender sensitive budgeting; implement the 25% quota for women in decision making and peace and security structures and processes.

Members of the Women’s Leadership for peace and Security on the Greater Horn of Africa in a group photo with leaders of Somaliland during a high level mission on ‘Women Building Peace’. Photo by Helen Kezie -Nwoha.

Women also called on government to recognize and use the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on gender, peace and Security (e.g 1325, 1880, 1888, 1960) to ensure; 1) the prevention of gender based violence, 2) the participation of women in peace and security structures and processes, and 3) the protection of women during conflict and post conflict situations.

The meeting recognized the valuable contribution of religious leaders and elders in facilitating peace, and demanded that they ensure the inclusion of women and their needs in all peace processes.  The meeting also called on the international community to respect the needs, interests and wishes of the people of Somaliland; and to particularly ensure that donor assistance for peace and security meaningfully involves women as planners, implementers and beneficiaries.

The recommendations were well received by government representatives who committed to ensuring that the needs and concerns of women are given priority in all peace and development processes.

Isis-WICCE in partnership with CARE Uganda, Uganda Women Parliamentary Forum (UWOPA) began a four-day peace exposition in Kasese town focusing on child marriages as a one of the most prominent forms of sexual violence against women in the district.

Kasese is a post-conflict community that has not received much attention in terms of national development plans and policies and the purpose of holding the expo here is to highlight needs of people of Kasese and call on government to do more to lift the Rwenzururu people out of poverty.

The first Peace Exposition was held last year in Soroti district and it highlighted the need for government to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 to protect, prevent and promote women’s rights in conflict and post conflict areas. The Kasese Peace Expo was organized with Kasese War Widows Network, a local womens NGO working to bring about dignity of women who have taken long to recover from war.

Women from different countries at the peace exposition in Kasese on Monday Nov 28.

The Chief guest, His Majesty the king of Rwenzururu Kigdom Charles Wesley Mumbere acknowledged that violence is a global problem and quoted Koffi Annan, the former Secretary General of the UN that domestic violence knows no bounds and that it is the most pervasive and shameful human rights violation.

The Omusinga pointed out the lack of interest by law enforcement offices particularly the Police Force was exacerbating the problem.

“They are not interested in a domestic violence case.”

He highlighted major causes of domestic violence in the region where his kingdom lies as unemployment, substance abuse, poverty, landlessness, lack of family planning, property inheritance as well as forced and early marriages and unequal opportunities.

“The people of Rwenzururu have faced conflict for a long time from 1962 to 2002. The veterans have never been compensated, and unfortunately the post Rwenzururu conflict was overshadowed by the LRA conflict in northern Uganda.”

 He said that the women of Rwenzururu have endured poverty and have become victims of the frustrations of the men since the disillusioned men turn their dissatisfaction onto the women in turn.

The King of Rwenzururu puts his support behind the PEAR Campaign to end rape.

Isis-WICCE launched a PEAR  (Peace, Empowerment, Accountability and Reclaiming) Campaign to end rape of women in armed conflict.

The campaign was timely and tied in the 16 days of activism and theme “Challenging militarism and violence against women.”

The goal of the campaign is to advocate for rehabilitation of survivors of sexual violence in six countries in Africa by 2014.

The campaign, which is on the African continent level, aims to build a movement of anti-rape campaigners and also urge countries to increase the number of countries ratifying and domesticating the African Union Protocol on Women’s Rights in three years.

The Peace Exposition will go on until December 1 and local women and their leaders in a move to find ways to end sexual will discuss different issues and gender-based violence. Over 200 grassroots women from different parts of Uganda are taking part in the Peace Exposition.

Magdalena Ehisa Tito, an elegant and extremely polite woman welcomed us into her home. The 52 year- old, the only traditional chief in the whole of South Sudan has become a role model for the women of Torit, Eastern Equatoria State. Chief Magdalena was born on November 25, 1959 in Torit and she went primary school at the age of 10 years. She started to work in 1977 as a veterinary assistant to the present Minister of Agriculture, Betty Ogwaro. At eh age of 19, Tito got married, much later than most of her peers. At the time most girls were married off by the age of 12.

Her marriage was not one many people would relate to today. Magdalena was first abducted and the abduction led into a marriage as was the practice at that time. “In our tradition when a man likes a woman, she will steal her either on her way to school or while going to fetch firewood. Once this is done, the family of the girl is informed and the marriage is arranged,” Magdalena explained.

Even today early marriage remains a challenge for girls in post conflict South Sudan, preventing their enrolment, retention and completion of their education.

Magdalena had two sons but later divorced when her husband failed to pay bride price just one cattle to her family. The divorce was solely on basis of non-payment of dowry and Tito received her divorce papers in 1983.

Chief Magdalena at her home in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. Photo by Helen Kezie-Nwoha.

Her desire to serve her community moved Chief Magdalena to join the police in 1992 where she graduated in 1996. Thereafter the police authorities sent her to train as a midwife. She said she was motivated to join the force because she wanted to contribute to keeping law and order in the South of Sudan. Though the training in the police college was tough, Magdalena was fit enough to carry out all the training schemes. It was during her time as at the police training that the Khartoum government of Sudan changed the education curriculum from English to Arabic.

Chief Magdalena says this move came together with a series of other policies that made life difficult for the people of Southern Sudan, including the children, who had to automatically convert to learning in a new language.  Chief Magdalena took part in the struggle for South Sudanese independence. She narrates stories of how she worked alongside other members of the Southern Sudan liberation movement to smuggle children to East Africa countries where they could study in english in defiance of the ‘Arabisation’ of South Sudanese people.

Her contribution led to Sudan Peoples liberation Movement (SPLM) to recognise her as a leader for her community. True to their promise, when time came to nominate a Traditional Chief in Torit, she was nominated with other men who she beat in elections held in 2004 to become the first female traditional Chief in South Sudan.  This position not following a certain lineage would pause challenges to Magdalena as a woman leader. The Traditional Chiefdoms are male dominated and Magdalena wasn’t sure she would be accepted. But many recognised her community service and in 2008, Magdalena was elected the Paramount Chief, leading 396 male chiefs in Eastern Equatoria State.

Chief Magdalena explained that culture and tradition is not favourable to women. “Traditionally, men and boys provide security for the animals (mostly cattle) while women perform domestic work such as providing food, cultivating, building houses and taking care of the children,” she says. “ Despite the huge responsibility the women have no say at home, including making a choice of a husband.”

Chief Magdalena says this has led to many failed marriages and most times men abandon their wives and take on several other women, leaving a huge burden for women in terms of raising children. Chief Magdalena notes that this abandonment has led to some women resorting to alcoholism. She also says many women suffer domestic violence where their husbands and in-laws beat them.

For instance a woman caught committing adultery is arrested and sent to prison and she notes that some men take advantage of this to accuse their wives falsely to earn them punishment by the Customary court.

War and changed gender roles

After the war, Chief Magdalena says, men returned and found the women had taken up some of their roles.  “the men became lazy, most times they go out drinking and only return at night,” she narrated, “ Those men who are employed are not very different from the unemployed; most of them don’t bring their salaries home for their families.”

The inability of men to take up their responsibilities has increased gender-based violence in the communities. Women in polygamous relationships suffer a lot of neglect from their spouse, and sometimes they seek for solace in the hands of other men, most times this results in arrest of such women.

Such cases are some of that make it to the chiefs in the area. Magdalena explains that most local Chiefs don’t understand or they do but fail to question the underlining cause and continue to sentence the women to spend six months in prison, while the men are left free.

The trauma from the long civil conflict resulted has been reflected in high levels of  in high alcohol consumption among both women and men, leading to couples abandoning household care unattended. Also men here can easily divorce their wives for irresponsible behaviour with support from the traditional institutions.

As a woman, Chief Magdalena counsels women to avoid drinking and be role models for their children and the youths. She believes the woman has the responsibility of keeping the family together and imparting good morals to the children and the community at large.

In the cases where men have abandoned their wives, Magdalena advocates for such women to be compensated instead of being left to suffer alone to take care of the children and the household needs. Even though the war is gone, most women of South Sudan still face the culture war that limits the engagement of women in public spaces as well the culture that doesn’t question and address violence against women.

For many women they war trauma and continued marginalisation and violence make it difficult for recovery even in the new independent state. The absence of central government and state programs means most of delivery of justice is shouldered by traditional leaders who most of the time support men. In Torit there is no single counselling centre for women and others who require psychosocial support. Magdalena calls on the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to ensure trauma healing is a component of the post conflict reconstruction process and also ensure rule of law and justice is brought to the ordinary citizens especially women

By Helen Kezie-Nwoha – Isis-WICCE Program Manager

She introduced to participants the elements of feminism as the recognition that gender is one of the key political energies in world; it is one way of organising power and always operates within a frame in which other ways of organising power are at work (class, race, ethnicity, age, etc). “Gender is an acquired identity that is learned, changes over time and varies widely within & across cultures.”

Ms. Clarke further elaborated that gender equality does not mean men and women become the same, but their opportunities and life chances are equal. It entails that men and women equally enjoy socially-valued goods, opportunities, resources, and rewards. In other words gender equality is central to social justice. Clarke explained that feminism is about challenging the structures of patriarchy which is a form of oppression that is still dominant and needs to be unveiled, confronted, and transformed.

Patriarchy is broadly defined as a system in which men and boys are favoured/revered/acknowledged at the expense of women and girls. The participants were introduced to the link between armed conflict and gender.

“Due to differential gender roles, people of different genders experience conflict differently and while entire communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict, people gendered as ‘women and girls’ are particularly affected because of their status in society,” Yaliwe explained to participants.

During this session participants shared their stories of how they have witnessed gender manifestation in conflict. Many reported that during conflict women and girls are captured, raped, forced into marriage while pregnant women berries are opened.

Women of Central African Republic shared horrifying atrocities that the LRA rebels are currently inflicting on their country’s women. Therefore gendered approach to conflict required an understanding of social constructions of womanhood and manhood.

Yaliwe told participants that in most cases conflict analysis is gender blind because stories of how men and women are affected are always missing and urged them to be courageous and bold and tell their stories when given an opportunity.

The Institute runs annually and brings together women from different countries in conflict and post areas around the world.  This year the institute has brought 34 women from nine countries ie Pakistan, India, Nepal, Cote D’Ivoire, Tunisia, Central African Republic, DRC, Zimbabwe and Uganda. The theme of this years institute is strengthening women’s potential in leadership and peace building. For the next two weeks the participants will be taken through the feminist approaches to technology, sexual and reproductive health and rights and research methods and documentation of women’s realities

Participants from Nepal at the opening of the Institute in Kampala on November 14.

In her welcoming remarks, Isis-WICCE Executive Director, Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng, informed the participants that the aim of institute is to enhance the capacity of women leaders in conflict and post conflict countries as well as enable them to tell their stories of conflict because quite often the world does not know what happens to women during conflict.

She also noted that, there are statistics about the atrocities committed on women in conflict but  the stories and voices behind the statistics  miss out. Isis-WICCE   brings women to tell the stories behind the statistics and the resilience of the women.

Isis-WICCE has trained over 400 women from different countries and equipped them with knowledge and skills in peace building and conflict transformation.

Ochieng also highlighted the achievements of the trained women over the past years.

“ Women who have gone through the Institute have been able to take up leadership positions   in international agencies like United Nations; donors agencies while others were able replicate the skills by establishing community based organisations,” she said.

L-R: Isis-WICCE Executive Director Ruth Ochieng, Board President Dr. Thelma Awori and Board Member Yaliwe Clarke at the opening.

She also acknowledged the contribution of partners and Isis-WICCE board members who have contributed in different ways to make the institute what it is.

Harriet Nabukeera Musoke, the Exchange Programme Coordinator presented a photo gallery to show the impact of conflict on women and how the institute has been able to respond to challenges facing women in conflict.

Experience Sharing from Tunisia and DRC

Henda Chennaoui,  a participant from Tunisia  shared the role of women in the recent Tunisian revolution where over 200 people especially women lost their lives amongst them was a six months  old baby who was hit by police teargas canister.

Henda, Institute participant from Tunisia.

She further noted that Tunisia is a mix of Sharia and secular law and the new government is in the process of drafting a new constitution which is hoped to protect Tunisia from  extreme and radical Islamic sharia law which suffocates women’s

Henda pointed to challenges Tunisian women face including no succession and inheritance rights as well as right to divorce.

“47% of women are unemployed as opposed to 20% of men. The few women who manage to work are paid meagre salaries as low as 8 Euros per month.”

She concluded with a statement that “Without equality there cannot be democracy and liberty has no price.”

Likewise Angele Bahige, coordinator for Appui aux Initiatives de Bien-etre Familial [AIBEF] from DRC also shared the experiences from her country especially on sexual violence in South Kivu where she hails from.

Most cases of rape, she said, are happening in villages and this is perpetuated by regular army, armed gangs and men in military uniforms.

“Worse still, there  are no services for rape victims  and the available medical team to  assist  is  limited in numbers and can only found in towns,” Bahige said.

She reported that rape is a shameful act and most victims are rejected by their immediate family members while others runaway and remain silent hence living in trauma for the rest of their lives.

“The bold ones who manage to come up and tell their stories have been supported to recover and live normal lives again by offering livelihood support and counselling,” said Bahige.

She expressed her disappointment with the UN mission is Congo which is  not doing much to assist women victims because “they come in when everything has already happened, take pictures of  naked women who have been raped and ask question and go away.”

She called for the UN stop being just “observing force to intervening force.

Bahige pointed out that the Judiciary system is very slow in addition to lack of money to facilitate their cases.

“It is only human rights organisations that are offering some assistance for the women to access justice,” she said, “Although women have gone through horrendous and traumatic experiences, they have been able to stand  and use the  God  given energy  and have remained strong with the support of women groups who are helping them to heal.”

Bahige called support and mobilisation of women ahead of DRC elections due to take place later this month.

“There is no woman parliamentarian in Bukavu despite women being the majority at 57%. To them a woman is only supposed to be in the kitchen and therefore she should not leave her home and work kilometres away from her home and later alone stand for office,” she said.

Isis-WICCE Program Manager Helen Kezie- Nwoha with Ms Clarke and Karki Durga of Worec Nepal lighting a peace candle.

Dr. Thelam Awori, Isis-WICCE Board president emphasised that the institute is the  core component of Isis-WICCE programmes  because it takes care bringing out the voices and realities of women.

She called upon all the participants to commit themselves to become change agents in their communities

The Executive Director,

Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng is one of the key women leaders on the continent of Africa advancing the rights of women in the peace and human security architecture. Her 20 years’ experience in development communications (1977- 1994) in the government sector, and 14 years of her leadership of an international women’s rights organisation in Africa, Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE), Ruth has gracefully contributed to the history of women’s status in armed conflict affected communities through Research and Documentation, and Building Skills of Women’s Leaders.

Her passion in ensuring that peace is meaningful to women has been actualised through the organising of innovative short term medical camps in Uganda, Liberia and Southern Sudan, where the forgotten health ailments amongst women in post conflict settings of these countries have been addressed and restored hope. She has also been one of the leaders who ensured women’s voices were part of the agenda during the Juba Peace talks between the government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Movement. Ruth took up leadership to mobilise women in Uganda to engender the Uganda Government framework on Peace and Recovery Development Plan. She supported ICCO in the Netherlands in its advocacy to approve the country’s UNSCR1325 plan of action.

She is highly interested in the preservation and transfer of skills and knowledge. She has presented at a number of national, regional and international fora advocating for the urgency to involve women in peace building processes as well as supporting the practical and strategic needs of women in post conflict. She has authored of papers and articles some have been published in journals and books. She has coordinated the development of an array of video documentaries on Women, Conflict, and Human Security. She is also a trainer and facilitator.

Exchange Program Coordinator,

Harriet Nabukeera-Musoke holds Masters and Bachelor’s Degrees in humanities, as well as a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Education. She has also undertaken courses in advanced Peace Building and Conflict Transformation, People’s Diplomacy and Non-Violence, Gender as well as Human Rights. She has worked with Isis-WICCE for 10 years. Harriet is a social justice worker, committed to equality, dignity and fairness in human relationships.

She coordinates Isis-WICCE’s Exchange Programme Institute that builds the competencies of women leaders from diverse backgrounds, to engage and effectively take lead in conflict transformation and peace building. The cross-cultural Institute is a forum for exchanging ideas, learning from one another, gaining a broader understanding of the post-conflict issues, acquiring coping strategies and developing new ideas for action. The responses/ interventions undertaken by the women leaders participating in the Institute have made them effective agents of change. Her activism has exposed her to a diversity and wealth of knowledge on the realities of women in various conflict-ridden countries, globally.

Harriet is committed to the promotion of the rights of all, good governance, justice, peaceful resolution of conflict as well as inclusiveness, as prerequisites for sustainable peace and development.

Communications Coordinator,

Bedha holds a MA Communication policy studies, a BA Literature and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalis

Finance Officer,

Has a long experience in accounting, and management of finances. She has worked in the women’s movement for the last 7 years in various fields. She has five years experience in managing micro finance institutions that aimed at empowering women and two years in advocacy for the promotion of women’s human rights particularly in situations of armed conflict.

She heads Isis –WICCE finance department, where she is responsible for preparation of financial reports, organization budgets, handling the audits and has also been involved in fundraising. She conducts training among Community Based Organisations in Uganda in financial management.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce with a bias in Accounting and a Diploma in microfinance.