Reports
2011
International Women's Day Celebration- 'Why We Fight'
The Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN- Africa)* hosted an intergenerational dialogue between different generations of feminists and young girls from private and public schools in Accra. This event brought together 85 participants: 15 women's rights activists and 70 young girls to celebrate International Women's Day. Since its establishment in 2006, this is the first event organised by WIPSEN Africa in celebration of the International Women's Day. March 8 is a special day for women all over the world. In 32 countries it is a holiday, in some countries like Italy women receive flowers and gifts, in others women commemorate the day going out to the streets to demand for equality. March 8, 2011 was particularly important as it marked a centenary since the day was observed for the first time in 2011. The theme of the dialogue 'Why We Fight' was intended to raise awareness among young girls on where the feminist movement has come from and why it is a work in progress. Today, we take for granted women's right to work, go to school, take maternity leave, and vote and be elected into political office. And many women especially the younger generation are afraid to be labelled a 'feminist'. However, it is the feminists' movement that has brought major social changes so that women can claim their basic rights. Of course, we are still far from achieving equality between men and women. Women are still fighting for the right to be free from domestic violence, sexual harassment at work places and in schools, equal access to education, employment and political participation, and the right to have their interests and experiences reflected in policies and decision making. The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of Ghana Police recorded 109,784 cases of domestic violence against women and children from 1999 to 2010. In terms of women's political participation, women account for only 20 out of 230 positions in parliament. This is why it is important to mentor young girls and raise the next generation of feminist leaders. By organising this event WIPSEN Africa sensitised young girls about the importance of fighting for gender equality and dispelled misconceptions about the feminist movement. The event also provided the opportunity for women to celebrate their achievements, reflect on the challenges faced and take stock of where the women's movement has come from and the progresses that need to be made.
Statements from the girls
From the talk, these were some of the girls' thoughts:
"I have learnt that I can do everything and achieve my goals through hardwork, determination and fighting against all odds" Sandra Adjei, St. Lawrence School
"We should be humble, determined, aim high and shouldn't be intimidated by men and the need to redefine what it takes to be a woman". Priscilla Ofei, St. Lawrence School.
"The programme really encouraged me today to take up a leadership role"
"I have learnt a lot of things. My dream is to take care of children who do not have home because I am coming from an area where some of the children do not have food, homes and do not go to school and I was wondering how as a student I can help them. This program has given me opportunities and ways to go about it."
"Women have great potential to build the world and can take the future of the world but they need to know their rights."
2010
PolicySeries on UNSCR 1325
In October 2000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adoptedthe first landmark instrument for the advancement of women's rights,empowerment, participation and equality in the context of conflict, peace andsecurity. This instrument, the UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace andSecurity makes recommendations and provides a framework for action to MemberStates and their respective security institutions, the UN system, parties tothe armed conflict and other actors on a number of issues that relates towomen, peace and security. To this backdrop, from the month of June 2010,WIPSEN-Africa has been organizing a Policy Series on the theme 'UNSC Resolution 1325: Moving beyond the Rhetoric towards AccountableImplementation in the Security Sector'. The impetus for the Policy Seriesis driven by three main factors: 1) the adoption of additional UNSC Resolutionson women peace and security, namely 1820, 1888 and 1889 in 2008 and 2009respectively, 2) the recent appointment of Margot Wallstrom of Sweden as theSpecial Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence inConflict, and 3) the forthcoming 10th anniversary celebrations ofUNSCR 1325 in October 2010 with the Ghana's Security Sector Institutions atboth national and institutional levels on the UN Security Council Resolution1325, to identify women specific needs, gaps and challenges relating to issuesaddressed by the UNSCR 1325. Theround sessions have been held accordingly with the institutions below:
1st round table with the Ghana Police
2nd with the Ghana Immigration Services
3rd the Customs Exercise and PreventiveServices (CEPS)
4th the Drug Enforcement Agency
5th Ghana Prisons
6th Ghana National Fire Services
7th with Private Security Companies
8th with the Armed Forces
9th Parliamentarians
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2009
1. STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP FOR LIBERIA FEMALE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION (LIFLEA)
On August 18, 2003, the stakeholders to the Liberian conflict signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which significantly altered the political environment in the country. Among the vast challenges, free and fair legislative and presidential elections were held and Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf emerged as the first elected woman president in Africa. The new administration inherited enormous social, economic, political and security challenges. Therefore, as part of the overall post-war reconstruction and peace-building processes, the new administration embarked upon the complex and politically sensitive exercise of security sector reform (SSR) in order to address the legacies of long years of poor security sector governance, inadequate gender mainstreaming, and to improve the capacity and professional efficiency of the security sector in the country. In order to achieve the objectives of the SSR, it is important to get the full participation of different actors. The role of women in the SSR process in Liberia is especially important because of their unique experiences during the war and as crucial actors in the security sector; they were not represented in decision-making processes and they could not be easily promoted, even with the appropriate qualifications, competence, experience and knowledge for the post.
Agianst the background of the above, the Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa) and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) begun a process of collaboration with key partners on the issue of gender and security sector reform. This has involved a series of of consultative meetings as well as a needs assesment targeting SSR stakeholders including parliamentarians and security oversight bodies, female security sector personnel, civil society organisations and community members. These activities have been central to the realisation of the overall goal of the project, one that is intended to strenghten the integration of gender and women's issues in SSR processes and enhance the capacities of female security sector personnel in West Africa.
Through a one-year pilot project implemented in Sierra Leone and Liberia, WIPSEN-Africa and DCAF have undertaken a number of activities one of which is a two-day strategic planning workshop for the Liberia Female Law Enforcement Association (LIFLEA) in Monrovia Liberia on the 12th and 13th March, 2009.
Read the full report here!!!
FINAL REPORT - LIFLEA STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP MARCH, 2009
2. WORKSHOP ON GENDER AND SECURITY SECTOR REFORM (GSSR) FOR LIFLEA
A three-day capacity strengthening workshop on Gender and Security Sector Reform was conducted in Monrovia, Liberia for members of the Liberia Female Law Enforcement Association (LIFLEA) on 20th to 22nd October, 2008 at the conference room of the Ministry of Gender and Development in Monrovia. The workshop was co-organised by WIPSEN-Africa and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).
The training was intended to 1) improve understanding of basic concepts and processes on gender and security sector reform, 2) strengthen inter-agency cooperation among female security personnel in Liberia, 3) to build and/or strengthen individual and institutional capacities to mainstream gender and women's issues into security issues, and 4) facilitate knowledge and information networking between female security personnel.
The workshop brought together thirty-three (33) participants from eight (8) security institutions in Liberia. Institutions represented at the training were: the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Fire Service (LFS), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Ministry of National Security (MNS) and Liberia Seaport Police (LSP).
Read full report of the deliberations during the traning workshop here!!!
LIFLEA WORKSHOP GSSR, 2008
3. EXPERTS CONSULTATIVE MEETING
Read full report here!!!
EXPERTS CONSULTATIVE MEETING, 21-22 JULY, 2008
Read full report here!!!
4. STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP
Read full report here!!!
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP REPORT
5. GENDER AND SECURITY SECTOR REFORM TRAINING FOR NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS IN SIERRA LEONE
Read full report here!!!
SIERRA LEONE TRAINING REPORT
6. STRATEGIC REFLECTIVE FORUM TO INSTITUTIONALIZE WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA
Read full report here!!!
SRF REPORT
7. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: FIRST WEST AFRICAN WOMEN'S POLICY FORUM
On the 2nd and 3rd December, 2008, WIPSEN-Africa in collaboration with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) held the first ever West African Women's Policy Forum at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra - Ghana. The forum which was sponsored by Abigail Disney (a philantropist), the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) brought together women from different parts of the sub-region as well other women activists from different parts of the world. At the end of the two-day forum, the women camp up with some policy recommedations.
Read all the policy recommedations here!!!
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS - FIRST WEST AFRICAN WOMEN'S POLICY FORUM
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION- "Why we Fight"
