By Bakah Derick Photo Credit: Maria Isabel Flota Ayala Communication officer FIMI
Indigenous
women from all five sub regions of Africa have ended a five day preparatory
meeting in Yaoundé-Cameroon ahead of the 25th anniversary of the
adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the second Indigenous Women World
conference due for 2020.
According to Lucy Mulenkei Executive Director of African
Indigenous Women’s Organisation AIWO and the founder of the Kenya based Indigenous
Information Network IIN, it was important that indigenous women from across
Africa meet to discuss on the different issues affecting them ahead of Beijing
+25 and Second World Indigenous Women Conference.
“we are here as African indigenous women from over 15 countries
discussing about different issues that affect and impact us considering that
this particular year and the coming we will be celebrating globally the 25years
of Beijing…we still find out that as indigenous women there are a good number
issues not yet done well and we are trying to review and look at it! What are
the issues that we had as African indigenous women and what has been done and
how can we evaluate and look that process whether it has done a lot for
indigenous?” She said
The women are comforted by the work they have done and that done
by some women centered international structures like UN Women especially during
the 61st and 62nd sessions during which the UN Women commission
on the status of women focused on indigenous and rural women respectively thus
valourising the
worries of indigenous women but are concerned about the carefree attitudes of
some governments.
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| Saoudata Aboubacrine from TIN Hinane speaking |
Saoudata Aboubacrine from TIN Hinane representing
the Sahel region believes that the work they have done at community, country
and continental levels can be harmonised during next years’ global events to
improve on the situation of indigenous women. “We live in a lot of insecurity
and protection is very difficult at many levels as concerns are day to day
life. Many people die, many are stigmatised; growing humanitarian crisis and
repression hence very little hope for change despite the availability of
instruments at various levels for the protection of indigenous. It is important
for us to meet and share the issues affecting us so as we meet during the world
event we can clearly seek help.” She said.
“Our organisation SURA MAMA has been taking part in different
networks which we are hosting this preparatory meeting. I feel very satisfied because
this is a sign of advancement for us as indigenous people because years back we
were not even having associations not to talk of networks… platforms like AIWO
have been organisations at national level to be integrated in order to create synergy
and be more powerful in sub-regional, regional and global movements. We hope
that in the coming years the standards of life for indigenous will improve and
their voices will be amplified because they are putting their all to gain their
rights as indigenous women.” Maimuna
Umaro women’s coordinator for the host indigenous association SURA MAMA corroborates
stating that the views expressed at the Yaoundé gathering is a result of broad based
consultations with indigenous women in Cameroon like else.
As the Beijing declaration on women
clocks 25 next year, issues of sexual violence, reproductive health, land
ownership and rights, education, human rights, inclusion water and other basic
needs as well as women’s rights are still amongst identifiable challenges facing
indigenous women in Africa and different parts of the world. African indigenous
women are hoping to be visible at the Beijing +25 and the second conference on indigenous
women events next year and to speak out in different ways and actions as
adopted in the Yaoundé recommendations.
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| Participants at Yaounde meeting |
The lead promoter of the come together International Indigenous
Women's Forum (FIMI) which is a global network that empowers leading indigenous
women's organizations via capacity building and leadership development reminded
the Yaoundé confab participants of its first International Forum of Indigenous
Women, held in Lima, Peru in 2008 and the Indigenous Women’s Fund – AYNI established as a unique international
fund and first of its kind, directed by indigenous women and for indigenous
women.
“We are happy that many indigenous women from the different
regions have been benefiting from this fund and this is an opportunity for some
of the beneficiaries from Africa to share their experiences. As you also know
that the calendar next year will be a busy one for the different processes,
some of the key processes includes Beijing +25 and the second world conference
on indigenous women to be done later next year.” FIMI’s concept note states.
First published by The Guardian Post Daily Newspaper on Monday December 9, 2019
First published by The Guardian Post Daily Newspaper on Monday December 9, 2019