This week Women’s Weekly provides a platform for Hanna Forster, director of the African Centre for Human Rights Studies to advocate for women’s rights. In her statement, she outlines the preponderant role that women continue to play in society. Below, we reproduce the full text:   

Women have been very much alive to their responsibilities to their families, their communities, their nations, to mother Africa and the world at large.  This is evidenced every day in our encounters with our mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces, and so, in their perpetual struggle to make life comfortable, and worth living, to stay the least.

Women have never shied away from their roles and have even gone beyond expectations. A case in point is the maiden visit paid by African Women freedom fighters to the late President Julius Nyerere in 1962 to pledge their support to the ideals of the then proposed OAU, a year before its birth.  One could safely say that despite the fact that women are mostly relegated to the back, in many instances they are alive to their responsibilities and are committed to nation building in solidarity with men.  

The symbolic reception of this group of women by the late President then was indeed a recognition and acceptance of the role of women in the liberation struggle.  In this recognition therefore lies the acknowledgement that role of Women in supporting the African Union, their respective nations, and their families cannot be overemphasized.

 This acknowledgement has been part of the impetus which we are witnessing today at all levels of society – the world wide approval that ‘Women’s Rights are Human Rights’, and the recognition of women’s contribution epitomized in the interventions made by women individually and collectively, giving birth to the many women’s groups and networks today.

Challenges
The above not withstanding, the African women continue to face life-threatening challenges to their development and welfare.  Gender inequality persists in all spheres of life and at all levels.  Notwithstanding, one can safely say that we have come a long way.  
In our days, we have witnessed widespread poverty, illiteracy, HIV/AIDs, gender based violence, globalisation, wars and civil strife of which women and children have been exposed to many shocks, leading to death, maiming, displacements among other tragedies.

The dearth of women in decision making bodies does not enhance the proportionate sharing of resources, experiences and expertise with men.   Discrimination and exclusion of women comprises their rights in the face of the many challenges mentioned above.

Fortunately, we have equally witnessed the development of increase in the political will of African leaders leading to the adoption of the Constitution Act of the African Union (Art 4(1) relating to gender parity, the development and adoption of African Women’s Protocol (2003) as well as the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004).  These provisions have consolidated state obligations enshrined in international and regional instruments that condemn all forms of discrimination based on sex and gender.

How do we go about this?
Women should continue to intensify organizing themselves and endeavour to speak with one loud voice against social and economic injustice, and for equality.  States cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to their cries.  Consequently we have seen a growing incidence in the formulation of laws and policies taking women’s issues more seriously in many of our countries in Africa.

To turn to the theme of ‘Women’s rights – our collective responsibility’, I would like to state that relegating women’s issues to women alone will impact negatively on national development. For the observance of women’s human rights to be a reality all hands must be on deck.  We are talking here of both moral and legal responsibility of all parties concerned.

The State has the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights of its citizen, not least the women.  Consequently, some of the ways in which this could be achieved could be through the acceleration of
- domestication and implementation processes;
- popularisation of the instruments;
- popularisation of the important commemoration of women’s Day (Pan African Women’s Day; International Women’s Day; 16 Days Activism against   gender violence; Human rights Day, to name but a few, as a event to examine our milestones;
-effective litigation processes should all else fails.

Civil society should continue to collaborate and compliment government’s role in creating a conducive atmosphere for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights. The promotion of shared attitudes and interests among citizen is key, as is that of group solidarity and coalition building.

As we again celebrate the Pan African Women’s Day, 2008, let us take time to reflect on the true significance of the Day which lies in the participation of us all making time not only to think about the meaning of women’s rights but to our commitment to its total realization for all women, nationally, regional and internationally.  

It is therefore befitting that I dedicate this Pan-African Women’s Day 2008 to all the Women of Africa, and indeed all men who support the case and live up to this responsibility.  Yes, pay tribute to those common men and women who have committed themselves to the establishment and maintenance of safety nest for women in their Communities and beyond, those who are working and making personal sacrifice in order to contribute to the building of a better, justice world, where all human rights are respected for all.  They have devoted themselves to insist on goodwill in place of force.

Women promote the fact that peace cannot be kept by force but reinforced so that it can be achieved through understanding.  Bravo, Women of Africa
To build and maintain a just and better world for our children, we must all, individually and collectively take up the responsibility of promoting and protecting all human rights for all, beginning from our homes, into our communities, our nations and our world.  

Human Rights begins at home, we must acknowledge that every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.  Once we take human rights seriously, only then can we begin to speak and live the language of human rights, which is synonymous with justice, peace, equality and freedom for both men and women.   

This responsibility should not be seen as an exclusively women’s affair.  It is everyone’s business and we should not wait for anyone to do.  We all have vested interests in ensuring women’s human rights.  The time for action is now.