CRAFT

PIC. ONE, BASKETS MADE OF WOOL AND USED RICE BAGS BY FEMALE TRAINEES

AT THE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND FAMILY TRAINING CENTER IN BUEA SOUTH WEST PROVINCE OF CAMEROON.

AND

PIC. TWO, VISUALLY IMPAIRED TRAINEES AND THEIR INSTRUCTOR ALSO BLIND, WEAVING BASKETS FROM WASTE FIBRE, AT THE BUEA REHABILITATION CENTER FOR THE BLIND KNOWN AS BULU BLIND CENTER IN BUEA

2007 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARD

2007 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE ON POPULATION REPORTING ORGANISED BY THE POPULATION INSTITUE AN NGO IN WASHINGTON DC.

THERE WERE 12 WINNERS IN ALL. I WON IN THE CATEGORY OF 'BEST ELECTRONIC COMMENTARY.'

GENDER

WOMEN’S STRIVE FOR LEADERSHIP: WHAT OBSTACLES?

Across the world, numerous obstacles including pervasive and often subtle attitudes and beliefs that women are unequal to men at home, work and in the government hamper women in leadership positions.
Feminist argue that regardless of race, class or ethnicity, women are constantly defined as political outsiders whose participation in public life is conditional upon their maternal roles.

Many cultures view the raising of children as a feminine duty, thus men are not expected to have domestic roles. In countries where male chauvinism and female subordination exist, women who venture in to powerful positions are faced with multiple roles - to manage her household and family and to also performing their professional task. This often leaves women at a disadvantage in relation to their male counterparts.

As Dr Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Zambian Ambassador to the US told African Renewal, getting into and staying in positions of power is difficult because of the roles traditionally expected of women.
Still quoting the Zambia Ambassador, to gain positions of authority, women frequently have to be over qualified, just to be noticed as such, it is a direct reflection on how societies view women not to be as good as men. And when women do get appointed, you hear people say ‘she is just like a man’ in other words they relate to you as a man if you are an achiever.

Activist also noted that because women are often viewed as out of place in professional environments, they are subjected to more scrutiny at work than are men of the same rank, which slows down women advancement in to management position.

To reaffirm this observation, former Mexican Ambassador to the UN, Rosario Green said, “I was always being watched by my colleagues, at all levels”, men who were above me watched me, to see if I would make a mistake. Men who were at the same level would watch me to see where I could do things as well as they did. And of course my bosses, who were men, were always scrutinizing me and other women, because they are fearful of history judgment: ‘you made a mistake you selected a woman’.

World wide, about thirty of the world’s more than one- hundred and ninety countries apply some form of female quotas system in politics. This is a form of affirmation action in favor of women. In Africa, there are three main Quota Systems.

A constitutional quota is a system whereby, some countries including Burkina Faso and Uganda, have constitutional provisions reserving seats in national parliament for women.
Election law quotas - provisions are written in to national legislation, as in Sudan.
While in political party quotas - parties adopt internal rules to include a certain percentage of women as candidates for office. This is the case with the governing parties in South Africa and Mozambique.

How ever, while introducing quotas provides a means of addressing the gender imbalance in decision making, the practice often lack support from important political actors or meets opposition in societies that have strong patriarchal traditions. Much like the debate around affirmative action, those opposed to quota systems say they discriminate against men.

The Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group accused its government of lacking political will. While the Zambian Government has ratified a number of international instruments to promote women in politics, the group reports, none have been domesticated, cultural and traditional practices subjecting women to male dominance have also hindered women’s progress in achieving gender equalities in politics.
The group also noted that, women face barriers such as ‘conflicts, intimidation, negative attitudes, stereotypes by society and lack of support from the electorate.’

The Stockholm- Based Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) reports that women politicians across the globe confront a ‘masculine model’ of politics. In many cases, they lack political party support and have no access to quality education and training to enter politics. ‘Political life is organized for male norms and values and in many cases even for male life-styles’ noted Ms Margaret Dongo, a Zimbabwean politician. ‘But this must and will change’.

From another standpoint, UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) report cited that, simply increasing women’s share of seats in parliament alone is not a solution; it does not guarantee that they will make decisions that benefit the majority of women. ‘ It can only level the playing field on which women battle for equality’ reports the UN Agency.

Many factors obstruct elected women from promoting laws that aid women. These may include limits on policy choices Parliamentarians can make due to loan conditions set by international financial institutions.

They may also be restrained by national constitutions that hamper parliamentary power in relation to the executive powers of government and political parties that exert strong discipline over their members noted UNIFEM

Some Gender Activist also argues that quotas may constitute a ‘glass ceiling’ beyond which women cannot go unless they engage in additional struggle. Others contend that women who come to power under such a system may be under valued or viewed as not politically deserving.
From the viewpoint of Mrs. Mata SyDiallo, Former Vice-President of the Senegalese National Assembly, Quotas ‘can only be a transitory solution not a cure for the making of true democracy'.

The IDEA Institute in Stockholm also raised the fact that, women politicians around the world are at a disadvantage in terms of financial resources, since women are a majority of the world’s poor and in many patriarchal societies cannot own property and do not have money of their own. Despite such hindrances, other IDEA study recommends that women around the world learn the rules of politics, create conditions that allow more women to participate and then eventually change the rules to suit the needs of the majority of women.

Meanwhile, Ms Brigitta Dahl, a Swedish Parliamentarian cited that ‘Political Parties, The Educational System, Non-Governmental Organization, Trade Unions, Churches, all must take responsibility within their own organization to systematically promote women’s from bottom up’.

South Africa’s speaker of parliament Frene Ginwala insist that the main responsibility falls on women themselves “ in any society and situation it is those most affected who must bring about change ‘ she added ‘ those who are privileged benefit from a system that marginalizes others. It is up to us the woman.

By Enie Cecile
Facts from African Recovery, United Nations

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY:
ARE AFRICAN WOMEN STRIVING?

Joy Mukanyange of Rwanda grew

up as a refugee in Uganda and has
since served as her country’s

ambassador to several nations

A cross section of the male sex view women empowerment and gender equality as a catalyst for women to disrespect men, abstain from their conjugal duties and usurp power.

Empowerment however could be described as a process that enables the powerless/ marginalized to have a say in decision-making and other issues that concern their community.

Gender equality is a human right and empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improve the prospects for the next generation.

The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion as one of the eight Millennium Goals during the September 2000 UN Millennium Summit in New York, that serve as a frame work for halving poverty and improving lives. Since then, the number of women in leadership has been at a rise.

In most African countries like Cameroon and Nigeria, recent appointments have brought more women to key positions, but still, the ratio is not worth applauding. How ever, there have been many changes, and positive ones too. The status of women in most countries is changing drastically and equality of men and women is becoming a reality.

According to a report by Gumisai Mutume “ Women Break in to African Politics” – Rwanda’s success in bringing women to the political table mirrors that of a small, but growing number of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa and Mozambique for instance, women hold thirty percent of the seats in parliament- matching the international target

Women’s representation in national parliaments across Sub-Saharan Africa is thirteen out of thirty-nine that are at least 15 percent women. The figure has been considered a significant minority on a global scale but it appears to equals the world average of about 15 percent.

Despite being one of the poorest regions in the world, the level of women representation in parliament in Sub-Saharan Africa is higher than in many wealthier countries, observed UNIFEM in it’s progress of the worlds women 2002 report. In the US, France and Japan for example, women hold slightly more than 10 percent of parliamentary seats. Globally, only twelve other countries had reached that level in National parliament by 2004.

Most of the countries that have achieved significant increase in women’s participation have done so through the use of quotas, a form of affirmative action in favor of women.
Dr Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, of Zambia is among the sixteen female Ambassadors to the US. According to her, eight are African and seven of them are from the Southern States. This is due to the fact that in 1997, member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) adopted a declaration on gender and development that required each countries to reach at least 30 percent female representation in decision-making by 2005.

Although three countries have achieved the SADC target, on average women comprise 20 percent of the regions legislators, second only to Scandinavian countries, where the average is 38 percent; noted Gender Links, a Southern African Non-Governmental Group.

Apparently, CSW Vice-Chairperson Adekunbi Abibat Sonaike from Nigeria says ‘ progress has been slow and uneven noting that many African countries have not yet reached the international perspective, Gender Activists are increasingly setting their rights on getting more women into high office in International Financial Institutions, such as, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Out of all policy-making areas, women are least represented in economics and finance noted the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), an International Women’s Lobby Group.

Broadcast news presenter Katie Couric

moderates questions to the panel

at the UN ‘Girls Speak Out’ event.

World wide, there is only twenty-eight female Ministers in-charge of economics portfolios. The consequence by WEDO’s report is that women’s interest, experiences and concerns are either absent or inadequately reflected in economic decision-making.

At the World Bank and IMF, female representation among leadership’s staff is around 20 percent and fewer than 10 percent of the members of the Organization Boards of Governors are women.

A woman has never occupied the top post at either the World Bank or IMF. IMF appointed Ann O. Krueger as its first woman Deputy Managing Director. Furthermore, the African Women’s Caucus of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has charged that even the UN is still lagging behind. Founded in October 24, 1945 ‘no woman has ever been Secretary-General of the UN’. This was noted in a statement, urging the UN to promote the rise of women to top post, especially at a time when the Organization is taking reforms.

Despite the challenges, a growing proportion of women are breaking through the glass ceiling. Actually women in leadership positions attribute their success to factors such as, access to education and work opportunities, good mentoring by both men and women, support from family, Employers, Supervisors, Teachers and Colleagues and successful lobbying by gender Activists.
The world average for women in parliament rose from 11.7 percent in 1995 to 15.6 percent by 2004. Recent reports complied by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by National Parliament 31st of March 2008, shows the world average percentage of women at 17.7 percent. In Southern Africa where the proportion of women in parliament is at 17.9 percent, is much higher than the African Average of 11 percent, three countries selected female deputy speakers during the last decade.
In January 2007, again according to the IPU’s statistics, there were more women presiding officers of parliament than ever before: 35 out of a total 262 worldwide. Women speakers were elected for the first time in Gambia, Israel, Swaziland, Turkmenistan and the United States of America.

Where they were once concentrated in the Caribbean, women presiding officers are making inroads in all regions. Women head parliaments in about thirty-two countries.
Uganda has the 18th highest proportion of women in Parliament, according to a global ranking report released by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The country also ranks the fourth in Africa, after Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa. It is doing much better than the developed countries such as UK, Canada and Australia among others. The report shows that women hold one hundred and two out of three hundred and thirty-two seats in the Ugandan Parliament, or 30.7 percent.

Neighboring Rwanda takes the lead position in the world with thirty-nine women in Parliament out of a total of eighty seats, or 48.8 percent. Burundi and Tanzania were ranked 19th and 20th respectively with 30.5 percent and 30.4percent female legislators, while Kenya was the 115th with only 7.2 percent. The global classification, covering one hundred and eight countries, was compiled on the basis of information provided by the national parliaments by December 31, 2007.

In addition, Mozambique appointed a woman Prime Minister and Zimbabwe and South Africa named women Deputy Presidents, while Liberians swore in Ms Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf as Africa’s first elected female leader.

According to IPU, nearly one in five parliamentarians worldwide is now a woman. But far fewer women (16%) are making it to top positions in government. About eight countries had no women legislators in their parliaments at all. These are Micronesia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

On 29 February, Carolyn Hannan, Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women joined Anders Johnson of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to launch the 2008 map of women in politics. Statistical data is very important but "it is not enough to count women in parliament," noted Hannon. "We also need to monitor the way that women are involved in politics and the effectiveness of their participation."
The Zambian Ambassador to the United States of America Dr Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika has declared her interest in the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Dr. Lewanika pointed out that, this position has been held by a former Head of State but never been held by a woman. As such, her success as a candidate would represent change that breaks through a glass ceiling of apparent exclusion; a change that re-affirms that indeed all human being, men and women, are created equal. In addition, it is time to implement gender equity at all levels that has been preached for years.

Ms Pumla Mncay, Director of Gender Advocacy Programme, a South African Lobby Group, noted that the advancement of women into positions of power does not by itself, resolve the need to create an environment that allows them to make a real difference. “It is a reality that traditional women have always been given positions as deputies to men, without any real power or significance”.

Nonetheless, “study after study has shown that there is no effective development strategy in which a woman do not play a central role”, cited Koffi Annan as the then UN Secretary General. When women are fully involved he noted, the benefits are immediate, families are healthier and better fed and their income savings and investments go up. And what is true of families is also true of communities and in the long run, of whole countries.

By Enie Cecile

HEALTH FOCUS

AN END TO THE NIGHTMARE HIV/AIDS

Dr Fru Richard

GAEINAMED-CAM


The issue of HIV/AIDS is very intricate, considering the fact that HIV/AIDS has been ravaging many people especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, in spite of the fact that since 1982 as Statistician proclaimed four million condoms have been shipped to Sub-Saharan Africa as preventive measures.

The Holy Bible does recommend healing with the use of herbs as seen in Ezekiel 47:12-14 and Revelation 22:1-2. With reference to Jeremiah 8: 21-22 we can question why HIV/AIDS remains a nightmare?

The mystery as to the remedy of HIV/AIDS has caused many Medical Practitioners to be alert due to the menace HIV/AIDS is creating. A renowned Tradi-Medical Practitioner in Cameroon, Dr. Richard Fru, Founder and CEO of Garden of Eden Institute of Natural Medicine CAMEROON, has come up with herbal medications for HIV/AIDS. GAEINAMED-CAM in November 2005 and December 2007 won an award of Excellence as the best and most popular traditional clinic for research in Cameroon.

Dr. Fru holds that, the condition of HIV/AIDS is as a result of the destruction of one’s immune system. Through profound research, he discovered that apart from HIV, other conditions like stress, poor nutritional intake, too much consumption of chemical drugs and protracted illnesses like typhoid, can affect the immune system thereby leading to AIDS. As a matter of fact, there are situations where some people have been diagnosed of AIDS in conventional hospitals meanwhile they never had HIV.

According to Dr. Fru, God has endowed a lot of mystical powers in plants, which transcends scientific explanations; as a result, there is no ailment without cure or remedy. God has bestowed wisdom and knowledge to some people to be able to understand the different plants and their uses.

The herbal medications of Dr Fru are meant to boost the immune system, thereby rendering the virus inactive. Moreover, it should be noted that one’s immune system is made strong and effective from the consumption of natural foods.

The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Communication, instead of investigating the authenticity of these claims have placed an embargo that, any Traditional Healer who publicly declares can treat HIV/AIDS would be imprisoned for five years and a fine of ten million franc CFA awaits any defaulter.

To ascertain the efficacy, safety and quality of Natural Therapy, the READER’S DIGEST titled FOODS THAT HARM, FOODS THAT HEAL, an A-Z GUIDE TO SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING, states on page 186 with the caption – HERBS FOR HEALTH that, “herbs in the diet and herbal remedies are making a comeback as people rediscover the value of natural ingredients and natural cures and question the side effects of pharmaceutical drug …Nevertheless, there is much wisdom in the general approach of herbal medicine and there are usually with fewer or no side effects…. Certain forms of Eczema appear to respond to herbal remedies where orthodox medicine has little to offer.
The medicinal value of herbs, known to earlier civilization through a combination of keen observation, trial and error, is being rediscovered and confirmed by modern scientific tests. But while research continues to investigate the uses of new plants, many Doctors and Scientists still do not acknowledge the healing powers of herbs, preferring instead to rely on “tried and tested” pharmaceutical drugs.

A press release dated February 21, 2003 and titled ‘FirstAfrican Traditional Medicine Day to be commemorated on 31 August 2003’ states that, the decision to observe an African Traditional Medicine Day follows an adoption in 2000 of a resolution on promoting the role of traditional medicine in health systems. A strategy for the African Region, by the region’s Health Ministers, requesting the institution of the day on the WHO calendar for observance in member states.
The image and profile of traditional medicine received a boost in Africa in 2001, that research into traditional medicine should be made a priority. They followed up this declaration with another in Lusaka in July 2001, designating the period 2001 – 2010 as the decade of African Traditional Medicine.

Traditional Medicine is one of the priority program of AFRO which in 2000 developed the above mentioned regional strategy document. The development and adoption of the African Regional Strategy was complemented by the launching in 2002 of the first Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine by WHO.

Dr Fru is a young advocate of African Traditional Medicine / Natural Therapies. He has attended conferences in and out of Cameroon, especially on HIV/AIDS. The most recent being the Global Summit on HIV/AIDS - Traditional Medicine and Indigenous knowledge held in Accra, Ghana on March 14-18, 2006. His discourse was titled “The Importance of Traditional Medicine in Our Society and Its Role in the Fight against HIV/AIDS”.

He participates in several radio and TV talks shows and publishes articles in local Newspapers. Most important, he has consulted and treated many HIV/AIDS patients.

By Enie Ndoh Cecile

HEALTH FOCUS

A Growing Population and HIV/AIDS

The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) promotes the human rights of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. Every minute, one woman dies during pregnancy and birth because she did not receive adequate care and prompt treatment. By increasing the intervention for safe motherhood , we can save the lives of half a million women and seven million infants, and prevent millions of women from suffering from infections, injury and disability each year.

HIV/AIDS is becoming more of global crises every day. At present, 40 million adults and children are living with HIV/AIDS, and at least 10.4 million children currently under the age of 15 have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS.

Perhaps nowhere is the need for reproductive health services more urgent than in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Every day, 14,000 people are newly infected, and half are young people under the age of 25. Many know little about the disease and how the virus is transmitted. Young women are especially vulnerable and more likely to be infected than young men. Reproductive health services that empower women and people with life-saving information and skills will help prevent HIV from spreading and reduce further suffering and social and economic disruption.

According to 2004 estimates by the population division of the UN Secretariat, despite declining fertility rates, world population is expected to rise in the next 45 years by 2.6 billion, to reach a total of 9.1 billion in 2050. Nearly all the growth will take place in less developed countries, and will be concentrated among the poorest populations in urban areas. The population of the 50 poorest countries is projected to more than double by 2050, and to at least triple in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Congo, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea -Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Timor - Lester and Uganda, Sub - Saharan Africa, the world's poorest region, is the fastest growing, despite increasing population losses from AIDS deaths.

Overall figures on life expectancy in developed countries mark some striking regional differences. They have been increases in mortality and a severe decline in life expectancy in Eastern Europe since the late 1980s. Particularly in the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. In 2005 life expectancy in Eastern Europe was 66.6 lower than it was in 1955. Better life expectancy in the poorest countries depends on the implementation of effective programs to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. AIDS have killed some 20 million people since 1981: 3.1 million people died in 2004. Today 39.4 million are HIV positive, the highest level ever. In 2004 alone 4.9 million people were newly infected. Women are increasingly at risk.

With regards to HIV/AIDS and population, the AIDS pandemic has had an impact on life expectancy and population growth, particularly in Sub - Saharan Africa, where it is more prevalent In Sub Saharan Africa life expectancy decline precipitously from 62 in the first half of the 1990s to 48 just ten years later. It projected to decrease even further to 43 over the next decade before a slow recovery starts. Botswana life expectancy decline is among the most alarming, with more than a third of the population infected with HIV in 2003, life expectancy has fallen from 65 to 37 in less than two decades.

As a result of AIDS, population growth in the region is slow down in the next 15 years. In Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland the population will actually decrease, as deaths outnumber births. In most of the other developing countries, affected by the pandemic, population will continue to grow, as moderate or high fertility will outweigh the rise in mortality. The number of people living with HIV has been rising in every region with the steepest increases in East Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia: In East Asia, the number of people who are HIV positive rose by almost 50 % between 2002 and 2004, an increase that is attributed largely to China's growing epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, there were 40% more people living with HIV in 2004 than in 2002. The AIDS epidemic is increasingly affecting women and girls globally; just under half of all people living with HIV are female. In Sub- Saharan Africa 76% of young people 15 - 24 years old living with HIV are female.

Condoms can save lives by preventing the sexual transmission of HIV. Access to testing and counseling must be given high priority in every country. Everyone has the right to voluntary and confidential counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS and the right to be protected from discrimination of any kind related to her or his HIV/AIDS status.

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

OZONE LAYER DEPLATION AND

ITS EFFECT ON THE POPULATION

Environmental protection is a vital aspect of life and any negative and positive impact on the environment, affects lives not only human lives but all living things In fact, it is detrimental if the impact is negative and profitable when it is positive.

Recently we all are perturbed about the excess heat we experience today. Incidentally we are ignorant of the causes and how we can protect ourselves from the effects. Definitely, we are all aware sunrays heat the earth. The sun is a flaming star full of burning hot gases. Its heat makes life on earth possible but along with its warmth, comes deadly Ultra Violet Rays- Uvs.

This Uvs harm all life on our planet, people, animals and plants. Luckily, our planet earth is protected by little molecules, which form the ozone layer. Our ozone defenders are very strong and smart. They actually let the sun’s life – giving warmth in, while keeping the deadly UVs out. Even so, the activities on earth are dangerous to the ozone defenders.

Chloro Floro Carbons (CFCS) are chemicals that destroy the ozone layer and even make a hole in it. In many countries CFCs are now replaced by new ozone friendly products, but there are still equipments containing these harmful chemicals such as some old refrigerators and air conditioners contain CFCs. Examples of CFCs are Halon used in some fire extinguishers, methyl Bromide, a pesticide used on some farms is also dangerous. These gases are not harmful when they are inside equipment but they become dangerous to the ozone layer once they escape.

It is not uncommon for one to have fun in the sun but we must protect ourselves, because getting too much sun can posse a lot of dangers. It should be noted that UV rays not only burn but also wrinkle ones skin and make the person look old. They also cause cataracts in eyes and this can lead to blindness, they can weaken ones body’s resistance to diseases, which can cause one to get sick more easily. Children are particularly in danger because Uvs damage could result to cancer later.

HOW DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES

To protect ourselves from the dangers of Uvs, we have to protect our skin with clothes, which cover our arms and legs. We should wear a hat to cover our heads and sunglasses to protect our eyes. Stay inside when the sun is high up in the sky, as a matter of fact, we should always try to stay in the shade. We could use sunscreen lotions if we can afford it. We advice our friends, sisters and brothers to protect themselves from the sun when they are outdoors. We should choose ozone friendly products. We should be conscious of the fact that only human beings can make a difference to save the ozone layer.

It is therefore an obligation for us to join in protecting all nature and us too. The United Nation Environment Programme booklet on OZZY OZONE DEFENDER OF OUR PLANET advices that, every one around the world can make a difference, because when it comes to protecting our planet earth, everything counts. Andjongo Raoul a young Environmentalist advised that we should seize from purchasing old refrigerators and air conditioners from abroad. They might be cheap, but very dangerous to our environment. However, parents need to check first the label behind these items to check the components they are made off. More so, our international traders who help clean up foreign countries from CFCs, think only of their lucrative income, but undermine the fact that lives are endanger.