OVERALL SITUATION OF CHILDREN’S VULNERABILITY

UNGASS targeted 2005 to implement policies, strategies to strengthen capacities to provide a supportive environment for AIDS orphans and children, ensuring them access to education and health services on equal basis with other children.

The overall situation of children’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is complex and needs to be analysed within specific country and local contexts. Analysis of household surveys in 36 countries found that in many countries children who are orphaned are worse off than other children in relation to certain indicators of child development – nutritional status, school attendance, sex debut – but in other countries they are equally well or better off. Some of this inconsistency can be explained by the situational context. In countries with high levels of overall school attendance nearly the same percentage of both orphans and non- orphans attended school, but in countries with lower levels of school attendance many more countries showed large disparities between orphans and non- orphans.

In 18 countries where household surveys were conducted between 2005 and 2007, the proportion of orphans and vulnerable children whose household received basic external support ranged between 1 percent in Sierra Leone and 41 percent in Swaziland, with a median value of 12 percent. Such support included education assistance, medical care, clothing, financial support and psychosocial services. The goal of Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is to reach 80 percent of children in need with services by 2010.

The shift towards inclusive programming to help all vulnerable children, including those directly affected by AIDS, is having an impact. The growing call for a broader, more inclusive definition of vulnerability is reflected in many countries’ National Plans of Action ( NPAs) in Eastern Africa. In Zimbabwe, a new programme of support to the National Plan of Action for Orphans and other vulnerable children accepts a wide definition of vulnerability beyond orphanhood and due to AIDS.

National – level responses for orphans and their vulnerable children have been increasing since the 1990s, and nearly 50 countries globally are developing some type of AIDS- sensitive response. 32 countries have been estimated to developed or finalized NPAs with benefits for orphans and vulnerable children. Countries of Eastern and Southern Africa have generally made the most progress in developing and implementing national responses, while programming for orphans and vulnerable children is relatively new in West and Central Africa. East Asia and Pacific Regions are in the process of drafting national plans. In South Asia, India was the first country to establish a national response to children affected by HIV/AIDS.

However, the process of developing NPAs has generally been slow, and implementation at scale is lacking. The often limited capacity of governments and implementing partners and lengthy periods for plan development- three to seven years or more – are major challenges. Insufficient resources for implementing NPAs are reflected in levels of social assistance provided to vulnerable households. Efforts and investments should be directed towards increasing access to basic services, ensuring appropriate alternative care, and providing social support and protection from abuse and neglect.

STIGMATISATION, GENDER EQUALITY AND HIV/AIDS

In spite of different modes to contract HIV, like for instance through blood transfusion, many still relate the disease only to someone’s sexual life as such hold a negative view against victims of the disease.

Despites high awareness levels, HIV/AIDS remain highly stigmatized in Zimbabwe. Victims of HIV are often perceived as having done something wrong, and discrimination is frequently directed at both them and their relatives. Many are scared to carryout HIV test for fear of being socially disoriented, losing their partners or jobs. Those who have not checked their statues do not profess it publicly, since it would seem they do not have access to sufficient care and support.

There is an inclination that the stigma surrounding HIV is gradually diminishing in Zimbabwe, although it remains a significant problem. Various attempts have been made to improve the situation hence the 2005 “Don’t Be Negative about Being Positive’ campaign. Organised by PSI-Zimbabwe, this campaign encourages people to reveal their HIV- positive status and to share their stories.

In Zimbabwe, there are large social and economic gaps between women and men, and this inequality have played a central role in the spread of HIV. Constructive attitudes towards female sexuality contrast with tolerant ones towards the sexual activity of men. As a result, men often have multiple partners while the women have little or no say to instigate the use of condom and sexual abuse, rape and coerced sex are all prevalent

Campaigns on preventive measure that accentuate safe sex by the use of condoms, fidelity for couples and abstinence before marriage; often fail because people do not take into account such realities thus ignore them. This tendency is more applicable to the lives of men folks than those of women. There is also a likelihood of women to be poorer and less educated then their male counterpart, making them susceptible to HIV infection and equally defers their chances to access treatment, care and information.

A report on ‘Women and HIV in Zimbabwe’ by Bassett MT and Mhloyi M from the Department of Community Medicine, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe, stated that, ‘the intersection of traditional culture with the colonial legacy and present-day political economy has influenced family structure and sexual relation, and particularly the social position of women…

From Zimbabwe’s historical experience land expropriation, rural impoverishment, and the forcible introduction of male migrant labour fostered new sexual relations pattern, characterized by multiple partners. Traditional patriarchal values reinterpreted in European law resulted in further female subjugation of women with even their limited rights to ownership withdrawn. For many women, sexual relations with men, either within marriage – for the majority or outside, becomes inextricably linked to economic and social survival…

In Zinbabwe, patriarchy and colonialism appear to be the most significant social legacies responsible for the family structure and sexual behaviour associated with HIV infection. The social context of AIDS in Zimbabwe features a migrant labour system, rapid urbanization, constant war with high level of military mobilization, landlessness, poverty, and the subordination of women...’

WOMEN THAT MAKE THE NEWS 2009

“VENTURING INTO THE OLD BOY’S CLUB”





The media is one of those male dominated professions, some women refer to it as the – ‘old boys club’.
For decades, women have been relegated to the background and considered inapt for certain professions. However, some women have brace these challenges and exhibited their worth and prowess especially in the media.
Across the world, women in leadership positions and certain professions are hampered by numerous obstacles including pervasive and often subtle attitudes and beliefs that women are unequal to men at home, work and in government.

Feminist argues that regardless of race, class and ethnicity, women are consistently 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 the men are not expected to have domestic roles.

In countries where male chauvinism and female subordination exist, women who venture into powerful positions are faced with multiple roles – to manage her household and family and also performing their professional task. This often leaves women at a disadvantage in relation to their male counterpart.

Cultural and traditional practices have subjected women to male dominance and these have also hindered women’s progress in achieving gender equality. Even so, women face barriers such as conflict intimidation, negative attitudes, stereotype by society and lack of support by electorates.

Activists have 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 to management positions.

As Ms Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, Zambian Ambassador to the US told Africa Renewal – ‘getting into and staying in positions of power is difficult because of the roles traditional expected of women therefore, to gain positions of authority women frequently have to be over qualified just to be noticed and this is a direct reflection of how societies view women – as – not as good as men. And when women get appointed people say – ‘she is just like a man’, in other words they relate to you as a man if you are an achiever.

In spite of all these obstacles and challenges plus the mass awareness of women empowerment and gender equality, there have been considerably a continuous influx of women in these so call male dominated fields like the media and the representation of women in decision – making positions.

In Cameroon there are veterans like Mary Camara and Becky Ndive both from the English Speaking part of Cameroon. There challenges was not only limited to their sex but also their ethnicity. Cameroon is made up of ten provinces and the people from the East are known as Francophones occupying eight provinces while the Southern part where the population has an English origin occupies just two. The Anglophones as a result of their minority faces discrimination, domination and prejudice.

During the 2008 Women, Action and the Media conference in Massachusetts, Boston, I was privileged to meet two outstanding women - Helen Thomas and Haifa Zangana both presented a keynote address at the conference. Helen Thomas story is quite an extraordinary one in the media realm.

Helen Thomas has been a pioneer throughout her career in Journalism. She began her career as a copy girl on the old Washington Daily News to White house Correspondent. She was among the Washington News Women who worked to open the doors of Press Organizations closed to them.

As an ardent journalist, it was quite captivating, inspiring and encouraging to listen to Helen’s account of her experiences and views. One cannot help but notice and admire her as a woman of valor and courage. According to her, women filled the gap in professions like journalism, teaching and others when the men went to war.

Apparently, women who embraced the media profession faced tough times and still do; nonetheless women need to muster the courage which she recommends and stress for women in the media to uphold to enable them meet challenges and make an impression.

Haifa Zangana is a fierce witness to her native war-torn country and the only Iraqi woman in the West writing about the situation. Joining in the arm struggle against Saddam Hussein she was captured, imprisoned and tortured as a young woman and finally released from Abu Ghraib prison after six months of detention, she was force to live in exile.

In Rhode Island, U S A during my visit to the Westerly Innovation Network Team an NGO I collaborate with to create awareness on electronic waste pollution, I was also opportune to meet another veteran female journalist who came to cover our meeting.

Gloria Marion Smith Russell a true journalism ‘pioneer’ then at age 81 years was still so vibrant and passionate about her profession. She was The Westerly Suns first- ever female news reporter, covering the town of Westerly in the 1960s.

By the words of Raymond J. Lamont, Editor/Vice President of The Sun, Gloria established from the start her commitment to getting as close as possible to the news – sometimes riding with local firefighters on the backs of the truck to cover a fire. And I can honestly say she has never lost that commitment in more than forty years since.

Named to the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame in 2003 and Rhode Island’s Outstanding Older Worker in 2006, Gloria is seen as a model for older workers; she is especially an inspiration for female journalist. She not only bucked the trend when journalism was a male- dominated field more than forty years ago, but continues to actively practice her craft at the highest level today.

According to Gloria in her days because of her sex she was limited to cover only those simple or regular news like modeling considered feminine but she craved for more action, something more daring and challenging like broking a murder – suicide and bank robbery story. She was always determined no matter all the odds and bottlenecks she faces as a woman in her attempt to investigate and gather facts for her story.

Today some media women find the job boring and less enthusiastic since they are not usually assigned out where there is action; they are only glued to their seats.
Again media women are also vulnerable and susceptible to sexual abuse and harassment especially from their Supervisors, Male Colleagues and Interviewee. The profession especially as a TV and radio Reporter exposes the women to the public and some female journalists have lost their marriage and relationship simply because their husbands and fiancés are not in accord with their popularity or withstand her constant absence when she has to travel for professional task.

I equally acknowledge CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpur whose impressive career makes her one of those media women who have broken the glass ceiling through her bravery; daring to report in those areas reserved for the media men folk. In her brilliant career for more than eighteen years Amanpur has reported on all the major crises from the world’s many hotspots ending her so many awards and recognition.

Frene Ginwala a South African Speaker of South African Speaker Parliament holds that the main responsibility falls on the women themselves ‘ in any society and situation is those most affected who must bring about change’ and ‘those who are privileged benefit from a system that marginalize others, it is therefore up to us the women.

To concur with this mind searching statement, I will like to note that the media is regarded as the watch dog of the society and has the duty to propagate, motivate and ensure progress through constructive and objective reporting. Hence, the media success stories lies on their impact and the changes they can effect. As a result, without women’s active and prominent representation in the media, the gender fight and crisis – marginalization, discrimination, domestic violence, subordination and all other forms of human rights abuses and violation women and girls encounter cannot be addressed adequately.

Only women themselves can advocate for their own rights, progress and development, in this wise, it is the role of the media to create awareness, sensitize and educate on the societal ills and irregularities pertaining to gender issues; by exposing the problems and examine the efforts and policies towards gender equality.
Gender equality calls for mutual respect to exist between the man and the woman and this can only be derived when both sexes correlate and collaborate for the betterment of the society.

CHILD DISCIPLINE, MOTHERLY LOVE AND CARE

Mothers, be happy and proud of your children

Shower them with love.

Don't strain the bond

As a woman with or without a child I still consider myself a mother and holds all children requires love, care and discipline.This might not be predominant in the Western world as a result of their lifestyle but in most African setting the issue of child discipline has brought about a lot of antagonism amongst women. A child might act naughty or bad and another woman a neighbour perhaps with good faith- why good faith because some also act out of wickedness. But as I was about saying another woman with good faith who witnessed this child’s bad behaviour and decides to either caution the child or impose punishing like smacking the child in case the child’s deed or offence was really cruel. The child then run off home and does not really give the exact account of what really or actually happened.Worst of all if this woman who disciplined this child has no child of her own, then be sure she is in for all kinds of insult and labeled or branded all sort of names like witch, wicked and evil by the other woman.

The child’s mother will instantly go and meet the lady who just disciplined the child, instead of asking for her own version, she begins a quarrel. Some women also have the tendency to shield their children even when they know their children are guilty of what they are accused of. Personally I don’t consider such perception by some mothers as motherly love but the mother is jeopardizing her child’s future by misleading the child.

I know of a story since my childhood I can’t exactly say if it is for real or it was just a story of moralization. Well according to the story, this woman had her son and never questioned his deeds. And will support him at all times, to the extent that he started bring home stolen goods but his mother never bothered to find out where he got those items from knowing fully he is unemployed. One day as they say ninety-nine days for the thief, and one day for the owner, he was finally caught and had to be executed.

So when they asked him what his last wish was, he said he wished to have a word with his mom. They then summoned his mom to come, he asked his mom to come closer for he did not want others to listen to what he was about to tell her. So she brought her ears closer to his mouth and he bit off his mothers’ ear. When asked why he acted in that manner he said, if his mom had warned, directed and showed him the right path then his life wouldn’t have ended in this shameful and tragic manner. So after his death, the ear the mother has lost will always remind her of her negligence in carrying out her duty as a mom.

If I see a child trying to cross the road I will help out, if I see a child crying on the street I will inquire what’s amiss. Like a day I met this lad of about six years old, sprawling and crying on the road, he was even on the middle of a bend where he could have been knocked by a car. I rushed to him to find out if he had lost something and he said he was hungry, he had left for school that morning without food and he had just gone home for break to eat and there was still no food. I took him to a woman selling food and bought him a plate of rice.

The fact is, a woman by nature should have motherly love whether she has children of her own or not and please mothers we should not overreact when some one else try to correct our children in the right manner or inform us of our children’s misdeeds. More over, we should not shelve and conspire with our children’s wrong deeds. If we do, we might just be nurturing and bring up criminals and malicious individuals and this will have a negative impact in our community and our children’s future.

INHERENT FACTS ABOUT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS

The human rights syndrome is a global phenomenon, for every one happens to talk about or refer to their so call human rights while even indulging in negative tendencies in the guise and pretext of seeking and exercising their rights. Apparently, some are ignorant of their fundamental human rights. It is with such exigencies that I am spurred to pen down those aspects that are inherent in our quest for our basic human rights.

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other statue. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in forms of treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of international law.International human rights law lays down obligations of governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals and groups.

The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, for examples, noted that it is the duty of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems.

All States have ratified at least one, and 80 percent of States have ratified four or more, of the core human rights treaties, reflecting consent of States which creates legal obligations for them and giving concrete expression to universality, some fundamental human rights norms enjoy universal protection by customary international law across all boundaries and civilizations.
Human rights are inalienable. They should not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. For example, the right to liberty may be restricted if a person is found guilty of a crime by a court of law.

Furthermore, all human rights are indivisible, whether they are civil and political rights, such as the right to life, equality before the law and freedom of expression, economic, social and cultural rights, such as the rights to work, social security and education, or collective rights, such as the rights to development and self determination, are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent. The improvement of one right facilitates advancement of the others. Likewise, the deprivation of one right adversely affects the others.

Non-discrimination is a cross-cutting principle in international human rights law. The principle is present in all the major human rights treaties and provides the central theme of some of international human rights conventions such as the International Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The principles applies to everyone in relation to all human rights and freedoms and it prohibits discrimination on the basis of a list of non-exhaustive categories such as sex, race, colour and so on. The principles of non-discrimination is complemented by the principles of equality, as stated in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “ All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,”

Human rights entail both rights and obligations. States assume obligation and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights. The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human rights abuses. The obligation to fulfill means that States must take positive action to facilitate the enjoyment of basic human rights. At the individual level, while we are entitled to our human rights, we should also respect the human rights of others.

Examining all these facts especially that the ‘State must refrain from interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights’ actually denotes all humans are no longer slaves so should actually live in peace and freedom but does this rights empower us to act or do just what ever?

Even in Christianity, we have been exposed to what is right and wrong. We are encouraged to abide in good deeds, morals and precepts but we are not compelled to act right; but then we are informed of the consequences of choosing the negative side of life. Remember the’ law of Karma’ – or retribution of justice in its execution or outcome. So, as a line in a song titled ‘PEACE’ by my mother goes – ‘we may bend the law but don’t break it.’

REASONS WHY THEY ARE GOOD

REASONS TO LOVE A WOMAN

You can feel her CARE in form of a sister…

You can feel her WARMTH in form of a friend…

You can feel her PASSION in form of a beloved…

You can feel her DEDICATION in form of a wife…

You can feel her DIVINITY in form of a mother…

You can feel her BLESSING in form of a grandmother…

Yet she is TOUGH too…

Her heart is so TENDER…

So NAUGHTY…

So CHARMING…

So SHARING…

So MELODIOUS…

She is a WOMAN

She is LIFE…. Respect her

The instruction says forward this to as many women as possible… they’ll love you for it!
Forward this to as many men, as you can so that they’ll know why women are so SPECIAL.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!

SOME LIFE CHALLENGES - BRACE IT!

Life is full of challenges perhaps I should coin it this way – ‘ups and downs’. But our approach in confronting these life challenges depicts who we really are and scrutinize our temperaments.
At times we are faced with certain negative disposition in life judging from the rudiments of life’s journey which is hardly smooth. As such, we encounter hardship, obstacles and difficulties for which when we lose our grip and wit we could be force to plunge into waywardness thereby indulging in criminal intents and outrageous acts just to have a breakthrough.

In my humble opinion as I have noticed, such negative path might initially seem pleasant and successful but in the long run nemesis set in. Apparently, no matter the circumstances, it would be wise for us to always endeavor to maintain positivism, uprightness above all if you are a Christian and belief in the only Supreme God and strive to acquire a certain spiritual standard then challenges in life is a test to examine our prowess in overcoming difficulties and temptations. This can be derived through faith, honesty, dedication, diligence and consistent and persistent prayers. The books of book – the Holy Bible informs us our Father in heaven will never withhold that which is good for his children. From such a promise we are endowed with self confidence and trust.

No matter our background, whether poor or lowly, sex, ethnicity, race, we should have the determination to excel. We should not relent in our efforts and aspirations to strive for progress. More so, it is a known fact that with education the marginalized can seek equity. Hence, education formal or informal is necessary for developmental purposes and growth.

I personally hold no one should be considered an illiterate, for I acknowledge literacy transcends just reading and writing for cultural literacy is the condition or quality of being knowledgeable in a particular field or subject; which of course unless otherwise, everyone must be equipped by nature with certain abilities. There are aspects or deeds which certain people who cannot read and write perform accurately with expertise but those who are literate are not in the know neither do they have the competence or aptitude.

As they say,’ manners maketh a man’ this statement illuminates and justifies that in spite of our level of education our comportment counts or matters. As such, we lose our self respect, dignity when we embark on self exaltation disregarding, minimizing and intimidating others because we happen to be more educated or affluent and healthy than they are.

By the legend of life, no one has it all. There is something someone’s got that another might need. This per se indicates that some people have abundant wealth yet lack happiness. Even so, some women have children they can’t even cater or provide for yet another who has all the means is not blessed with the fruit of the womb. These are the complexity of life we all have to reckon with.