The International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) and its partners organized with the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Chad, His Excellency Mr Idriss BEBY ITNO, an international conference on the theme “Education of girls and Training of women in the French-speaking space to ensure inclusion and gender equality in education through education.

The conference took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad from June 18 to 19, 2019.

The International Alliance of Women (IAW) was part of the event through two members :

– Anne Pélagie YOTCHOU from Cameroon

– and Rakia KABIA DIAKITE from Chad

The opening ceremony of the conference on 18 June 2019 at 11 am (GMT + 1) had a rich panel with His Excellency Mr. Idriss DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of Chad, accompanied by his wife, the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Mrs. Louise MUSHIKIWABO and the Prime Minister of Rwanda.

The N’Djamena conference reminded us that inequality in education is a reality in all aspects of the educational process (access, retention, completion, collection and processing of data, learning outcomes, educational and vocational choices, …) and lifelong learning, disproportionately affecting girls and women, especially those in vulnerable situations. During the two (02) days, both in the plenary sessions and during the various workshops, we explored the root causes of inequalities, disparities and various forms of exclusion and discrimination affecting girls and women.

The conference was divided into several segments, namely:

• A ministerial component where we had ministers from different countries in charge of issues related to education, training, women’s empowerment and socio-economic development of women and girls, who shared the experiences of their countries and all the good practices for girls’ education, women’s training, inclusion and gender equality; the issue of revising policies for girls’ education and training for women has been pointed during the conference;

• Thematic round tables:

– The one on the review of the progress and challenges of girls’ education and the training of women gave opportunity  to interventions on the general state of affairs concerning the issues and policies of education which must be in the most cases are re-evaluated and redefined based on current requirements to keep girls in school. During this workshop there were also cross-talks on progress and challenges. Panelists and participants shared experiences and it was agreed that governments should review their education system and take into account the specific needs of girls.

– The roundtable on strengthening education systems to build gender-sensitive and multi- actors’ policies has given rise to debates on the need for greater gender mainstreaming in education management and information systems.

– The last roundtable on civil society was an opportunity to rethink civil society’s role which is very important in improving girls’ education and training of women. This activity was very interactive, a meeting of experiences sharing on initiatives for the education of girls and it was also an opportunity for the International Alliance of Women  to share its experience with the project “water and Pads” to keep girls in schools; the project was very well applauded and we received about 80% of the participants at our information booth who came to have more details about the project and to take inspiration from our project to go to their countries to implement a similar project.

• Workshops

The workshops were also moments of the given and receiving in terms of good practices to strengthen the education of girls and women in the French-speaking world.

At the end of the two (02) days of conference, recommendations have been developed and it is clear that the issue of girls’ education and training of women must be addressed by the various states with a multi-actors approach and gender equality to implement more effective actions for keeping girls in school and to train women; civil society organizations were also called to continue to mobilize and get involved on the field to support and reassure that adequate policies are putting in place to make girls’ education and training of women a priority in their various countries. This meeting of giving and receiving enabled the participants also to establish and develop new specific networks on girls’ education in French-speaking Africa with a focus on those living in rural areas. The “Water Pads” project was noted as a good practice to expand in other countries; project flyers, printed in Cameroon, were distributed to participants and officials during the conference with the hope that the project will gain the attention for a positive return in terms of funding to help us get funds to extend and strengthen the activities of the project in various countries identified in Africa.

The N’Djamena Conference ended on June 19, 2019 with a Gala Dinner hosted by la Francophonie and the Government of Chad.

Done at Yaoundé on June 26, 2019

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Puffin India  INR 199/

The Indian Government has been talking about ending open defecation and building a toilet in every village home so that women do not have to go out into the fields at night and Narendra Modi reaffirmed this commitment last November on World Toilet. The habit of open defecation, part from being unhygienic was triggering kidnaps and rapes in many cases. However, the matter of toilets for urban girls in schools and other public places still remains an issue. In I Need to Pee, Neha Singh brings the matter to the forefront with the story of Rahi, a very normal little girl who likes drinking coconut water, orange juice, soda and other kinds of fluids. She does this very often on buses, trains and while travelling, driving her mother around the bend.

Through the story, Singh highlights the problems little girls from the cities face when the loos they are presented with are stinky and wet. Rahi, however, has a book of useful quotes that she brings out on appropriate occasions, forcing people to let her have her own way and getting them into trouble. Rahi browbeats bus drivers, Sikh doormen at five star hotels and a woman determined to fleece her at a public toilet.No one asks to look at the book and quite obviously it was cooked up by the little girl herself.

She also describes the toilet of her dreams, an ‘Indian’ style dry toilet that she encounters in her aunt’s house in the North Eastern State of Meghalaya where poop is covered by mud kept in the toilet for the purpose. Singh’s text is accompanied by quirky illustrations by a Bangalore based team that makes the book delightful to flip through.

However, it is obvious that this version of the story is for little girls only and while it performs an important task, perhaps another book needs to be done for little boys who are also open to worries about toilets – not to mention the recent news item of a child who was murdered in a school toilet. And, while dry toilets may be hygienic, can they replace the western style potty that dominates most urban Indian homes?

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Published in 2017

In order to find out the needs for a “water and pads” project, a questionnaire has been sent out to all IAW member organisations in Asia and Africa. The responses have been excellent and for most parts very detailed, confirming the necessity for such a project.

It is clear that countries in the sub Saharan region have been keenly aware of local challenges for quite some time and they are pointing to some shared challenges. Generally, responses from African members highlight part of the problem as practical challenges such as a lack of clean water and toilet facilities in schools, as well as a basic lack of access to sanitary pads.

In addition, members have included other challenges such as stigma and misunderstandings surrounding menstruation. This especially in rural areas where basic hygiene and healthcare education are often lacking, both in schools but also within the local population.

Due to the difficulty for girls to access private and sanitary bathroom facilities in school during their period, and because of local beliefs and misconceptions surrounding menstruation, it is clear that far too many girls are being kept out of school for several days a month. A problem that is in indeed an equality issue.

The detailed answers IAW members provided in response to the questionnaire not only confirm a need for a project like “water and pads for schoolgirls” but also stress the importance to adapt it to different local contexts.

Given the high rate of response and the detailed quality of feedback, the interest and need for the “water and pads” project are very clear. However, the needs expressed vary in different parts of the world. It is therefore important to develop the project in a way, which makes it adaptable and suitable for local needs.

A number of IAW members are more than ready to get started. Even before receiving the questionnaire, they scrutinized both the problems and solutions in their own country. Some have already created contacts with local stakeholders.

It is indeed the strength of the IAW to have a strong connection to grass root organisations. The ability to provide knowledge of cultural settings and local needs makes it possible to further develop the “water and pads” project, so that it can be adapted and modified to fit different local contexts.

The next steps for the project will be to take the answers of the questionnaire into account in developing the project and, most important, to find adequate funding.

It is clear that IAW members are anxiously awaiting the project.

French version

Afin de déterminer les besoins d’un projet ” eau and tampons” un questionnaire a été envoyé à toutes les organisations membres de l’AIF en Asie et en Afrique. Les réponses fournies ont été excellentes et pour une large partie très détaillés. Elles ont confirmé la nécessité d’un tel projet.

Il n’y a pas de doute que les pays de la région Subsaharienne ont été visiblement conscients des défis sur le plan local durant un bon moment et soulignent que certains sont les mêmes dans toute la région.  Généralement, les réponses des membres africains mettent en relief que certains aspects du problème sont d’ordre pratique comme l’absence d’eau propre et l’accès aux toilettes dans les écoles, ainsi que l’accès aux tampons.

A cela les membres ajoutent d’autres défis comme la stigmatisation et les malentendus concernant la menstruation des filles. Ceci touche principalement les zones rurales où l’hygiène de base et la formation sanitaire ne sont pas à la hauteur ni dans les écoles, ni parmi la population locale.

A cause de la difficulté des jeunes filles à avoir accès aux toilettes privées et propres à l’école et  des opinions et préjugés de la population locale en ce qui concerne la menstruation, un nombre inacceptable de jeunes filles est privé de l’enseignement scolaire pendant plusieurs jours par mois. Un problème qui relève d’une inégalité sexuelle et une discrimination à l’égard des filles.

La réponse détaillée qui a été fournie par les membres de l’AIF au questionnaire ne confirme pas seulement le besoin d’un projet  “eau et tampons” pour les écolières, mais souligne la nécessité de l’adapter aux différents contextes locaux. Etant donné le taux élevé de réponses et la qualité détaillée des réactions, l’intérêt et le besoin pour le projet semble claire. Cependant les besoins exprimés varient selon les différentes régions du monde. Pour cette raison, il est important de développer le projet dans une direction qui prenne en compte les besoins locaux.

Un nombre de membres de IAW expriment une réelle volonté d’entamer le projet. Avant même de recevoir le questionnaire, ils se sont penchés sur les problèmes et solutions dans leur propre pays. Certains ont déjà noué contact avec les parties prenantes.

De fait l’une des forces de l’AIF réside dans ses liens forts avec les organisations de base. La capacité de transmettre du savoir concernant les critères culturels et les besoins locaux permet de développer d’avantage le projet “eau et tampons” afin qu’il puisse être adapté et modifié pour garantir sa compatibilité avec les différents contextes locaux.

Les prochaines démarches à faire dans le cadre du projet consistent à prendre en compte les réponses du questionnaire afin de développer le projet, et en premier lieu de trouver les fonds adéquats. Il est clair que certains membres de l’AIF attendent anxieusement son début.

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Urgently calls on its membership to

• initiate projects and support initiatives that propagate monthly hygiene and provide the means for this including suitable underwear and reusable, washable sanitary pads, allowing girls to stay in the school system;
• increase its networking on the national and international level by strong advocacy addressing communities, governments, and also the private and public sectors
•  pressurize local authorities to
  • provide for separate toilets for girls including running water and soap in school areas in order to keep girls in the school system.

 Moved by

Gudrun Haupter, Ursula Nakamura,
IAW Commission on Health 

Seconded by
Airelle Wagenknecht

Read all resolutions:
Resolutions adopted at 37th Congress

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“My father is a rickshaw driver and we are facing economical instability. We are 3 sisters and 1 brother. My 2 sisters are facing serious physical disability challenges. I wish I would be able to support my family financially and provide proper medical treatments to my special sisters. I thank APWA that it created encouragement and confidence in myself and thus saved my future.

Read the whole story

The post Empowering disabled women and girls – a success story from Pakistan appeared first on International Alliance of Women.

IAW board meeting in Swizerland, NGO press release from FAO, online tool on how to tackle violence for women and girls in Brazil –
Newsletter no 2 October 2014.docx

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