mozamique towards gender equality!! -...

UN Women Mozambique . Av. Lucas Elias Kumato, 144 Somerschield Tel: +258 21 491 031/2 Fax: +258 21 491 034

BULLETIN ON GENDER ISSUES IN

MOZAMBIQUE

January 2012— April 2012

Issue 1

MOZAMBIQUE MOZAMBIQUE MOZAMBIQUE

IS MOVING IS MOVING IS MOVING

TOWARDS TOWARDS TOWARDS

GENDER GENDER GENDER

EQUALITY!!EQUALITY!!EQUALITY!!

Mozambique is moving towards gender equality.

Conferences, community trainings, concerts, street

shows, debates… a wide range of creative strate-

gies are used in Mozambique by Civil Society Organ-

izations, UN Agencies and the Government to de-

velop capacities, raise awareness and advocate for

women’s rights and gender equality.

This first quarter of the year has been especially

dynamic due to the occasion of the International

Women’s Day (8th March) and the Mozambican

Women’s Day (7th April). In such a context, several

activities took place to celebrate the Women’s

Month in Mozambique, we are here sharing some

of them with you…

THANKS TO ALL PARTNERS IN MOZAMBIQUE FOR

THEIR ENTHUSIASM IN SUPPORTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS!!

Photo: Elina Penttinen, UNESCO.



AT A GLANCE...

There is significant progress

on the policy and legal

framework for Gender

Equality in Mozambique,

but the implementation of

policies, laws and action

plans is facing serious

challenges...

Almost 70% of women in

Mozambique are illiterate,

while the percentage drops

at 36% for men (1).

The percentage of women

in Mozambican Parliament

has increased substantially

from 25% in 1997 up to 39%

in 2011 (2).

57% of women in the urban

areas of the country suffer

gender based violence(3).

Only the 55% of Mozambi-

can women are likely to

receive assistance from a

skilled health professional

during delivery (2).

…………………………….

(1) National Institute for Statistics,

Gender indicators. Data from 2005.

(2) Progress of the world’s women:

“In pursuit of Justice”. UN Women

report, 2011-2012.

(3) Ministry of Women and Social

Action (MMAS), National survey on

Domestic violence.

Since 2009 the UN Capital Develop-

ment Fund (UNCDF) and UN Wom-

en, are implementing the Gender

Equality Local Development pro-

gramme (GELD) in Mozambique and

other four African Countries. In Feb-

ruary 2012, stakeholders from the

GELD programme met in South Afri-

ca to discuss and exchange experi-

ences, assessing the achievements

of the intervention.

The involvement of the traditional

authorities in the GELD programme

in Mozambique has been a corner-

stone to its success. Régulos

(traditional leaders in Mozambique)

are much respected in their com-

munities, so, getting their support

in changing the traditional role of

women, and promoting their partic-

ipation in the decision making pro-

cesses is crucial to bridge the gaps

between male and female repre-

sentation and service delivery at

the local levels.

The Mozambican delegation was

compounded by The Mumbe Ad-

ministrator, the Provincial Director

of the Directorate for Planning and

Finance (DPPF-Niassa) and the Na-

tional Deputy Director for the Plan-

ning Department in the Ministry of

Planning and Development (MPD).

In addition, also one officer from

the National Direction for Invest-

ment, one woman member of the

Local Consultative Council of the

District of Muembe and three staff

members from UN Women, partici-

pated.

2

Forum Mulher (The Women’s Forum)

organized on the 6th March a debate

in which 20 young people (17 girls

and 3 boys) participated and reflect-

ed about the traditional practices

that take place in the peri-urban and

rural areas of Mozambique. During

the meeting, all participants dis-

cussed how these practices impact

on the prevalence of HIV, as well as

their harmful consequences for

women and girls’ health.

All participants reflected about the

critical role these practices play in

the identity construction of both

women and men in Mozambique

even though they clearly compro-

mise the rights and empowerment of

women. It was agreed on the need to

denaturalize those practices and to

look for cultural sensitive alterna-

tives that respect women’s rights.

GELD REGIONAL PARTNERS FÓRUM IN SOUTH AFRICA

TRADICIONAL PRACTICES AND THEIR RELATION WITH VIH/AIDS

Particicipants at the GELD regional Partners Fórum

in South Africa


TRAINING WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV

MARCH FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN

Also on the 8th March, Fórum Mulher (The Wom-

en’s Forum), in cooperation with the Teacher’s Na-

tional Association and the Youth Mozambican Coa-

lition, gathered more than 200 students and

youngsters, to reflect and discuss about the main

challenges that girls are facing to achieve their em-

powerment and fulfill their educative process. Par-

ticipants shared their thoughts about the best

pathway to ensure a bright future for girls, and

came to the conclusion that the respect for girls’

sexual and reproductive rights is a must in their

empowerment process.

3

From 5th until 10th March UN Women led a joint ac-

tivity with FAO, with the technical assistance of Ca-

nadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Legal empowerment training was provide to more

than 35 women, representing associations of wom-

en living with HIV, from all the provinces in the

country. This meeting offered all participants the

opportunity to share and discuss information about

their work and the activities they are implementing:

counseling, provision of treatment, community

awareness, productive activities to ensure sustaina-

bility and provision of education to orphan children.

Legal empowerment and access to land were the

main two issues discussed during the first two days

of the training. Women were trained and informed

about their rights regarding the inheritance law and

about the consequences of not having a legal regis-

ter of land property.

One session was dedicated to gender based vio-

lence, its consequences and relation with HIV, and

how to increase women’s participation on political

mechanisms at the community level.

The training ended with a two-days working group

for assessing and prioritizing women living with HIV

needs. The conclusions reached by the group were

gathered and systematized in a political charter

that will be presented to the Parliament around

July 2012.

DEBATE IN THE FRANCISO MANYANGA

SECONDARY SCHOOL

On the 8th March, more than 70 women marched

on the streets of Chimoio to show their repulse to

Gender Based Violence and to encourage other

women to stand for their rights. Through leaflets,

banners, singing and dancing, Lemusica’s activists

managed to disseminate their message widely,

ensuring visibility and raising awareness about

women’s empowerment.

Women participating in International Women’s Day March in Chimoio

Participants at the Secondary School Francisco Manyanga


THE UN GET CLOSER TO MOZAMBICAN GIRLS:

“CONNECTING GIRLS, INSPIRING FUTURE”

CLASSICAL MUSIC TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S RIGHTS…

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Italian Embassy and the Communications and Arts

School of the Eduardo Mondlane University, organized in Maputo a concert of Classical Music conducted

by the brilliant Italian flautist Francesca Canali.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the

UN Resident Coordinator in Mozambique (Ms. Jen-

nifer Topping), the Goodwill ambassador for the

Millennium Development Goals (Mingas) and the

Secondary School’s Principal (Beatriz Ubisse), par-

ticipated in a debate with a group of about 50 stu-

dents of the peri-urban school Noroeste I in Mapu-

to.

The students participated actively which made the

debate very interesting. Among the issues dis-

cussed in a relaxed and educative environment

were the consequences of early pregnancy and ear-

ly marriage, the importance of enrollment in high

education and the prevention against HIV. The

three speakers talked from their personal side, us-

ing their own stories to inspire and motivate girls to

keep on studying and offering them different role

models.

4

Girls participated very actively in the debate at Noroeste I Secondary School

The UN Resident Coordinator , Mingas (Mozambican celebrity) and the School Pricipal in the debate

UN Women spoke with the media

The chorus of the School sang at the

opening and closure of the activty


WORKSHOP “WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT”

The Spanish NGO “Forest and Community” and its

Bolivian partner CEBEM, in the framework of the

project: “Network for the sustainable develop-

ment of Africa”, organized on the 8th March the

workshop: “Women and the Environment” in

which more than 40 organizations and focal points

from several Ministries participated actively. The

main objective of the seminar was to reflect about

the importance of mainstreaming gender in the

environmental sector to ensure the improvement

of the quality of life in communities, especially for

women, and to respond effectively to their needs

through the mitigation of climate change, disaster

risk reduction and a sustainable use of the natural

resources.

The REDESMA AFRICA project was launched as a

virtual platform for visibility and exchange of ex-

periences on gender and environment, within

Mozambique and with other African countries.

The meeting produced significant results in terms

of networking and sharing of information. The

“Gender and Climate Change Strategy” elaborated

by the Ministry of Environmental Coordination,

with the support of UN Women, was shared and

discussed with all participants as a critical legal

frame for the work that these associations are do-

ing.

MOZAMBICAN ACTIVIST CLIMBED UP TO THE KILIMANJARO PEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE

UNiTE CAMPAIGN

On 25th February 2008, the Secretary-General

of the United Nations launched at the global

level the UNiTE Campaign to End Violence

Against Women. With the overall objective of

raising public awareness and increasing

political will and resources for preventing and

responding to violence against women and

girls, the UN is seeking through this campaign

to engage social actors in the eradication of

Gender Based Violence.

In Mozambique, the campaign is known as

UNiDOS ,and counts on a strong political

support. It was launched by the President of

the Republic, Armando Emílio Guebuza, in

November 2010. Recently, the young

Mozambican pugilist, Maria Dumenia Maposse,

was selected by the Ministry of Youth and

Sports as the national representative in the

Kilimanjaro climb initiative, that took place in

Tanzania between the 5th and the 9th of

March. Within the frame of the UNITE

Campaign, participants from most of the 54

African countries gathered in Tanzania to show

their commitment in ending violence against

women and ask the African governments to set

concrete commitments in combating it. In

celebration of International Women’s Day,

participants reached the Kilimanjaro’s summit

on the 8th March, at 5,800 meters. From the

top, they sent a clear message to all

governments in Africa: we all have to stop

violence against women!

5

Participants of the workshop “Women and the Development”


THEATRE TO CELEBRATE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

The play “The General’s Daughter”, directed and

adapted by Henning Mankell, was featured for the

first time on the 9th March in the Avenida Theatre

thanks to the support of the Norwegian Embassy.

This play invites the public to reflect, in a humor-

ous way, about the role played by women after

Mozambique’s Independency.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO THE

RHYTHM OF HIP-HOP

A Hip-Hop festival livened Maputo up from the 1st

to the 10th March. Much more than just singing

and dancing, the festival contributed to dissemi-

nate relevant messages on HIV/AIDS prevention

and women’s rights.

Hundreds of people gathered in Praça dos Tra-

blahadores to watch the festival, and this golden

opportunity was not missed by Rede HOPEM and

the rest of the institutions organizing the event, to

pass the message through a man to man ap-

proach. Through flyers, posters, speeches and

dramatized representations, critical messages on

ending gender based violence were disseminated,

and received with much interest by the specta-

DEBATE WITH TEENAGE PEOPLE

ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

On the 10th March, 25 youngsters (16 girls and 9

boys) sat on the same table to discuss about the

critical role that their empowerment plays on the

shaping of their future. LeMuSiCa facilitated this

meeting where participants could, in a very com-

fortable and open environment, discuss with their

peers about these issues. Girls were aware of the

need for them to stand for their rights, and so they

asked for more information about contraception

methods, how to avoid sexual harassment and to

break old taboos.

Both girls and boys showed their strong commit-

ment with gender equality by engaging in team-

work to disseminate this important information in

the rural area through debates, campaigns and

other activities. As per their suggestion, the activi-

ty will be replicated inviting next time not only

youngsters but also, teachers, parents and tradi-

tional leaders.

6

25 people participated in a debate on Women’s Rights in Chimoio. Activists disseminated messages on Ending Violence Against Women

Hip-Hop festival in Maputo gathered hundreds of people.


YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN DEFENDING WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Thanks to the work of the Coalition for the

Mozambican Youth, on the 13th and 14th March,

several discussions were held in schools in order

to raise awareness among young people on the

importance of preventing HIV, the severe conse-

quences of harmful traditional practices and ear-

ly marriage. During the discussions, these issues

were addressed not only from the theoretical

point of view, as participants also reflected on

how they individually will address these ques-

tions, contributing for gender equality and girl’s

empowerment.

The Coalition is working in partnership with

Civil Society Organizations and the public sec-

tor of the country, and its main goal is to con-

tribute to the harmonized development of the

Mozambican youth, through the promotion of

teenagers’ sexual and reproductive rights, and

through the access to information, education

and capacitation. With the support of UNFPA,

the participation of volunteers in the schools

and the involvement of the association’s mem-

bers, the Coalition is implementing many ac-

tions in KaMpfumu, Nlhamankulo,

KaMaxakeni, KaMubukwana and KaNyaka in

Maputo city.

CONTRACEPTION METHODS, A KEY TO ESCAPE HIV

Forum mulher (Women’s Forum) in cooperation

with Pathfinder, PSI and Coalizão da Juventude

Moçambicana (Mozambican Youth Coalition) and

thanks to the support of UNFPA, in

commemoration of the International Women’s

Day, organized a National Conference on the

female condom in Maputo.

Under the slogan: “Double protection for young

people, challenges of contraception and their

relation with HIV/AIDS feminization” around

100 participants from all over the country

discussed successful strategies for advocacy

and promotion of the use of the female

condom as an important way to prevent

unplanned pregnancy and HIV. The conference

also reinforced the visibility of Government

strategies and health policies in this sector, as

well as provided useful information on

resources available.

Photo:UN Women Mozambique


UN WOMEN PRESENTS THE “CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE” FOR THE UNiTE CAMPAIGN

Four Mozambican celebrities spoke out last 16th

march for Women’s rights in the Girassol Hotel in

Maputo. Bordina Muala, Feliciano Dos Santos, Júlia

Duarte e Valdemiro Jose, in support of the UN Sec-

retary- General’s UNiTE campaign, asked men and

women in Mozambique to increase their efforts to

stop all kind of gender based violence and pro-

mote the empowerment process of women.

During the press conference, journalists from ma-

jor media in the country had the opportunity to

discuss with these personalities about the cam-

paign and their support to the cause. The Champi-

ons of Change expressed their commitment and

activism with the end of gender based violence as

well as their willingness to use their influence to

disseminate this critical message. Also, press col-

leagues visualized for the first time four TV spots

(one for each Champion) that were broadcasted

since the 16th March on, in one of the most popu-

lar TV Channels in Mozambique.

“““ I t i s d i f f icul t but i t i s poss ible . I t i s d i f f icul t but i t i s poss ible .

We can make the di f ference and stop v io lence against women”We can make the di f ference and stop v io lence against women”

(Va ldemiro Jose)(Va ldemiro Jose) 8

Journalists had the chance to ask direct questions to the champions

of Change.

Bordina Muala, Feliciano Dos Santos, Júlia Duarte e Valdemiro Jose are the champions of Change for the UNiTE Campaign in Mozambique


The 6 Expected Outcomes of the Africa UNiTE Campaign are based on policy

commitments and benchmarks already agreed upon by governments to be achieved

by 2015. They are:

1. Adoption and enforcement of national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against wom-

en and girls, in line with international human rights standards.

2. Adoption and implementation of multi-sectoral national plans of action that emphasize prevention

and that are adequately resourced.

3. Establishment of data collection and analysis systems on the prevalence of various forms of violence

against women and girls.

4. Establishment of national and/or local campaigns and the engagement of a diverse range of civil soci-

ety actors in preventing violence and in supporting women and girls who have been abused.

5. Systematic efforts to address sexual violence in conflict situations and to protect women and girls

from rape as a tactic of war, and the full implementation of related laws and policies: such as Resolu-

tions 1325 and 1820.

6. Safe public spaces for women and girls.

9

Photo: UN Women


UN WOMEN MOZAMBIQUE AND THE FUND FOR GENDER EQUALITY

UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality was

iniciated in 2009 as a Global grant source

dedicated to the advancement of women’s

economic and political empowerment. This year,

the second phase of the grantmaking cycle was

launched in New York, on the 1st March by the

Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle

Bachelet.

As a part of UN Women’s commitment with the

strengthening of the women’s movement, the

Country Office contributed to the dissemination

of the call for proposals among Civil Society

Organizations and other partners. More than 20

people, representing to seventeen different

organizations, came to UN Women’s office last

20th March for an informative meeting where the

information contained in the call for proposals

and the concept note was discussed. Participants

were given the space for raising relevant

questions and sharing information about the

process of preparing and submitting their

proposals.

27th MARCH WOMEN DELIVER 50

The international NGO “Women deliver 50” rates

every year projects from all over the world in

terms of effectiveness in promoting women’s

rights. This year three projects that are being im-

plemented in Mozambique were ranked among

the top 50.

These successful projects are:

In commemoration of the Women’s History Month,

last 27th March, in the building of the Cultural Ser-

vices of USA Embassy, the awarded organizations

shared some of their keys for success and reflected

about the positive effects of these interventions for

the advancement of women’s empowerment in

Mozambique.

“Women First” (As mulheres primeiro) implemented by International Relief

and Development (IRD)

“Go Girls!” (Avante raparigas) implemented by John Hopkins

“Respecting Women: a model maternities iniciative” (Respetando as mulheres:

uma iniciativa modelo de maternidades) implemented by JHPIEGO

10

UN Women Mozambique invited CSOs to discusse the Fund for Gender

equality call for proposals.


THE ANNUAL WORK PLAN OF THE GENDER COORDINATION GROUP IS ENDORSED.

On the 11th April, the Gender Coordination

Group, composed of several government

agencies, CSOs, donors and UN Agencies, met

to discuss the Annual Work Plan for the cur-

rent year. The Ministry of Women and Social

Action and UN Women, as chair and co-chair

of the group, presented the drafted Plan for

inputs and discussions of other institutions

participating. The Gender Coordination Group

is an effective mechanism for the promotion of

gender equality and Women’s rights in the

country, and opens an invaluable space for the

political dialogue, consultation, information

exchange, policy assessment, technical sup-

port and advocacy.

We encourage members from Civil Soci-

ety Organizations, UN Agencies, interna-

tional partners, donors and individuals

to participate actively in the group, con-

tributing to its success. We look forward

to hearing from you and seeing you in

the next meeting!

For more information on how to

participate please contact us:

Luisa Macuacua (MMAS)

[email protected]

Eva Moreno (UN Women)

[email protected]

The Gender Coordination Group is:

Participating and influencing in the political dia-

logue between government, international partners

and Civil Society Organizations, in order ensure a

relevant place of gender in the public policies.

Promoting the exchange and sharing of gender

related information.

Contributing for the operationalizing, monitoring

and evaluation of policies, programmes and laws

that promote gender equality in Mozambique.

Support and promote the research on gender re-

lated issues, as well as promoting their incorpora-

tion in other fields.

Strengthening stakeholders’ capacities in dealing

with gender issues in planning, budgeting and

monitoring.

Supporting the gender accountability system for

government, international partners and civil socie-

ty.

Advocating for an adequate budget responding to

women’s need and contributing to gender equali-

ty.

11


THREE MOZAMBICAN WINNERS AT THE

“III GENDER, JUSTICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT” SUMMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Gender Links (GL) held the third annual regional

Gender Justice and Local Government Regional

Summit and Awards from 23 - 25 April 2012 in

Johannesburg, South Africa at the Koponang Ho-

tel. Under the banner "365 days of collective lo-

cal action to end gender violence", the summit

showed case best practices in mainstreaming

gender and ending gender based violence at the

local level.

Approximately 700 participants from ten South-

ern Africa Development Community (SADC)

countries attended: local government authori-

ties, municipalities, NGOs and journalists were

represented in the summit. The South Africa

Minister for Women, Children and People with

Disabilities (Lulu Xingwana) and the Zimbabwe

Minister for Local Government, Urban and Rural

Development (Ignatius Chombo) opened the

meeting.

The relevance that this Summit is reaching in the

international arena keeps consolidating, and so it

does the contribution that it entails for the imple-

mentation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and De-

velopment. The number of participants has notori-

ously increased since 2010, when it was first cele-

brated, from 200 people up to 700 in this year.

In this context, nine women and one man were se-

lected as winners of the Gender Links Summit

awards, from a total of 110 entries submitted from

10 different countries. Three Mozambican were

announced as runner-up under the following cate-

gories:

CATEGORY TWO: Gender Violence - RESPONSE Response to GBV at local level - what do coun-

cils/ institutions/ organizations do to advance

legal literacy, work with local police, etc. to en-

sure redress for victims? How do you respond to

GBV? Nine entries have been submitted.

Runner up: Gilberto Macuacua (Associacao para a Promocao do Desenvolvimento Social, Mozambique). The TV show counted with the support of UN Women. Case Study: A man who is a man, a televi-

sion programme that demystifies masculin-

ity in Mozambique.

Jury’s Citation: For creative use of tech-

nology and media to dismantle obsta-

cles and barriers that define negative

masculinities. They have lifted the im-

portance of behavioral change of men

as an issue that is part of natural psych

and discourse. They have started a

movement of change that brings men

and women together as part of collec-

tive change and vision to redefine

Mozambique society and social norms.

They have implemented lessons learnt

which has resulted in cost effective rep-

lication from the macro level to micro

level

12


UN Women congratulates the awarded

associations and encourages them to

keep on working for women’s rights!!

THREE MOZAMBICAN WINNERS AT THE

“III GENDER, JUSTICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT” SUMMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

CATEGORY FOUR: HIV and AIDS and Care Work HIV/AIDS and Care Work: at the local level, what are councils doing to support care-givers includ-ing advocating for the involvement of men.

Jury’s Citation: The programme is being imple-

mented to provide accurate HIV and AIDS infor-

mation for communities to respond to the deaths

of their children. The information is being provid-

ed in a local language at community level. The or-

ganization takes media to the rural areas where

they record their discussion with the communities.

It is a very creative concept. Excellent job.

Runner Up: Palmira Velasco (Associcao da Mulher na Comunicacao Social, Mozambique) Case study: Local language radio programmes on HIV and AIDS in the community

CATEGORY SIX: Youth Leadership Youth leadership, including junior local councils and young women actively engaged in local gov-ernment/ politics and showing particular innova-tion and dedication to ending GBV at the local lev-el.

Jury’s citation: This leader is able to use oppor-

tunities availed by national events to discuss

Gender Based violence. The project uses crea-

tive initiatives as part of creating awareness on

GBV. There is the use of a multi-media approach

that includes the use of television and radio to

mobilize men to combat GBV in Mozambique.

There are very good campaign messages and

the presenter has very good presentation skills.

Runner Up: Julio Albino Langa -

(REDE HOPEM, Mozambique).

Counted with the support of UN Women.

Case study: Man for change Campaign

13

mozamique towards gender equality!! -...

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