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Women's Justice and and Empowerment in Africa
Fact Sheet The White House, Office of the Press, Washington DC, June 30, 2005
Because we believe in human dignity, America and many nations have joined together to confront the evil of trafficking in human beings. Women and children should never be exploited for pleasure or greed, anywhere on Earth." President George W. Bush, September 21, 2004 .
Today's Action * Today, President Bush announced approximately $55 million to support women's justice and empowerment in Africa. This initiative will work to assist the existing efforts of four African countries to combat sexual violence and abuse against women, and empower them in society. As the programs in these four nations develop, their successes will produce a ripple effect through other countries in their regions.
Protecting and Empowering Women *
The $55 million will be used to bolster women's justice and empowerment in Africa by:
+ Strengthening the capacity of the legal system to protect women and punish violators by training police, prosecutors, and judges in sexual violence and abuse cases against women, and developing or strengthening laws which protect women and empower their role in society.
+ Rehabilitating, reintegrating, and empowering former victims in society by bolstering the capacity of shelters and counseling programs, and addressing health care needs of women.
+ Increasing awareness of the need for women's justice and empowerment, through high-level engagement, conferences, public awareness, and education.
* Women's Justice and the Link to HIV/AIDS:
The $55 million announced today would complement America's ongoing efforts to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and fight human trafficking.
+ In January 2003, the President announced the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a five-year, $15-billion initiative to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Prostitution, trafficking of individuals into prostitution, sexual violence, and sexual victimization of women and children are considered factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS.
During last year's G-8 focus on HIV and tuberculosis, G-8 members also acknowledged how sexual violence against women and girls has contributed significantly to the spread of the HIV virus.
* Empowerment of Women through the Legal System:
Many African nations have already taken steps to improve legal rights for women, including :
new sexual offenses laws, higher penalties for sexually violent offenses against women, anti-trafficking and prostitution legislation, and laws which grant women greater rights to property and inheritance.
+ The four target countries identified for this program have all taken some steps, but require additional support and technical assistance for adequate implementation including:
police, investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial training and assistance;
the development of DNA labs and other specialized equipment;
the establishment of Hotline numbers for reporting rape or violence;
the development of laws criminalizing violence and abuse against women;
and new evidentiary rules to protect the identity of women;
and the development of women's empowerment laws. ************************************************
See http://www.state.gov/g/wi/ for International Women's Issues
************************************************
Because we believe in human dignity, America and many nations have joined together to confront the evil of trafficking in human beings. Women and children should never be exploited for pleasure or greed, anywhere on Earth." President George W. Bush, September 21, 2004 .
Today's Action * Today, President Bush announced approximately $55 million to support women's justice and empowerment in Africa. This initiative will work to assist the existing efforts of four African countries to combat sexual violence and abuse against women, and empower them in society. As the programs in these four nations develop, their successes will produce a ripple effect through other countries in their regions.
Protecting and Empowering Women *
The $55 million will be used to bolster women's justice and empowerment in Africa by:
+ Strengthening the capacity of the legal system to protect women and punish violators by training police, prosecutors, and judges in sexual violence and abuse cases against women, and developing or strengthening laws which protect women and empower their role in society.
+ Rehabilitating, reintegrating, and empowering former victims in society by bolstering the capacity of shelters and counseling programs, and addressing health care needs of women.
+ Increasing awareness of the need for women's justice and empowerment, through high-level engagement, conferences, public awareness, and education.
* Women's Justice and the Link to HIV/AIDS:
The $55 million announced today would complement America's ongoing efforts to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and fight human trafficking.
+ In January 2003, the President announced the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a five-year, $15-billion initiative to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Prostitution, trafficking of individuals into prostitution, sexual violence, and sexual victimization of women and children are considered factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS.
During last year's G-8 focus on HIV and tuberculosis, G-8 members also acknowledged how sexual violence against women and girls has contributed significantly to the spread of the HIV virus.
* Empowerment of Women through the Legal System:
Many African nations have already taken steps to improve legal rights for women, including :
new sexual offenses laws, higher penalties for sexually violent offenses against women, anti-trafficking and prostitution legislation, and laws which grant women greater rights to property and inheritance.
+ The four target countries identified for this program have all taken some steps, but require additional support and technical assistance for adequate implementation including:
police, investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial training and assistance;
the development of DNA labs and other specialized equipment;
the establishment of Hotline numbers for reporting rape or violence;
the development of laws criminalizing violence and abuse against women;
and new evidentiary rules to protect the identity of women;
and the development of women's empowerment laws. ************************************************
See http://www.state.gov/g/wi/ for International Women's Issues
************************************************
posted by Greenconsciousness
at 8:44 AM - Link
3 Comments:
Which 4 countries are these?
Yes, I noticed that myself and wrote Ponticelli to ask; when she answers I will post it here.
In the meantime here is what I found in old releases.
Old releases at:
http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/
The one below found at:
http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/34861.htm
HIV/AIDS Awareness Training. A grant from the U.S. Embassy in Togo to Togo’s Director of AIDS Testing and two NGOs has helped train 150 illiterate market women to become peer counselors.
Media and School Enrollment in Niger. The State Department funded the installation of 30 rural radio stations. Women have been included on their management teams and women’s listening clubs have formed around these stations. School enrollment has doubled in these communities because of the relevancy of the programs to their listeners and the availablity of information.
School Safety. In late 2003, USAID started a new public information program to address school-related violence against girls in Ghana, Malawi, and Ethiopia.
Women’s Human Rights and Legal Advocacy
Women’s Property Rights in Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Tanzania. USAID funded NGOs that advocate for women’s rights. These grants have resulted in the drafting of new legislation for women; the development of TV and radio programs on women’s rights; and the training of thousands of men and women paralegalsto assist in property disputes. Web Site: http://www.usaid.gov/wid/activities/sgpafri.htm
Legal Advocacy Training.
USAID funded Georgetown University Law School’s International Women's Human Rights Clinic to work with lawyers in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria.
Together, they drafted legislation, litigation strategies, and reports on domestic violence, discriminatory marital property laws, land ownership, employment discrimination, polygamy, and trafficking of women.
The participating lawyers from Uganda successfully challenged the constitutionality of the Divorce Act. In March 2004, the Constitutional Court unanimously nullified several provisions of the Act on the grounds that they discriminated on the basis of sex.
Judicial Training in Ethiopia. The United States funded the training of 1,344 Ethiopian judges in 2002-2003, including 90 women.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). After years of U.S. efforts to educate government officials about the effects of FGM, Benin’s National Assembly adopted a law in January 2003 outlawing the practice. The law imposes stiff penalties for performing the procedure, including sentences of up to 10 years in prison and fines up roughly U.S. $10,000 if the procedure results in death. The Embassy provided a 3-year grant to organize educational programs and develop 72 prevention committees. During one ceremony, 18 practitioners made public commitments to give up their knives. In Senegal, 80,000 people in 105 communities committed themselves to ending the practice of FGM.
Rape. Women Against Rape, an NGO in Botswana, received funds to train persons in remote areas who serve as the first contact point for women and girls who have been raped. These persons know who to contact at the police department and medical clinics and what police and doctors need in cases of rape.
Ambassador's Special Self-Help Programs ..............
I sent the email to her press person Sue Hovanec :
Original Message -----
From: "Hovanec, Susan C" HovanecSC@state.gov
HERE IS THE ANSWER FROM PONTICELLI----I guess its' nice to work for the government and act like you don't have anyone to answer these e-mails.
I will be out of the office July 5-June 15. For urgent matters call me at 410-226-5938 or call Guyle Cavin at 312-9633 or our receptionist at 202-312-9664. Thank you.
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