The following provides the background for the Video of the African Views Organization's CSW 66th parallel event on March 21, 2022.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/YPfAncdgSoQ
The meeting title is 'Gender Harmony at the Center of the Solutions for Environmental Disasters Caused by Armed Conflicts.'
Many advocates argue that climate change causes or acts as a threat multiplier for violent conflicts. For example, climate change-influenced draught has been labeled a cause of the Syrian conflict and the war in Darfur. Natural hazards like earthquakes unrelated to climate change have also increased the risk of violent social conflict and political instability. Excellent examples of Natural disasters include draughts (Lake Chad), floods (South Asia, China, East Africa), tsunamis, mudslides, wildfires (California), storms, and hurricanes (U.S. South Eastern states). We can also draw parallels from armed conflicts in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other human error disasters such as Chernobyl in Russia and Fukushima in Japan. Man-made disasters include the aftermath of terrorist activities experienced in Nigeria, other parts of Africa, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. We can observe similar patterns unfolding in the new conflict in Ukraine. The narratives are that disasters that displace people often put pressure on already-strained resources and infrastructure in their communities, and disaster-stricken people fight over limited resources to survive, putting women at a more significant disadvantage.
Following the Commission's concerns that women and girls are often disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues, thus it becomes imperative that civil societies and community organizations, when taking action to address climate change and environmental disaster resolutions, ensure that authorities should consider gender harmony with equity in addressing the disparity between the empowerment of women and girls compared to men and boys.
We assembled some of the best representatives as panelists from various countries worldwide with tenure and expertise on the particular topic and area of focus. Panelist made presentations and answered the following questions:
Joanna Meyer is an American Civil Society Activist living in Tunisia
Tunisia/Algeria
Makes a Presentation on Facing assorted water crises and a green economy to meet some of humanity's needs.
Angela R.M. is the Director-general World Women Organization. Special International Relations Officer for Deputy Parliament's Speaker of Malaysia
Questions for Nigeria
1: Studies found that cultural stereotypes, religious factors, unequal access to education, poverty, and harmful practices, are still prevalent in Northern Nigeria. Nigeria is said to be one of the worst places to be a woman in the world: one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, economic inequality, misogynistic laws, and political exclusion are just a few of the issues Nigerian women have to live with. What are the measures and steps taken to reduce the plight of women in the region?
2: On the night of 14–15 April 2014, 276 predominantly Christian female students aged from 16 to 18 were kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School at the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, the whole world was shocked by the abduction. Do we know what happened to the girls? Boko Haram continues to operate in other areas in the Northern region. What is being done to protect women from being captured by the terrorist group, and what time of treatment is available for those lucky to be released?
3: What are you and others doing to get men involved in empowering women empowerment and organizing trade union movements in Northern Nigeria?
Questions for Fatma Aytaç is the Co-Chair of the Women's Party and the Chairwoman of Red Pepper Association, Turkey.
1: Islam is the largest religion in Turkey according to the state, with 99% of the population being initially registered by the state as Muslim, for anyone whose parents are not of any other officially recognized religion and the remaining 0.1% are Christians or adherents of other officially recognized religions like Judaism. This makes Turkey officially an Islamic nation. However, Turkey claims to be a Secular country. Please enlighten us about the situation of women in Turkey.
2: As a feminist activist, one of the founders, and co-chair of the Women's Party, how important is it to have a women's party in Turkey, and what are the goals and challenges of the Women's party?
3: How is the women's party widely accepted in Turkey? Would you recommend the same movement for other developing Islamic Nations? Does the Women's party have male members? How can the party increase male support? After all, males and females have to live together.
Questions for Sara Kazimi is an Entrepreneur (CEO of Leobella) U.S. and Founder Of World Orphanage Foundation- Afghanistan
Afghanistan
1: everyone is concerned about Afghanistan while people flee from the country. You have gone back a few times. Why?
2: How do you see positive changes in Afghanistan regarding women and children affected more by the shock effect of regime change or adverse effect of climate change. Women are still not able to go to school or work. Do you see expect a positive change? If so, when and how?
3: How do you see or envision the role of men supporting women in Afghanistan. Men, too, have to be educated about understanding women's needs. Most women are forced to wear Burqa because many clerics argue that women tempt men to do wrong things? How can we also change this mindset?
Questions for M.D. Rabbi Alam, PH.D. is an Iraq War And Afghan War - U.S. Army Veteran - Founder Of American Muslim and Bangladeshi Political Action Committee
Bangladesh
1: Bangladesh has had 2 female leaders since its independence. The 2 female Leaders have ruled for a combined 5 terms spanning 29 years. How is this possible in a Muslim Country?
2: With the House of the Nation (The Bangladeshi Parliament) having 350 seats and only 50 reserved exclusively for Women, are the needs of women in the country adequately echoed?
3: How can the Bangladeshi system serve as an example for other Islamic nations?
Questions for Kizzy Bortolo is Journalist and Reporter on Women's Behavior and Feminist Causes in Brazil
1: Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions per person are higher than the global average, and Brazil is among countries that emit a large amount of greenhouse gas. Some of the reasons are cutting down trees in the Amazon rainforest and its large cattle farms. Brazil has the second-largest number of cattle globally. After India, cows are ruminants that emit greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. In the Paris Agreement, Brazil promised to reduce its emissions. What is being done to limit the impacts of climate change or adapt to climate change in Brazil? What are the effects of climate change on Women in Brazil?
2: Violence Against Women is still prevalent in Brazil. What is being done to reduce Violence against Women in the country? How are men supporting this movement of anti-violence against women and women empowerment?
3: Recently, a video of a group of white men and women urinating on a woman painted in Black resurfaced on Social media and caused much misleading interpretation and uproar. But this is performance by Guatemallan artist named Piedra De Regina José Galindo at the Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. January 17 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBMSB8XVn1s How was this received in Brazil? Was this considered positive by the Brazilian Press? What is the Brazilian Press doing to promote the anti-violence against women campaign, and what kind of content is acceptable?
Questions for Jessica Williamson is the Director for North America, World Information Transfer
(Ukraine) 1: your organization is raising funds for Ukraine. Is there an observable difference in the challenges and needs faced by the people according to Gender? If so, what is noticeable, and how do you plan to address these needs with the intervention of your organization? Are the interventions made in Poland or Ukraine? 2: How does your organization weigh the risks and benefits of interventions of your efforts?
3: War is horrible. The impact of a climate of fear within the country brought on by this threat seems to be factoring into Ukraine's decisions? The U.N. General Assembly has adopted a resolution condemning Nazism, neo-Nazism, and all forms of racism and the U.S. and Ukraine voted against it, while a few countries, mainly U.S. allies, abstained. The resolution was co-sponsored by Russia. This decision came at a high price for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, putting a spotlight on alleged racism. The concern: immigrants from Africa and other people of color fleeing Ukraine were discriminated against, not allowed to board trains or buses, and even ejected from private cars toward these refugees.
Will your organization hold Ukraine accountable, calling for fair and humane treatment for all?
Questions for Precious Proscovia, R.N., FIP is an Impactpreneur. Child Advocate, international speaker, Neuroscience Nurse, and Seasoned Financial Literacy Coach (Uganda)
1: Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, has had its share of armed conflicts. Since the period of Joseph Kony, the militant leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, a Christian fundamentalist organization, who abducted children and committed terrorist acts across many communities, women and girls were affected more than men and boys. What are the known disparities, and in what ways were these disparities addressed by the authorities and communities?
2: How are men and women working together towards sustainable solutions in Uganda? What progress is being made, and how can we improve the conditions of lives for women and children? How inclusive are women, and how involved are women in nation-building and the most pressing development of the society?
3: Uganda has mostly a tropical climate characterized by stable rainfall patterns. However, climate change has turned the seasons around, with the country experiencing shorter or longer rains and harsher droughts – especially in eastern and north-eastern Uganda. How has climate change affected women disproportionately, and what is being done or could be done to reduce the impact of climate change on women.
Statements from Norton Wisdom, Artist Human Right Activist (USA)
Offers statements about his commitment to using his art to illustrate peace and advocacy for no war, and gender equality
Questions for Dr. Wale Idris Ajibade Dr. Wale Idris AJibade is the Founder and Executive Director African Views Organization. Author of the Long Struggle for Gender Harmony in Afghanistan
1: What is Gender Harmony? How is it related to today's topic?
2: What is AVAWA?
3: Why is gender harmony essential, and what is the difference to Gender equality?