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OSISA
supporting and showing solidarity with Zimbabwe's women
OSISA
November 13, 2008
On the eve of
the take-off of the 11th Association for Women's Rights in Development
(AWID) forum in Cape Town, South Africa (14-17 November 2008), the
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, (OSISA) and the Open
Society Initiative's International Women's Programme (OSI IWP) have
awarded a total of US$230 000 in grants to four organizations promoting
the rights of women and girls in Zimbabwe.
The recipients include Zimbabwe
Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA), Girl
Child Network (GCN), International
Video Fair (IVF) and the Women
in Law in Southern Africa Research Trust (WLSA).
Several years ago AWID, whose forum draws together no less than
1 500 women's rights leaders and activists from various corners
of the world, published a report entitled "Show us the Money,"
which detailed how over the years the value and range of support
going to women's organisations from international and regional donors
had fallen drastically.
This year's AWID forum is organised under the theme "The power
of movements".
Given the dire humanitarian, economic and political hardships in
Zimbabwe, OSISA and OSI IWP have joined forces to support the efforts
of African women to advocate for their rights. The OSISA and OSI
IWP funding will enable these organisations to continue to promote
the rights or girls and women in various ways.
"It is absolutely critical at this time in Zimbabwe to support
organisations that are advocating for the promotion and protection
of women's rights", says Isabella Matambanadzo, Zimbabwe country
manager for OSISA. "This is not only a show of our solidarity
with women's rights and feminist organising in Zimbabwe given the
hardships women have faced due to the volatile political and humanitarian
situation in the country; it is also our way of recognising the
leadership that women's organisations have been providing across
the country in responding to the difficulties that women face at
this time."
Life expectancy for women is 34 years in Zimbabwe, says the United
Nations. Zimbabwe's economic crisis has affected the ability of
women and girls to enjoy fundamental freedoms.
In a recent statement women's organisations said food shortages,
coupled with a collapsed public health care system and an ailing
education sector, are causing "grave suffering" for women
and girls across the country.
"We call upon those political parties and the mediator involved
in the negotiations for a political settlement to bring women to
the table. We have seen how critical a contribution women make in
turning situations of turbulence into peace and stability. Given
a chance, Zimbabwe's women can do the same, " Matambanadzo
said.
Asked if other groups are likely to receive similar support, Matambanadzo
said "We hope that before the end of this year, our institution,
which places priority on women's equality, can provide further assistance
in this area as the situation is desperate".
Other women's organisations that have in the past been awarded grants
by OSISA include the Women's
Action Group (WAG:2007), the Feminist Political Education Project
(FEPEP:2006), the Association of Women's Clubs (AWC:2006) the Women
in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU:2005, the Zimbabwe
Women's Resource Centre Network (ZWRCN:2003) and the Women's
Coalition of Zimbabwe (2002.
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