Transcript GENDER, RELIGION AND DEVELOPMENT

GENDER, RELIGION AND
DEVELOPMENT
Presented by Ms Sizakele Shongwe
University of Ghent: Belgium
19th October 2006
Presentation Outline
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Historical background of Development in Africa (particularly Southern
Africa) featuring religion.
Work background/ Practical Work with NGOs in the South
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The Swazi experience: ACAt , World Vision
The South Africa Experience
HOPE Africa Programmes
The Role of the Church in Development.
Partnerships in Development.
Regional and International Instruments on Gender and
Development.
How NGOS are perceived in the South by partners and
beneficiaries.
Challenges
Historical Background of Development
in Africa
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Establishment of missions and mission schools and
clinics.
Involvement of priests and nuns as professionals
( teachers, bursars, nurses & doctors)
Services included scholarships, bursaries,
discretionary funds.
Professionals still encouraged to be actively involved
in development work in the church (HIV&AIDS
Programmes, OVC, Income generation, Food
security ).
Regional and International Instruments
on Gender and Development
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Convention on the Elimination of all forms of
Discrimination Against Women( CEDAW)
Beijing Platform for Action
African Human and People’s Rights Charter
African Solemn Declaration
Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs)
Instruments Continued
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Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Gender and Development (GAD)
Declaration. The Addendum on the
Prevention of Violence Against Women and
Children
International Conference on Population and
Development ( ICPD)
Practical Work with NGOs
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Swaziland
Imbita Swaziland Women’s Trust Fund
Women’s Resource Centre
Women in Law and Development in Africa
(WILDAF)
Women in Law in Southern Africa (WLSA)
Women and Legal Rights in Southern Africa
( WLRISA)
Practical Work Continued
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Council of Swaziland Churches (CSC)
Swaziland Ecumenical Church Loan Fund
(SECLOF)
African Cooperative Action Trust ( ACAT)
Lilima Swaziland
CARITAS
Lutheran Development Service (LDS)
World Vision
Practical Work- South Africa
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South African Council of Churches
Anglican Diocese of the Highveld (OVC)
Programme.
Provincial HIV&AIDS Programme.
Public Policy Programme
South African Parliamentary Liaison Office
HOPE Africa
HOPE Africa
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Environmental Sustainability
Economic Development
Good Governance
Community Development
Characteristics of the Church
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Compliments development as it encourages
and encompasses values of humility and
humanity, acts of kindness, neighbourliness,
sharing, love, generosity and communality.
The church used as a venue for meetings,
counselling, VCT, distribution of food parcels,
clothes and general fundraising.
Archbishop’s Initiatives
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Attempts to link scripture to development.
Justice Peace and Reconciliation
Violence Against Women and Children
16/365 Days of Activism
Men’s March Against Violence on Women
Women Demand Dignity
Women’s Day
TAMAR
Initiatives Continued
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Role in MDGs ( Health and Malaria)
TEAM Conference
Religious Leaders as policy makers
Helen Joseph
Brigalia Bam
Sheena Dunce
Canon Delene Mark
Religious Leaders in Policy Making
 Father
Trevor Huddleston.
 Archbishop Emeritus Desmond
Tutu
 Archbishop Njongonkulu
Ndungane
 Rev. Frank Chikane
Partners in Development
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Partnerships with government and other
public and state enterprises.
With donor agencies ( credibility of the
church with donors)
Beneficiary’s perception of NGOs
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As donors or sponsors hence the difficulty in
eradicating the dependency syndrome
leading to lack of sustainability and
sustainability strategies.
The relationship remains unequal with donor
agencies having an upper hand.
The approach remains largely WID as
opposed to GAD
Challenges
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The story of Creation which portrays men as
superior hence perpetuating gender
stereotypes.
The socio-religious construction of patriarchy.
Men as heads of families( Ephesians),
women to be submissive.
Women not to stand in front of congregation.
Further challenges
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The different sects within the church:
(Mother’s Union, Men’s Guilds).
Issues of marriage vows: (till death do us
part), no room for divorce or separation.
Distorted contemporary practices.
Combining culture with religion: polygamy
Sexual and Reproductive Health issues
Challenges
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Controversy of Condom use vs contraception
and abstinence.
Backlash from empowerment through
Domestic Violence Act
Issues of violence around social grants
especially on older women.
Challenges
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Women’s economic empowerment threatens
the traditional role of men as providers
leading to violence, suicide and femicide.
Greatest challenge to empower women to do
it on their own socially and for men to
understand that gender means a partnership
as opposed to a power take over.
Conclusion
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Though Gender Desks have been established in the
different NGOs and there has been an attempt to
move away from the WID approach, many NGOs still
remain trapped in that approach to development as it
is not as threatening as GAD.
Christianity or religion aids or enhances
development which does no necessarily mean that
religion in necessary for development. However
there is no denying that the church has a pivotal role
to play in development for the critical mass following
it commands