The subject of this interview by Women's Enews, Dr. Nawal El Saadawi, one of the most well-known feminists and political dissidents in the Arab world, was born in 1931 in Kafr Tahla, a small village north of Cairo. A psychiatrist by training, she first rose to international prominence with her 1972 book, "Women and Sex," which dealt with the taboo topic of women's sexuality and led to her dismissal as Egypt's director of public health. She also lost her positions as the chief editor of the medical journal, Health, and as the assistant general secretary of the Egyptian Medical Association. Since then, her many books and novels, most focusing on issues of Arab and Muslim women and sexuality within the context of repressive religious authority and tradition, have made her the target of both Egypt's secular regimes and the Muslim religious establishment.

It is an article of faith in development circles that assisting girls to complete their education – and postponing the age at which they have children – benefits both the girls and the communities they live in. This truth is proving difficult to entrench in Burkina Faso, however, where early marriages – and, worse still, forced marriages – are often the norm. This is despite a 1990 law that sets the marriage age for girls at 18, and for boys at 22.

A new bill has been drafted in Zanzibar imposing stiffer penalties for homosexuality and lesbianism. Deputy attorney general Omar Makungu said if enacted the new law would also ban same sex marriages. Under current laws, homosexuality is already illegal, but Mr Makungu says they want to stop the practice becoming an accepted part of Zanzibari culture.

Few pregnant mothers in Botswana are accessing free HIV/AIDS related services, including free antiretrovirals being provided by the state, says a recent study. The survey of 504 women at ante-natal clinics and in post-natal wards countrywide, revealed that although 95 percent were accessing the health care provided at these facilities, the utilisation of free Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services and voluntary testing was still low - though it had increased from 38 percent in 2002 to 58 percent in 2003.

Women leaders from 12 African Countries and Africans in the Diaspora after a two-day meeting in Accra launched a new leadership institute to promote the representation of women in leadership positions throughout the continent and the Diaspora. The mission of Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) Institute for Empowerment and Leadership Development (WIELD) is to revolutionise the concept of leadership and move more women and girls into decision-making positions.

Chemonics International seeks a Women’s Legal Rights Advisor to implement the USAID-funded Women’s Legal Rights Initiative in Madagascar to provide guidance on women’s legal rights programs and activities in the region; liase with the sectors of justice, government, civil society; and work in cooperation with the USAID Mission in Madagascar.

This study examines the methods adopted by the international community to tackle the chronic problems of schooling and poverty in sub Saharan Africa.

The struggle against trafficking of human beings has gathered considerable momentum over recent years. This research focuses on the situation of Africa, drawing a preliminary mapping of trafficking patterns on the continent and providing an indication of emerging good practices in the area of policy responses and legislative framework. The research took place against a background of lack of reliable estimates and a dearth of trafficking research and methodology tools. The report and findings are anchored in the commitment by Heads of State at the EU-Africa Summit to identify democracy, human rights and good governance as being among an agreed set of eight priority areas for political action.

Women still face higher unemployment rates, receive lower wages than men and represent 60 per cent of the world's 550 million working poor, according to the findings of a new report. The report examines global employment trends for women. It asks whether the fact that women increasingly enter the labour market really means that the gap between male and female participation is closing; whether women who look for work are successful in finding it; and if women do find work, what are the typical characteristics of female work compared to that of male counterparts?

Commenting on the Silencing of Women in Zimbabwe, I would like to add that I have just published a book called "Guns and Guerrilla Girls: Women in the Zimbabwean Liberation Struggle", (Africa World Press, 2004). This book examines the silences and silencing of women who fought alongside men for the nation's independence, but were mistreated, violated and silenced by the chiefs, leaders and commanders of the struggle. The research ended in 1997 when some women in Zimbabwe used their experiences to claim compensation from the government for their contribution to the struggle, but alas, they were silenced again during the "land invasion" stage of Mugabe's redistribution program. What ever happened to these women ex-combatants who fought for Zimbabwe, sacrificed their lives, and the lives of their children?

Everjoice Win's letter (Pambazuka News 147: Open letter to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and other women in the South African cabinet) should also be addressed to other African leaders (the men!) who are in power and can effect change in Zimbabwe. The suffering has being going on for too long. Millions of people need not face starvation because of the pride and ego of the male leaders, who cannot admit they are wrong. Corruption and patronage needs to be thwarted, where women bear the brunt of national pain. Women's lives need to be heard, maybe then we can find solutions to political, social and economic problems.

Mali is promoting solar power and modern, clean energy such as butane to reduce poverty and improve the lives of rural women and safeguard the environment. The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water is encouraging such new and renewable energy alternatives to wood through a project that aims to reach 250 villages in the southern regions of Koulikoro, Ségou, Sikasso and Mopti. Other partners are the Ministry of Environment; the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family; and UNDP.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has wrapped up its annual session with broad agreement on the need to involve men in the struggle for gender equality. At the close of its two-week session, the 45-member panel adopted an informal paper synthesizing the conclusions of discussions on the issue, which concluded that real change requires overcoming stereotypical attitudes which inhibit women's advancement and impede efforts to achieve gender equality.

Rights groups in Kenya observed International Women's Day by unveiling a plan to significantly reduce sexual violence in the country within two years. The plan, titled "Towards Stopping Sexual Violence in Kenya", was launched on March 8 by a coalition of 16 women's rights organisations know as the Medico-Legal Network on Gender-Based Violence in Kenya and includes tightening legislation on sexual violence.

In terms of women’s participation, over the past decade, progress has been made on the African continent in the area of women’s political and economic empowerment, said Prof. Maria Nzomo, Kenya High Commissioner in Zimbabwe, in a speech in October 2003. "Although the road to women’s full incorporation in the areas of development, peace building and politics is long and replete with obstacles, recent developments at the regional level provide space for optimism...Whereas the OAU was concerned with liberating Africa from colonisation, the AU and other recent initiatives are expected to focus on promoting and protecting human rights including women’s human rights, consolidating democratic institutions and culture, building new institutions to monitor and promote peace, security and development, encouraging and promoting civil society, and ensuring good governance and the rule of law."

The ideal of gender equality in Uganda was brought closer to realisation recently with a Constitutional Court ruling on the country's Divorce Act. The court struck down ten sections of the act, saying they contravened a clause in the constitution that guaranteed women equal rights to men. The case which led to the ruling was filed by the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers.

"The situation of women in this country is worrisome. At home, women are beaten, girls are sexually abused, there is violence linked to the dowry and there is marital rape,” says a new report about the challenges facing women in Cameroon. "Surveys seem to indicate that at least a third of women are raped, beaten, forced to have sexual intercourse or mistreated in one way or another during the course of their lives,” it adds.

Dear sisters,
Happy International Women's Day to you. The 8th of March is meant to be a day to celebrate how far we have come as women worldwide. But for us North of your border, we have no cause to celebrate. I am writing this letter to talk to you, woman to woman. I believe in other women. I don't buy into the now oft heard refrain that "women don't support one another". I celebrate your presence in the highest offices of your land, and I want to continue to have faith in other women.

But, I am making a lot of assumptions in writing this letter to you; that you are in leadership to promote and protect the rights of women. I assume that you feel for other women. Yes it is an assumption that those of us who have worked as feminists know so well. We vote for women to get into high offices and assume that they will stand up for our collective rights.

We think that because one woman has gone through a particular struggle she will easily identify with the struggles of others. That like I said is an assumption that has since been proved to be just that, an assumption. So I am writing this with these huge assumptions that you are interested in the rights of women wherever they are, whoever they are. If you don't, stop reading here.

Sisters you are letting us down. The women of Zimbabwe are hurting. Thousands have been physically abused, raped, are unable to survive from day to day, and millions are groaning under the weight of oppression.

Honourable Zuma, I am not talking about the British's "kith and kin", that you like talking so much about. I speak only of YOUR kith and kin. Black women.
Women who have never owned land in pre-colonial times or post colonial times and who still have not been given any of the celebrated land that was redistributed.

But what all these women know is that their rights are violated day in and day out in the name of this land. Our President is on record for saying that women cannot be given land in their own capacity, unless they don't want to get married. On the former commercial farms all poor black women know is that they have lost their means of survival. You and I can argue from the safety of our good jobs that they were being exploited by the Rhodies. But to them it was a question of half a loaf is better nothing. Now it's a case of no bread is better than half a loaf! In the absence of alternatives they resort to commercial sex work, with all the dangers that it now entails, (your government's denialism around HIV/AIDS not withstanding here. In Zimbabwe we are quite clear that one in every three people has HIV).

Hundreds of female nurses and teachers fled from their rural posts since the 2000 elections till now, because of the politically motivated and organised violence that engulfed our country. Most of them are still unemployed as we speak, because the government refuses to allow them to "transfer".

Those who stayed continue to endure emotional and physical violence from so-called war vets and the Green Bombers. Young girls some as young as nine or ten, have been raped and infected with HIV by gangs of marauding state sponsored thugs. There are no figures of how many black women and their families have been displaced from their homes.

Have you never wondered what life must be like for an ordinary black Zimbabwean woman right now? Let me share with you what I know, bearing in mind my class status. A packet of 10 sanitary pads costs Z$10 000. A domestic worker in Highfield township earns Z$15 000 if she is lucky. I leave the horrors of her monthlies to your active imagination. Saying hello to a doctor is now $50 000. 10 good pain- killers will cost you Z$15000. A one- way trip into town from the nearest township by combi is $500.

Most walk back and forth every day. The woman still has to cook, clean and take care of everyone. Add to all this, the impact of the HIV crisis. It is women who still care for the sick, who have to care for their babies and who are still denied their reproductive rights. We are now back to the good-old system of pulling girls out of schools, because poor families can’t afford to pay fees for both girls and boys. Our gender roles and rights questions haven't gone away simply because we are in a political crisis. They just get worse.

You have probably seen various videos and read countless stories about what is going on in Zimbabwe. I know many of you doubt the authenticity of these stories given the "messengers" who put them out. But let me go back to the woman thing; you and I know the price that women pay for publicly speaking about any human rights violations that they suffer. We know the questions that are asked; What had she done? What was she wearing? Where was she going? Who is she? Can we really believe her? In the case of Zimbabwe's political violence against women add another set of questions; Which party is she from? Are you sure she wasn't paid by the British? Is it really true that Robert Mugabe a whole liberation war leader can do that? And in the case of the socio economic crisis: Surely these figures are exaggerated?

Isn't this just Western propaganda?

That my dear sisters, is why I said you are letting us down. We are dismayed, by the comments that some of you, particularly Nkosazana have made about our situation in Zimbabwe. As any woman in a violent situation will tell you, there are no prizes awarded for speaking out. If anything you are ostracized by your own family/community. You are branded a bad woman, and worse you are violated several times over for daring to open your mouth.

Your public denials and accusations against those of us who dare to speak hurts. Telling us that what we are going through is "British propaganda" is the same as accusing any South African woman who is raped of telling lies.

Your silence and quiet diplomacy does more harm to us emotionally than the physical wounds we carry. Those of you who have ever experienced domestic violence, (and I am sure there are a few among you), or rape must be quite familiar with this; the pain you feel when your own family doubts your story. The anguish you go through when his and your own family accuse you of being the bad woman. The anger when they literally tell you to change your behaviour.

That is what you and your government are doing to the women of Zimbabwe.
Partly blaming the victims, mostly silencing them. As you celebrate International Women's Day, think about the women and girls of Zimbabwe. We are over six million nameless, faceless individuals. Go beyond Bob and Morgan. Talk to us. We are here. As our rights continue to be violated in the name of "national sovereignty", all we ask of you is not to deny our pain. Don't silence us and deny us the space to name our violations and our violators. May none of what we are going through EVER happen to any one of you or any woman of South Africa.

* Everjoice J. Win is a Zimbabwean feminist activist. She is a former Commonwealth Adviser to the Commission on Gender Equality, (CGE). This letter was first published in South Africa’s Mail and Guardian newspaper. It is reproduced here with kind permission of the author.

* Send comments on this editorial - and other events in Africa - to

* Please see the Women and Gender section of Pambazuka News for more information on International Women's Day.

Many of the tens of millions of people who have been displaced from their homes are women fleeing oppressive norms and violence. Some are women who may have opposed their oppression and stood up to the state, society, their husband or their relatives. Some are women whose only "wrongful" act was to have sex outside marriage or who have been raped. Some are women who have insisted on their right to choose for themselves which man or woman to love. Some are women who, consciously or unconsciously, through their actions or words, have transgressed social mores and therefore fear punishment from the state, from their communities or their families.

What problems must women cope with when the family breadwinner goes missing? Why is it important to facilitate family visits for detained women? ­ To mark International Women's Day on 8 March, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched an operational manual ­ 'Addressing the Needs of Women Affected by Armed Conflict: An ICRC Guidance Document' ­ that deals with questions such as the above. While International Women's Day is a symbolic occasion to pay tribute to women around the globe, it should be celebrated with more than words and gestures. It should also be marked by concrete action to improve the plight and preserve the dignity of women in wartime. The ICRC hopes that its new manual will prove useful to policy-makers and humanitarian workers seeking to achieve this aim.

With the world marking International Women's Day this week, women in South Africa might find themselves asking what benefits 10 years of democracy have brought them - especially in the important area of reproductive health. "Women have different levels of access to reproductive health services at a range of levels," says Martha Molete, Communication Officer at the Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa (PPASA). She told IPS that urban women generally had more access to health care than their rural counterparts. However, women in rural areas were undoubtedly more aware of their contraceptive options than they had been a decade ago.