Zambia: African Social Forum, Achieving power through love and courage

Zambia: African Social Forum, Achieving power through love and courage
Rina Alluri

The Africa Social Forum (ASF), held from 10 to 14 December, 2004 in Lusaka, Zambia, brought together different social movements, civil society organisations, community based organisations, academics, activists and individuals who believe in the future of Africa. Some of the main topics discussed included globalisation, neo-liberalism and resistance to capitalism.
As part of this forum, the ASF conducted an African Court of Women's lives and livelihoods. The purpose of the Court was to encourage women from different backgrounds to share their stories and suggest possible solutions to improving developmental, judicial and educational programs in order to mainstream the gender perspective. The African Court provided women with an accessible venue to use testimony, song, dance, lecture, poetry, discussion and analysis to understand the repercussions that globalisation has had on their personal and political lives. Although women may not necessarily be the target, they are often the victims of violence, poverty, war and disease. Therefore, the Court encouraged women to take control of their lives and their future by no longer depending on systems and institutions to dictate their status.
One of the participants, Corinne Kumar, International Coordinator of the Courts of Women, said that “We have began to believe we are fragments and that our stories are disconnected from each other. The enemy sits safely ensconced within our hearts and none of us escapes. This court is a moment of connection to remind us we are a movement and we have power. We have to forge new definitions of manhood from all our power of love and courage.”
The African Court comes at a time when African women are increasingly fighting for their rights as heads of households, entrepreneurs, political leaders or simply as wives, mothers, women. The Solidarity for Women's Rights, a coalition of civil society organisations, is currently campaigning for the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. This Protocol represents an important step in African women's struggle to hold their governments accountable if they are faced with violence, abuse and inequality in both the public and private sphere.

In order for African women to achieve equal rights, there is a need to mobilise themselves by becoming involved in conferences such as the African Social Forum or campaigns such as the Protocol on the Rights of Women. It is through further participation and activism that women can move away from discrimination and towards empowerment.

Compiled by Rina Alluri, Fahamu

Other article:
African Courts at ASF, Brenda Zulu
http://twnafrica.org/atn/campaigns/day3-1.htm