Anonymous
- Niger "I have been living with the Tuareg communities in Niger, Africa. Some Tuareg still lead a nomadic lifestyle while others are farmers. One woman from Ebey, a farming village, asked me to organize an activity for the village because she was having problem educating them. I decided to help because she was really committed to her work. I was warned by a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) that, “You don’t know the reality here; it’s not worth doing any activity for them.” I found a woman doctor who started to support me by providing translation. The local women only spoke their traditional language. I started to organize the activity. To reach the village we rented two automobiles and drivers. It was the windy season so sand was everywhere. We held the activity in a hut, which was not big enough for the 80 women, and children, who came. This was the first time they were getting together at an activity someone had organized just for them. I asked them to identify and discuss whatever problems they were facing. They were enthusiastic, smiling and laughing because it was the first time they had ever held a pencil. At the end of each day we “talked” together, although we couldn’t speak the same language. But with their faces and simple words they expressed their joy. I was so touched. Empowering woman means organizing activities where they can express themselves, where they can feel important and so build their self-confidence. Self-confidence is the basis of nonviolence because self-confident people can treats others with respect, not as inferiors or superiors. To build self-confidence means to build peace. To build peace we need to listen to others, to be humble and to give space to the relationship with the others. The women’s eyes, their smiles and words of those women made me think about my life. I have decided to stay with them for at least two years."
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"I was living a difficult marriage where psychological violence was prevalent. I became in turn aggressive and the violence escalated. My marriage ended badly and I, like many other women in African countries, took the blame and thought that I should have been more obedient, more passive, more loving. So I packed all those feelings inside and went on to reorganize my life and those of my children as best as I could, but still I always kept feeling a failure. In 2002, more than 20 years later, I joined an association involved in non-violence. I was intrigued but did not know what I could contribute. Then, a United Nations (UN) agency needed to make a report on the status of violence against women in my country. They contracted my association to do the research. I talked with women from all walks of life: rich, poor, peasants and professionals and found out that my case was not unique. I was not alone in being miserable in an unhealthy relationship. In fact it was an international issue and women all over the world were speaking out. This report helped give a voice to nameless women. Women who suffered in silence, who were afraid of being branded as troublemakers and thrown out of their families. These fears did not become reality. People, men and women, community leaders, the media, all sensed that this was the time to “break the silence” and examine the increasing violence in homes. So the number of talk show radio programs, consultations between women and church leaders increased, even the national television became loud and eager to bring the topic out in the open. We all knew somebody who was in the same situation but did not know what to do to in order to change. Now there are two centres opened for women who seek legal advice or just need somebody to listen, who can understand, and who can help them. Yes, I feel that I contributed a little to bring awareness to people and start the long process of questioning before offering solutions. At the same time, my confidence grew and I became able to relate to women victims of domestic violence without feeling guilt. To have become aware of nonviolence allowed me also to tell my pain and confusion without looking only for someone to blame. The clear analysis of the cycle of violence, especially about its silence, allowed me to find specific ways to remove its supporting pillars and bring domestic peace."
Anonymous
- Africa In the past the Registrar General’s Office, which falls under the government, monitored the parliamentary and presidential elections. There was a lot of outcry from the general public because they were not satisfied with how the whole election was being handled. There were cases of rigging, unfair treatment of voters, and threats commonly reported. People were not happy and some had decided not to vote at all since they knew that the election process was full of violence. Women’s organizations tried to intervene but at first they were not given the chance. They kept on insisting and finally an independent body was put in place that monitors the election process. Things have changed tremendously for the better for everybody. My organization takes part in the whole process of election monitoring. We face difficult situations at times but now people are at least interested in exercising their voting rights again. The Women Peacemakers Program in my country is also a member of this independent body.
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