Author: Zarina Geloo, IPS
Date: January 24, 2007
Source: Terraviva http://www.ipsterraviva.net/TV/Nairobi/en/viewstory.asp?idnews=836

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NAIROBI - The women’s movement had a stronger voice at Nairobi 2007 than in all other forums and has made genuine attempts to link their issues into other processes, Fatma Aloo, a member of the WSF organisation committee, said Wednesday.

Aloo, who is also an executive board member of FEMNET, told a media briefing that the African women’s voice was especially strong and clear at the forum.

"Unlike the other forums where our voice was drowned by the bigger and stronger solidarity movements, here in Nairobi we were strong. We had representation across the board, were able to link our issues into the other processes like land, water and health and, more importantly, did not talk to the converted – we engaged with other groups that did not traditionally have a gender component in their work." Enough Talk Aloo, who is from Tanzania, said there had been enough talk and that it was now time for action: "We must now move from NGOism to activism, we now know what we want to do and how to do it. We must now move to action – to doing it – and then come back and report progress."

She said all movements and groups would leave Nairobi with an action plan that should be implemented nationally and regionally.

Wahu Kaara from the social mobilisation unit of WSF 2007 said Kenyan grassroots organisations had been invigorated.

"This is probably the only forum they will ever attend because it is on their turf and they made maximum use of it. They put their case across very clearly, they engaged with other solidarity movements and formed strong networks which will spur them on long after the conference," said Kaara. Women in Conflict She said the discussions on women in conflict areas – especially Somalia and Darfur – were poignant as many women affected by the conflict were not physically present to tell their stories. However, their issues were being raised by solidarity movements who were working in those areas.

There was a strong call for more protection from the international community for women and children living in conflict areas in order to shield them from rape and other brutalities associated with war.

On the issue of access to land, there was a demand for legislation which would protect women’s access to land, especially in cultures where women were not allowed to own land or property.

The grass roots movements also lobbied for greater networking on the issue of water saying many communities were accessing less water because governments were privatising water resources and making it expensive.