This week’s SoroptiVoice blog for International Peace Day (21^st September) comes from Kate Moore, a Soroptimist and Co-Chair of Action on Armed Violence. AoAV, formerly known as Landmine Action, carries out research, advocacy and field work to reduce the incidence and impact of global armed violence. Soroptimists in the UK have worked closely with them for many years and in 2002, Kate was elected as SI’s UK Programme Action Committee’s (UKPAC) representative to the organisation, before going on to become Co-Chair of AOAV.

In this post, Kate writes about her involvement in the campaign against landmines and cluster munitions and introduces an AOAV project to support and empower women survivors of armed violence and women with disabilities in Burundi.

Image: Kate Moore with a female member of a Mines Advisory Group (MAG) de-mining team in Lao, 2010

My interest in landmines dates back to the December 10 Appeal in 1995 when we supported Mines Advisory Group to train women de-miners in Laos; the December 10 Appeal in 1996 when we partnered with the UNHCR to de-mine roads allowing refugees to return to Angola after the cessation of conflict and also, the SI four year project with the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) ‘Limbs for Life’ – assisting landmine survivors in Angola, Afghanistan and Georgia.

Through the ensuing years, Soroptimists in the UK had a high profile in raising public awareness of landmines, unexploded remnants of war and cluster munitions. They were one of the earliest members of the Cluster Munition Coalition working towards to the 2008 UN Convention banning Cluster Munitions. As a Director of Landmine Action and a member of the CMC, I worked throughout the world at the government meetings of the Oslo Process which resulted in the new Convention; wherever I worked, I invited local Soroptimists to join me.

Read more about landmines and their effect on women and girls in this Monthly Focus from April 2012.

In 2011, Landmine Action became Action on Armed Violence (AOAV); now we work to strengthen international laws and norms on the use of weapons, to build recognition of the rights of victims and survivors of armed violence, and to research, understand and act effectively on the root causes of armed violence in affected countries.

One project in Burundi fits particularly with Soroptimist International’s focus on educating, empowering and enabling opportunities for women and girls. Ruth Simpson, AOAV’s Programme Manager for Burundi and Western Sahara, introduces it here.

Image: Peer support workers in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital (AOAV).

 

Realising rights and improving safety and security for women survivors of armed violence and women with disabilities in Burundi

“I abandoned my studies when I was in primary school because my parents were no longer able to pay for tuition. That’s when I joined the rebellion. I was recruited to treat the sick and wounded. I was raped and I had two children. Since the training, I am very proud because I have learned many things, such as how to help others who are facing trauma. [The training] helped to change my life and I will help others to change their lives”. ~ Elisabeth Nibigira, female ex-combatant and survivor, after an AOAV supported training.

Women in Burundi face significant challenges in attaining their rights to health and education, employment opportunities, and inclusion in decision-making. Women ex-combatants and women with disabilities in particular face higher risks of gender based violence, discrimination and marginalisation. A significant proportion of women with disabilities in Burundi are also survivors of armed violence, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), ex-combatants and women associated with armed groups. Not only are women’s rights violated, the marginalisation of women impedes healing and reconciliation processes and sustainable development.

Women’s empowerment and promoting gender equality, human rights and the rights of people with disabilities are all essential to sustainable development and to preventing conflict. The importance of women’s active involvement in development, conflict prevention and peacebuilding is enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Security Council Resolution 1325. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognises that women and girls are at increased risk of violence, injury and abuse, making the protection of their rights all the more crucial.

In 2013, Action On Armed Violence (AOAV) launched a new programme to promote the rights of and improve the safety and security of women survivors of armed violence and women with disabilities. AOAV is providing training, supporting advocacy and awareness raising campaigns, and psycho-social support. AOAV also continues to support peer support outreach. Since April, the project has supported over 300 women.

Image: Generose, Community Animator and Ex-combatant (AOAV)

Generose is a community animator for AOAV’s local partner CEDAC. She is an ex-combatant and former police officer (she joined the police as part of the national demobilisation process). In June 2012, she participated in the very first AOAV/CEDAC peer support and advocacy training for women with disabilities. Subsequently, she joined the peer support programme. In her role as a community animator Generose supervises peer support workers, monitors cases, liaises with local authorities and makes referrals to other services. She is also involved in developing advocacy campaigns for the rights of women survivors and women with disabilities.

In addition to peer-led psycho-social support, advocacy training and campaign planning began in July. Empowered with knowledge and skills, women survivors and women with disabilities will campaign to raise awareness of women’s and disability rights, violence against women, and to promote women’s active participation in decision-making. This project also aims to train male survivors and men with disabilities with women so that they will also become active advocates for the rights of women with disabilities.

This project supports women like Alida. Alida was paralysed in her right arm through an injury sustained while trying to defend herself from a man who raped her. Alida will be actively involved in activities to raise awareness about violence against women with disabilities.

Image: Alida, in training to raise awareness of violence against women with disabilities

This project is implemented in partnership with a local survivors’ association – the Centre for Training and Development of Ex-Combatants (CEDAC). CEDAC is a non-partisan network for survivors of armed violence.

AOAV has been working to support victims of armed in Burundi in collaboration with local and national partners since 2012. AOAV’s work in Burundi is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Australian Government, AusAID.

For more information please go to www.aoav.org.uk.