[Ict4women] UNESCO and FEMNET launch resource book on right of African women to information

[Sophia Huyer]

http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29377&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

UNESCO and FEMNET launch resource book on right of African women to  
information
11-12-2009 (Paris)

© FEMNET
Supported by UNESCO, the African Women’s Development and Communication  
Network (FEMNET), a pan-African organization working to promote  
women’s rights and development in the continent since 1988, published  
a resource book Freedom of Information (FOI) & Women’s Rights in Africa.
This publication is one of the outputs of the Freedom of Information  
and Women’s Rights in Africa Project, a regional programme launched by  
FEMNET in partnership with UNESCO. The project aims to demonstrate the  
relevance of freedom of information in the promotion and protection of  
women’s rights as promulgated in national laws, and regional and  
international human rights instruments.

The publication, compiled by Carlyn Hambuba and edited by Rachel  
Kagoiya, collects case studies from five African countries: Cameroon,  
Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia. It thus documents insights from  
the experiences of women’s participation in the processes that have  
led to the formulation, enactment and implementation of laws and  
policies enabling citizens to enjoy freedom of information.

“The advancement of African women has been affected by lack of access  
to vital information that relates to their rights,” states the  
resource book in its preface. Therefore the need for legislation that  
guarantees free access to relevant and timely information is crucial  
for African women’s empowerment.

The resource book represents a key contribution not only in light of  
the early stage of FOI development in the region, but particularly  
considering the very limited participation of women organizations in  
regards to it. Their low prioritization of the issue often stems from  
a lack of awareness about the essential link between FOI and women’s  
well-being. That is, beyond being a fundamental right in itself, FOI  
also crucially facilitates the exercise of other rights. As an  
interviewed advocate concisely stated, “the linkage between  
participation and the realisation of almost all other rights cannot  
happen without information”.

Further, women organizations often lack the capacity and experience on  
how to use FOI legislation, as well as the knowledge about potential  
sources of advice on it. Moreover, not a few of them erroneously tend  
to see FOI as exclusively benefiting the media.

Contrary to the above interpretation, however, freedom of information  
stands to benefit all citizens, and it is of particular relevance for  
women. It fosters their participation in processes enhancing good  
governance and strengthens their capacity to demand government  
responsiveness to their needs. It represents a vital tool enabling  
their access to information on matters critical to them, such as that  
related to HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, education, food  
security, gender violence and income-generating activities.  
Furthermore, increased access to information held by government can  
substantially facilitate the efforts of women organizations,  
positively contributing to their advocacy and research work, and  
strengthening the legitimacy of their activities.

The resource book, which draws conclusions and recommendations from  
the showcased experiences, will be disseminated among women  
organizations as well as other key potential users, including media  
houses, human rights organizations, research institutions, and  
journalism and communication students. Expected to stimulate relevant  
follow-up actions, it aims to be a useful resource towards enhancing  
the collective participation of African women in lobbying for the  
enactment and effective implementation of the FOI legal and policy  
frameworks in their respective countries.

The resource book is available online for free download.