Droits Humains, Valeurs et pratiques traditionnelles en Afrique: Intervention de la Secrétaire Générale de YWCA sur l'impératif d'en finir avec les mariages forcés ou d'enfants

Chers lecteurs et lectrices, chers partenaires

Dans nos précédentes pages, nous avons partagé avec vous les interventions enrichissantes de S.E Madame Yvette Stevens et de l'Expert indépendant Iréneo.O. Namboka sur thème relatif aux Droits Humains, les Valeurs et pratiques traditionnelles en Afrique. Dans les lignes qui suivent, nous avons le plaisir de vous présenter l'intervention d'une grande figure féminine où elle évoque la question des mariages d'enfants ou des mariages forcés ainsi que des progrès déjà enregistrés pour y mettre fin. Il s'agit de Madame Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Secrétaire Générale de la YWCA, Ambassadeur de bonne volonté de l'Union Africaine pour la fin des mariages d'enfants.

I am honoured on behalf of the World YWCA to join this important dialogue on human rights, values and traditional practices in Africa, today, an event coordinated by Bangwe Dialogue under the leadership of Ambassador Colette Samoya.

The World YWCA is a global organisation present in 120 countries around the world, and 34 countries in Africa. We bring the experiences of providing services in communities, and advocating for policies and laws that advance the rights, welfare and well-being of women and girls and their families within communities. We have Christian foundations, work ecumenically and collaborate with others of various faiths and traditions. We believe that the total identity of persons should embrace their culture, spirituality and faith, in ways that respect that we are all born in the image of God. It is this basic fact that embeds our work in the human rights principles of non-discrimination and equality including between women and men.

The World YWCA has been at the forefront of work on ending child, early and forced marriage for many years. We are involved in the prevention of child marriage, working with cultural and religious leaders and communities to change the social norms and gender stereotypes. We work with education systems and with parents so that girls can access education and remain in school. We engage and collaborate with health care institutions to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights for young women including comprehensive sexuality education. In addition, we are involved in protection and emergency response, providing support to girls at risk of marriage and support to young mothers.

At the same time, the World YWCA has a strong footprint in advocacy work at the national, regional and global level. We have contributed to the UN General Assembly resolution on Child Marriage and the UN HRC Procedural Resolution as well as the study by the OHCHR. We therefore applaud the efforts in many countries such as Malawi with recent legislation, Zambia and its strong multi-sectoral approach and Zimbabwe with its increased effort towards a launch of a campaign. In West Africa, we have seen Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone stepping up the efforts to end child marriage. Africa is now working towards a Common Africa Position on Ending Child Marriage. I see this discussion as a contribution to that effort.

In all our efforts on ending child “marriage”, the issue of social, cultural and traditional values and practices and human rights is key, sensitive and complex.

·     Marriage is a social and cultural institution which is legislated on to protect the rights and entitlement of the parties to such an institution. Using the word “marriage” in cases of child abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking, and abduction, modern form of sexual slavery etc. is by itself ascribing an acceptable value to another abhorrent and unacceptable act.

·     The international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and subsequent treaties and general comments, provided a shared values that must be the universally accepted standards for advancing the rights of women and girls. No culture, tradition or religion should be abused to justify violation of such rights.The African Union’s campaign to end child marriage is therefore a bold step to ensure application of shared values in relation to human rights of girls, with the necessary application of the Maputo protocol on women’s rights and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child among other instruments.

In conclusion, I therefore recommend that the Human Rights Council adopts a bold position in the negotiations for a substantive resolution on child marriage to ensure that the rights of women and girls are not only protected, but realised.