October 11th, The International Day of The Girl Child

BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB) joins the world to commemorate the international day of the girl child. As a global partner with the Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) global campaign to stop stoning (Change.org), staff of BAOBAB went to neighbouring streets to seek people’s views on cultural/religious belief on the act of stoning in Nigeria.  The ratio of the people interviewed were 7:4 (men to women respectively) and 90% of the people interviewed didn’t have knowledge on the existence of provision for the act of stoning. Below are some of the views

…it’s an unfair act!
…the issue of stoning based on immoral acts is not right! Government should find a way to eradicate such law!
…I think the law is not okay!
…I do not agree with the law on stoning for the sin of immorality but feel there should be a better mechanism to address such!
…it should be removed from the law!
..I believe it is not right. Even if other countries do it, Nigeria should not follow such steps!
…based on my belief I don't think a woman should be stoned to death
…it is a bad act!

 
BAOBAB also asked friends to send in photos, write-ups etc on “why” they care about stoning. Below are photos and links to Poems submitted.

Photos:

Poems:

WE ARE HUMAN!
 

I CARE! 

THE MAN IN THE MIRROR

BAOBAB, kindly urges you to join the campaign against stoning and advocate to the UN to take action on abolishing stoning in law, by clicking on this link United Nations Secretary General & the OHCHR: End Stoning Now

Thank you.

In Memoriam of Sindi Medar-Gould

With a heavy heart and deepest sorrow we, the entire staff of BAOBAB For Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB) announce the sudden demise of Sindi Medar Gould the former Executive Director of BAOBAB, Sindi Medar-Gould a citizen of St Lucia in the Caribbean, was a great feminist, facilitator, researcher & activist for women’s human rights in Nigeria and globally. She contributed a great deal to the emancipation and empowerment of women and girl children. Sindi’s last appointment was with the Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development & Peace (WLP), as a Senior Consultant and Global Trainer. Sindi also worked with various women human rights organizations and movement. She touched many lives and helped to give women a reason to live a life with hope for a better tomorrow. She would be greatly missed and remembered as a great leader. Farewell Sindi!!!

Signed



Mma Odi
Executive Director
BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights

 Click here to read tributes from people whose lives Sindi has touched

Concept Note for The International Youths Day Online Disscussion Forum

The International Youth Day was first marked on the 12th of August in the year 2000. It is a day set aside to give opportunity for governments and other organizations to draw attention to issues affecting youth worldwide. Over the years various intervention strategies have been developed and targeted at youth although not all have been very effective. This is partly due to the fact that most interventions are made without considering the views of the youth. This year BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB) is creating a forum for young men and women to air their views thus offering them an opportunity to unlock their potentials.

BAOBAB is asking why the youth should wait to be leaders of tomorrow when they can be great leaders today. This is against the backdrop that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow. So why should the youth allow themselves to think only of the future while the present is failing them? The lack of Youth Friendly Health Services has been an issue ailing Nigeria and the rest of the developing world. This issue has played a big role in young women experiencing high maternal mortality rate, rise in teenage pregnancies and unsafe abortions everyday. Other issues to deal with are increase in unemployment, high levels of poverty, human trafficking and expensive education. The root causes of these issues need to be addressed with immediate effect to safeguard the safety of the youth and these questions will form the basis of the online discussion.

The discussion will be conducted online for a period of two weeks, from the 12th of August to 26th of August 2011. The main participants of the discussion will be youth across Africa and because the discussion will be conducted online, it will give room for as many participants as possible. This discussion is meant to provide a platform for youth to speak out about the issues they have been facing and how they intend to make things better for themselves and share the ideas that they may have in promoting equality among men and women.

There are many other issues that the youth in Nigeria and across the region face, this year BAOBAB is offering the youth a chance to air their views, comments, share their experiences, expectations, fears, struggles, strengths and above all we are giving them a chance to be among those who will make an impact by speaking out (like is going out of style) by joining the BAOBAB online discussion.

The Objectives of the online discussion include:

• Create a platform for the youth in Nigeria and around the globe to share their concerns, their views, their worries, and their struggle, through the online discussion.

• Create ways to advocate for improved access to sexual and reproductive health and right’s knowledge, information, education and services in Nigeria and the developing world.

• Create awareness on issues of human rights and the need to promote these rights

The expected outcomes of the online discussion are:

• Have more informed youth in the area of their rights as it regards the youth friendly health services.

• To have more interaction between the youth and the non governmental organizations that advocate for their rights.

• To have more organizations willing to advocate for better solutions to the issues that the youth will mention during the discussion.

Our Rights As Women by Bilkis Olagoke

Human rights are women's rights. Yes! right to life, right to education, right to marry without discrimination, right to equal pay for equal work, right to social security, right to take part in cultural life, right to inheritance,.......... The question now is: Do we really know our rights as women? Are we not allowing religion and culture to impose themselves on our rights? In what way do women themselves deny their rights? Is there a way out? The question could go on and on. But the fact still remain the same, we women also have rights and our rights must be promoted and respected at all levels.

What does Human Rights Mean to you?

Dec 10, 2008 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

What Does Human Rights Mean to You?

Post your thoughts as a response video.

More Information: Contest rules, prizes, and deadline
http://www.learningpartnership.org/en/news/enews/2008/udhr

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Full text in 337 languages
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/