African governments urged to involve more women in environmental conservation

African governments urged to involve more women in environmental conservation

BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg


Participants in the ongoing international women's conference taking place in Johannesburg have called upon African government to involve more women in crafting legislation for water an environmental management because they are the major stakeholders of environmental matters on the continent.


In a communique following their discussion on the situation of Food Security and the environment, women activists stated that women are direct users', providers and managers of water in households therefore they should be more involved in public decision making with regard to water resources.


They added that if the women were allowed to participate policy formulation for the improvement of the quality, quantity and access to clean water many young girls and women would be liberated, freeing them to engage in income generating activities, education and public life.


The activists further said that governments across the continent have a duty to promote rights of women in land and property ownership, they stated: "women usually have no rights and/or access to land for varying legal and cultural reasons yet they are the majority of the world's agricultural producers, playing important roles in farming, fisheries and forestry."


pARTICIPANTS further stated that there are significant differences between women and men's opportunities in resource use and management, yet when environmental resources are over-exploited the women are affected disproportionately as they the providers of food, fuel-wood and water for domestic use. They also lamented the legal and social structures in many African countries saying that governance trends in many countries mimic traditional norms whereby property and land rights are biased in favour of men.


Commenting on food security at the opening of the conference Professor Yassine Fall a senior UN economist said: "the high cost of water, fuel and food is ensuring that parents are failing to take their children to school.

She added that the food crisis on the continent which threatening famine in 21 African countries has been a problem for very a long time but the problem was getting acute now because some governments were concentrating their efforts in growing plants that help in the manufacture of bio-fuels. Without mentioning any examples, Yassine said "Now there's competition between government in Africa reserving land for bio fuels and farmers looking for land to grow food crops."


Closing the conference today, Dr. Gertrude Mongella the President of the Pan African Parliament said that women spend alot of time fetching water to ensure the safety of their families and livestock, yet they are also expected to be mothers.


The Women's Platform for Action in Africa was initiated by the South African Parliament in 2006, the theme of this year's conference: "Women and the quest for Human Security" was designed to emphasize the current food shortage crisis that is threatening 21 countries in Africa with famine, it is sponsored by German Technical Cooperation-GTZ.