myMADRE

myMADRE on Africa: AFRICOM

Though President Obama ostensibly puts a high premium on transparency and also has the reputation of differing greatly from his predecessor on foreign policy, thus far he has said little on Africa.  What he has said has been largely a continuation of a Bush-era approach. This mini-series will attempt to shed some light on President Obama's Africa policy.

AFRICOM

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) was launched by Bush in February 2007 and became operational in October 2008. Previously the African continent was divided into relationships with three different U.S. military headquarters: EUCOM, PACOM and CENTCOM. (SOUTHCOM and NORTHCOM round out the worldwide list.) With responsibility for every African nation except Egypt, AFRICOM includes more countries than any other command.

The command is headquartered in Germany "for the foreseeable future." General William Ward, the head of the command, has characterized AFRICOM as a "listening organization," according to the AFP. According to the AFRICOM Web site and other press statements, the command's focus is on "war prevention" not warfare.

Still, many people spoke out against increased U.S. military presence in Africa, critiquing it as a self-interested attempt not only to secure a front of the "war on terror," but to lay a claim to Africa's resources.

The Obama Administration has thus far either continued or increased most of the Bush funding for military initiatives in Africa. He plans a big upsurge in funding for the Peacekeeping Operations program and will nearly double the counter-terrorism funding. This article by Daniel Volman, director of the African Security Research Project in D.C., goes into greater detail about the administration's plans.

The one-year anniversary of AFRICOM being operational saw training exercises that drew controversy.  In one, General Ward was forced to defend the decision to hold a training exercise in Gabon when the country was reeling after violent protests followed a contested election in early September. Some were concerned that the training could be misused by soldiers, who were deployed to quell post-election violence.

The tone of AFRICOM official statements is that it's simply a slow process to convince the people of African nations that they can trust U.S. intentions. At any rate, it's clear Obama is not turning back the clock on Bush's militarization of Africa.

Transgender Activist Silvia Martinez Speaks Out

We asked the readers of this blog to submit questions for Silvia Martinez, a MADRE partner and transgender activist from Nicaragua.  We're so happy to be able to share with you her reflections on the questions that we passed to her.  Below, you'll find her answers in the original Spanish, as well as an English translation.

Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the memories of all those people whose lives were taken because of anti-transgender hatred.  We also honor all those--like Silvia--who are continuing the struggle to advance the rights of transgender people worldwide.

SPANISH ORIGINAL

1. Cuales son los logros que han sido los mas satisfactorios para vos?

El ser reconocida y aceptada en un espacio regional como la OEA en donde hemos estado trabajando para que se reconozca la violacion de los derechos humanos de la poblacion Trans en America Latina y el Caribe y que ademas podamos contar con herramientas legales para el reconocimiento de nuestra identidad femenina y que podamos tener oportunidades.

2. Cuales son los desafios que enfrentas como activista?

Considero que existen dos desafios:

i. El que se reconoza la identidad Trans desde el contexto legal, para poder acceder aquellos derechos humanos como la educacion, la salud, el empleo entre otros.

ii. Que estemos reconocidas por nuestras capacidades mas alla de nuestra identidad sexual como ciudadanas.

3. Como ha cambiado tu trabajo desde que colaboras con activistas fuera de Nicaragua por los derechos de la comunidad transgenero?

Creo que veo que nuestros sueños son mas palpables mas reales por que siento que estoy construyendo un mundo mas justo para todos y todas las Humanas que deseamos vivir en Paz y en Armonia.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

1. What successes have you been most proud of?

Being recognized and accepted in a regional forum by the Organization of American States where we have worked to recognize the violations against transgender human rights in Latin American and the Caribbean.  We have sought out the legal tools to recognize our feminine identity and the opportunities that come along with it.

2. What are some of the challenges you face in your activism?

There are two major things that I see as a challenges:

i. The recognition of the Trans identity in a legal context in order to access the human right to education, health, employment, and more.

ii. The recognition to be known as citizens beyond our sexual identity.

3. How has it changed your work to partner with activists for transgender rights outside of Nicaragua?

I believe that many of our dreams are becoming more real and palpable, since we have worked to construct a more fair world with justice for all men and women that dream to live in peace and harmony.

Silvia Martinez

myMADRE Brings You the Latest

The World Food Summit, which took place in Rome, ended on Wednesday with what Oxfam called "crumbs" for commitments.  The Summit was another failed effort for countries to set targets or deadlines on action to help end world hunger by 2025.  Undernourishment affects almost a billion people globally.

Next week the regional chapter of the UN-led campaign "Unite to put an End to Violence against Women” will launch in Guatemala. The campaign urges state governments to allocate resources to implement laws protecting women from violence and to provide services to women victims.  MADRE partner Sandra Gonzalez of the Women Workers' Committee in Guatemala will be participating in this event, to speak about violence against women maquila (sweatshop) workers.

Humanitarian groups published a study, The Cost of War, that documents the stories of 700 Afghans. The study shows that the vast majority of those interviewed blame the continuation of conflict in their country on poverty and corruption.

Women will bear a disproportionate burden of the hardships caused by climate change, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund. Women in developing nations will be affected differently than men because women do a larger share of agriculture work and have less access to other employment opportunities, the report noted.

The new European Union president was announced this week.  EU leaders named Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the bloc's first president.  The EU leaders also named the new EU foreign affairs chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton of Britain.  Both are virtually unknown outside of their respective countries, but were voted in unanimously.

myMADRE on Africa: Africa in the Media

Sometimes it feels like the mainstream press only pays attention to Africa when the news is bad. Take these wire service updates posted by the New York Times in the last couple weeks, for example:

• Two leaders of a rebel militia, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) made up of extremist Hutu refugees, were arrested in Germany. The men, Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni, are suspected of committing crimes against humanity in the DRC.
• Somali pirates, stepping up attacks, have hijacked a ship flying a Panamanian flag and carrying 18 crew members.
• A UN-backed court is trying former Liberian president Charles Taylor, the first African ruler to stand trial for war crimes, for instigating murder, rape, mutilation, sexual slavery and conscripting child soldiers in connection with his alleged smuggling of arms and diamonds.

My message is certainly not that these topics aren't newsworthy. They are, and they should be diligently and thoroughly reported. Indeed, we as readers should try to ensure that these topics don't slip our consciousness amid bigger headlines on US domestic politicking and Middle Eastern conflict.

Still, it would be just as much a mistake passively accept this skewed perspective on Africa as complete. When the United States and other nations view African nations as either a potential threat to security or a potential source of resources, and nothing more, the human rights of African people are compromised.  For instance, food rations to starving civilians in Somalia have been cut because American officials feared that food and funds were being diverted to a terrorist group.

We should stay aware of what is happening in all corners of the world. Here in the US, we have a particular obligation to focus on countries impacted by US foreign policy and regions in which the US has situated a permanent military command center. It is only then that we can fully assess the foreign policy initiatives of the Obama Administration.

If we're satisfied with headlines like the ones in the New York Times, we miss out on the more nuanced perspectives, ones that acknowledge the complexities and the dynamism of African politics, social movements and more.  Here's a couple news sites that focus on coverage of Africa. Do you have any suggestions to add to this?

• Africa News frequently updates its news and also features business, culture and sports.
  
• All Africa has five offices worldwide and boasts that it posts 1,000 stories per day in English and French.
  
• Africa Focus features in-house advocacy and analysis as well as news feeds from other sources.
  
• Pambazuka News delivers commentary and analysis designed to promote social justice for the pan-African community.

Take Action: Defend Women's Reproductive Rights in US Healthcare Reform

Last weekend, the US House of Representatives passed a landmark healthcare reform bill—one that massively set back women’s reproductive rights.  The bill’s Stupak Amendment exceeds any other federal law in restricting women’s access to abortion.  In addition to being denied abortion services in the public option, women receiving federal subsidies to purchase even private insurance plans are banned from buying plans that cover abortions.  

For women, then, the Stupak Amendment means that they would actually lose reproductive health coverage that they currently have. Today, over 85 percent of employer health plans include abortion coverage. If the Stupak Amendment is retained in the final version of the bill, insurance companies will have a strong incentive to drop abortion coverage in order to participate in the new health insurance market created by the reform.  

People in the United States should not be forced to choose between urgently needed healthcare reform and access to the full range of internationally recognized reproductive rights.

Send this letter to President Barack Obama, and demand that the Stupak Amendment be stripped from the healthcare reform bill.

Disturbing the Universe

This week, the documentary William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe will premiere in New York City starting Friday November 13.  The film, produced by William Kunstler's two daughers, Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, examines the life of the late radical civil rights lawyer.

To find out more about attending the premiere, click here.  Tickets are available now!

Video: Iraqi Feminists Speak Out

The leadership of our sister organization in Iraq, the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), was recently featured on CNN and Al-Jazeera, talking about their courageous work to defend women's rights.

In this video from CNN, Yanar Mohammed describes conditions for women who are forced into sex work, due to economic hardship:

Below, Houzan Mahmoud speaks to Al-Jazeera about the specific threats to women's rights advocates in situations of occupation and war.

A Video For Our Cause

The challenge is almost over! We only have a few days left to make a difference.  Several MADRE supporters made this beautiful video to help us during the last week of the America's Giving Challenge.  The video describes how everyone can easily take part to help us win and increase support for Afghan women. Thank you Lauren Adams, Andrea Hayward and Ramani Nemani for making this clear and informative video!

Go to the cause now and donate to make a difference!

Transgendered Activists "Working for an Inclusive Latin America & Caribbean"

Recently, the organization REDLACTRANS (Latin American and Caribbean Transgender Network) was recognized for their tireless advocacy for the human rights of transgendered people across the region, accepting the Clarence H. Moore Award for Voluntary Service.  The Spanish description of the award is available here.

Founded in 2004, REDLACTRANS has grown to cover 18 countries.  Their mobilization efforts have ranged from providing local health services to transgender communities to lobbying governments at the international level and more.

The video below (in Spanish) features REDLACTRANS’ regional coordinator Marcela Romero, as she describes their efforts to meet the needs of transgendered people in Latin America.  She also says, "This award belongs to the entire transgender community. We are working for an inclusive Latin America and Caribbean that offers equal rights for a better quality of life.”

MADRE works with REDTRANS, a local Nicaraguan group affiliated with the larger regional network.  With REDTRANS, we have helped provide health consultation and human rights trainings, and we have worked to build an outreach team to serve the transgender community in two major areas.  Read more about it here.

(Don't forget that Silvia Martinez, a leader with REDTRANS, will be visiting us next week, and she'll be able to take your questions!)

3 Questions for Silvia Martinez

Yesterday, we announced a new series for this blog: 3 Questions for a Human Rights Defender.  Your first opportunity to participate is here!  

Next week, we will be hosting a speaking tour with Silvia Martinez, the Coordinator of the Trans Network of Nicaragua (REDTRANS).  REDTRANS is part of a regional organization that works promote respect, security and dignity for transvestite, transsexual and transgender people and to combat gender and sexual-identity discrimination against their communities.

Silvia Martinez is a transgender activist who works in communities throughout Nicaragua to build local people’s capacities to advocate for their rights. In 2007, she was one of several activists to present recommendations on behalf the LBTTTGI community at a meeting of government representatives from countries throughout the Americas.

Do you have questions for Silvia about her local and international activism?  If so, email them to madreblog@madre.org by Friday November 6.  We will choose three of the questions we receive, and post Silvia’s answers on the blog next week.