This article was originally written as a blog post for Friendsline, an organisation which aims to connect, educate and empower women and girls from all over the world to fight inequality and build stronger communities: http://www.friendsline.org/blog/struggles-successes-and-solidarity-what-i-learnt-from-my-sudanese-sisters/
Today I watched President Trump ban refugees and those from 7 Muslim-majority countries from entering the USA. One of those countries is Sudan, a country most know little about. I was fortunate enough to attend a panel event organised by the Sudanese Women General Union at the UN Human Rights Council’s 33rd Session in Geneva last September. The Sudanese Women General Union is an NGO with UN consultative status working to empower women socially, economically, politically and culturally. Three Sudanese women from this NGO spoke about the challenges facing women in Sudan and the region. One was a lawyer, one an MP with a legal background and one was the General Director of another Sudanese NGO.
As I watch people protest Trump’s oppressive and unjust ban in America, I’m recalling my experience listening to these Sudanese women and what they taught me about resistance. There were three qualities of these remarkable individuals which struck me, what I call the three “Hs” (yes, I like my alliteration) – their honesty, humanity and humility. Through these women I learnt that this is a combination of characteristics that is vital for anyone who wants to have a real impact in their community and beyond.
The first thing that stood out about the women and their presentations was their honesty. On the one hand, these women appreciated the challenges they and other women are facing in the African region, acknowledging there was much to be done. That was, after all, the whole raison d’etre for the event and for the Sudanese Women General Union. On the other hand, one panelist pointed out that Rwanda has the highest number of women parliamentarians worldwide with women having won approximately 64% of seats in the lower house, as noted by UN Women.
There was a truth and sincerity in their analysis. They didn’t shy away from pointing out what needed to be improved but they were also cognisant of the areas where they had made progress, on their own terms.
What was so refreshing about this honesty was the way it was coupled with another quality, humility. At the start and at the end of the event the participants emphasized that they welcomed opportunities to work with other groups. They were keen to meet each attendee, to have a real conversation, to find genuine ways of working together, in a manner that was, surprisingly, rarely on display at the Human Rights Council.
Finally, each of the panelists had a deep understanding of the problems facing women in their communities, an understanding that could only be gained through real grassroots engagement, motivated by their humanity and commitment to helping others. They highlighted issues such as access to healthcare and the displacement of communities because of conflict in the region. They also highlighted some of the initiatives they have worked on, such as supporting women with micro-finance projects and drafting legislation to help women’s education.
One panelist focused on how sanctions are hindering women’s causes in Sudan. The United States has imposed sanctions on Sudan because of, inter alia, human rights violations. Yet, as the panelists pointed out, the very same sanctions are detrimental to human rights. No credit cards can be used in Sudan because of the sanctions. They have prevented developments in technology and communications. Significantly, the sanctions have made it difficult to import medical supplies and conduct research. Although food, medicine and humanitarian aid are exempted, the sanctions regime is so complex and obtaining waivers so burdensome, many organisations refuse to have any dealings with Sudan.
The ability to identify the struggles facing Sudanese women and to connect international factors with their local consequences is something that can only be done by those who have truly experienced and engaged at a grassroots level. The panelists had each devoted their lives to trying to better their communities, whilst remaining immersed within those communities.
This month we’ve seen women marching around the world for a range of causes, all under the banner of women’s rights. There seems to be a growing momentum behind such activism, no doubt in response to the election of Donald Trump and the policies he brings with him. For anyone concerned about the direction the world seems to be going in, man or woman, we would all be wise to look to individuals such as these Sudanese women for guidance, women who have spent their whole lives doing the work that actually makes a difference on the ground. Their struggles, successes and solidarity are an example for us all.
Bursting the Bubble 