On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, our Committee organized an online exchange meeting on the Charter of Values, a document aimed at reflecting the shared values of our local authorities, titled "Caring territories for women victims of violence," as defined by the name of our international program. This charter is the result of three years of work conducted in collaboration between the CISDPDH and the Observatory of Violence Against Women (OVF, for its French acronym) of the Seine-Saint-Denis Department, co-chair of our Committee.
The Charter of Values is intended as a declaration of commitment to promote the fight against violence towards women, from local governments and within the International Observatory on Violence Against Women (OIVF, for its French acronym), which is the culmination of our program. This Charter is based on discussions and declarations from Iztapalapa (Mexico) and Banjul (The Gambia), adopted during the project in December 2022 and January 2024, respectively.
Click here to read the Iztapalapa declaration
Domestic violence, femicide, violence in public spaces, local diagnoses, and data on violence against women were the topics addressed by participants in Iztapalapa. Female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, sexual violence against girls, and in situations of armed conflict, as well as the defense of women’s rights, were the thematic areas explored by participants in Banjul. Both declarations stipulate that local and regional governments must engage with the private sphere to combat violence against women.
Click here to read the Banjul declaration
The participants in the virtual meeting were representatives from local authorities who attended the training sessions organized in Iztapalapa and Banjul:
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Gladys Otae Addo Osei, Coordinator, Refela Ghana
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Yadira Cortés, Women’s Network (Red Mesa de Mujeres), Mexico
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Renée Jeftha, Department of Social Development, Western Cape Province
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Maysoun Dawoud, Director of International Relations, Jenin
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Lina Zuher, OIVF Jenin
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Kiné Fall, second elected representative of the Ziguinchor department
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Bintou Founé Samaké, Minister for Women’s Rights, Mali
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Renée Jeftha and Abdul Raof Ryklief, Department of Social Development, Western Cape Province
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Ernestine Ronai, Maéva Bonnet, and Maïra Topall, International Observatory on Violence Against Women, Seine-Saint-Denis
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Cécile Roth, Gender Equality Partnership and Support, World Secretariat of United Cities and Local Governments
The meeting began with participants reflecting on the value of the international program for their local authorities. For example, Renée Jeftha shared that she gained many insights for her department and government. One of the most significant reflections, which several participants agreed on, was the relevance of the program for women living in conflict zones and in cities where, even without conflict, they become places of refuge for victims.
Maysoun Dawoud expressed her gratitude for the support provided by the program, which, despite the dire situation in the Palestinian territories, enabled her to meet the women of her city, Jenin, understand their needs, and strengthen the role of institutions and partners working in the fields of health and peace. “The OIVF plays a crucial role as it teaches us the importance of believing in freedom and human rights for all people.”
From Mali, a country also marked by conflict, Bintou Founé Samaké similarly valued the partnership with the OIVF: “During conflicts, women are used as weapons, and we must protect these victims.” For Bintou, participating in the program's activities was an opportunity to develop strategies and improve her tools: “I return to my country feeling empowered and supported in this fight, knowing there are other women working on these issues. Together, we can reverse this scourge and create frameworks for women's empowerment.”
For Kiné Fall, the regional seminar in Banjul provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, allowing her to better understand violence in all its forms and to learn more about the situation in conflict-affected countries, she shared. It also helped her recognize that violence against women is a global issue, giving her a clearer vision of how to address it. She used the occasion to reaffirm her commitment to this fight: "In Senegal, we are also fighting for women's empowerment."
Ernestine Ronai then read the Charter of Values to invite participants to contribute to it, reminding them that the purpose of this document is “to continue saying together what we want to achieve together, which will allow us to support each other and say, ‘we are here in Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere, and together we fight against violence against women.’”
Among the participants’ contributions, the call to use the term "real equality" to designate effective access to gender equality was highlighted. This notion relates to the right to local public services and an equitable distribution of resources at the territorial level. Another request was to include terms and approaches such as "social inclusion," "gender perspective," "human rights," and "promoting the building of a culture of peace from the local level to contribute to the prevention of violence."
The use of the term “femicide” was also discussed, opening the debate on whether sexual violence related to conflicts belongs in this document. In this regard, the door was opened to examining future issues such as concrete solutions for eradicating female genital mutilation, violence against children, and diversity. Similarly, for the next steps, the importance of involving men, especially young men, was emphasized.
Maysoun Dawoud requested special attention be given to women and children in conflict situations, as they are the first to be affected, often forced to live in tents with men, without any privacy or access to basic services such as toilets or medication. She stressed the need to manage and support the thousands of orphans left by the war. She noted that 42% of female graduates are unemployed, a rate that is rising. That is why Maysoun declared: “We do not want this war to set women back to square one. War annihilates any chance of equality for women.”
In her closing remarks, Cécile Roth reaffirmed the value of this process, which, along with the project it is part of, forms the basis of our municipal movement’s advocacy work to show and remind everyone of the vital role local authorities play in fighting violence against women.
Finally, Ernestine Ronai summarized the participants' shared encouragement on how this project has helped build a shared working space between local representatives united by the powerful cry:
“so, so, so, so, solidarity with the women of the world.”
The Charter of Values is currently undergoing thorough revision by the participants and will be accompanied by learning tools—fact sheets and a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)—for local authorities committed to fighting violence against women.
Our Committee and its co-presidency from Seine-Saint-Denis will present the final version of the Charter of Values during the final seminar of the international program “For Territories that Protect Women Victims of Violence” (2021-2024), to be held from November 26 to 28, 2024, in the French city. After three years of networking within the program, the meeting will serve as a platform for sharing experiences, presenting developed tools, and encouraging local authorities worldwide to engage in the fight against violence against women.
If you wish to participate in the final seminar or receive updates on the learning tools, please contact the CISDP Secretariat at the following address: [email protected].