DanChurchAid
Zambia
Ensuring participation for all in Zambia
Rural poor generally lack awareness of their rights as well as of their roles and responsibilities as citizens. Women represent the most marginalized group of the rural poor who are particularly excluded socially, economically, and politically. This is both a sign of widespread gender discrimination at all levels and at the same time an indication that gender discrimination enforces social, economic, and political exclusion.
The problems to be addressed
- Lack of participation of the rural poor
- Gender discrimination.
Awareness and empowerment
Awareness raising and empowerment of rural poor, with particular focus on women, is strongly needed to increase knowledge of their rights and the possibilities they have to claim their rights by influencing and participating in decision making. Awareness and sensitization of key stakeholders on human rights, gender, and the negative impact of certain cultural practices can contribute to the reduction of these practices and promote gender equality and assertiveness among the target groups.
Empowerment of the rural target groups also increases their self esteem and builds their capacity to challenge the barriers that limit their participation in broader societal processes both as citizens and as women.
Focusing on the rural poor
The rural poor are the primary rights holders in relation to the problem of exclusion from participation in public affairs. Rural women and young girls, are the primary right holders in relation to the problem of gender inequality and discrimination, as they face persistent discrimination and rights violations on the basis of culture, discriminatory provisions and inadequate protection from the justice system.
The primary duty bearer is the national government and its decentralized governance structures for its limited responsiveness and accountability to the rights of the poor. Primary duty bearers are also: traditional leaders as custodians of culture for endorsing openly discriminatory negative cultural practices; Local Court magistrates for not ensuring that women’s rights are protected through their courts; and men in general for their role in discriminating against women.
Main intervention areas
- Empowerment actions for rural poor, in particular rural women, through raising awareness of the targeted communities on human rights, gender and the importance of gender equality; promoting women’s rights
- Protection by providing paralegal services in targeted communities and thus increasing rural women’s access to justice.
- Accountability actions through advocacy targeted at duty bearers to address institutional and administrative barriers for the promotion of women’s rights and for the participation of the rural poor, women and girls in particular, in issues of national development.
There is also focus on poverty reduction programmes through the PRSP framework both at national and local level. Particular focus is on gender, agriculture and HIV/AIDS components in the poverty reduction programmes.
Geographically, the programme mainly focuses on the Southern and Eastern Provinces although advocacy initiatives in many cases have a national coverage.
Zambia
