Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

I will start off by saying I should have posted this during the 16 Days. I've mentioned before that one of the things I really like about my job is the fact that I get to go to cool events and hear awesome people speak. So - I got to attend "Because I Am A Girl" launch in Ottawa. The project is the brainchild of Plan International that looks to highlight the plight but also the resilience of girls globally. The campaign's goal is to empower and improve the lives of girls and women - in an aim for gender equity - and it is frankly... awesome. The campaign has been running for 5 years now, and this year it is on "So, What About Boys?" It's really great - and everyone should check out the BIAAG reports and resources. But I digress. The real reason I wanted to write is because at this event I had the fortune of sitting beside the Executive Director of the White Ribbon Campaign. An organisation that encourages men to help stop violence against women. It's an incredible organisation that I was aware of in a Canadian context, but I had no idea that the campaign was global. It's actually in about 60 countries (I may have counted wrong... I should never work with numbers). So check out them because they are doing fantastic work to recognise the role that men can play in fighting violence against women and breaking down barriers to gender equity. On a related note I also wanted to post this video from Simon Fraser University's Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies department taking part in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Campaign to fight violence against women (featuring such notable personalities as David Suzuki and the Mayor of Vancouver, Greg Robertson) Men raise money for to stop gender based violence by literally walking a mile in pumps. These events are happening all over the place and you can see if one is happening in your area on the webpage's calendar. I tell you - I always thought David Suzuki was pretty dreamy. And then I saw him in stilettos... In other news - I have been really poor about posting for this year. It's mostly a combination of being unenthused with life and also taking up writing as a job. Basically the last thing I want to do after work is write more words on paper. Hopefully that will change soon.

Celebrities helping causes the best way they can

Thank you Funny or Die

Ending impunity for human rights abusers

Interesting opinion piece in the New York Times by Kathryn Sikkink on prosecuting leaders who use - or turn a blind eye to - gross human rights abuses in their country. Research apparently shows that states that have prosecuted leaders for this are less likely to have their future leaders practice human rights abuses.

The next fight in global human rights

For work I had to provide some comments on the Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. I saw that a number of groups were provided for in some sense or another, this included special consideration for women, children, ethnicities (sort of - a little sparse on the indigenous) and also a variety of ages and disabilities. Yet scanning through there was no mention of sexual orientation. There are 82 countries in the world where homosexuality is illegal. Countries such as Iran and Uganda have moved towards stricter, harsher penalties for those suspected of engaging in same sexual encounters. It's a global uphill battle facing prejudice that no other form of discriminated group has faced in recent history (controversial statement I know - but at least, globally, with a number of other persecuted groups people do not pretend that they don't exist or that being a woman, or indigenous is a disease you can be cured of... I ramble). The Guardian has a piece focusing on positive movements in global LGTB rights - mainly that under international law, pretty much every country that criminalises homosexuality has signed up to a convention that protects their freedom of choice, association, and orientation (with the exception of *ahem* Saudi Arabia). So unleash the lawyers...

On Voluntourism

The CBC radio program Q had Daniella Papi on today talking about Voluntourism and the way she is trying to change the industry. Arguing that young privileged people need to see the world to become better people - "they need to get angry and change the world". But they should do this after they learn and when they leave. Her company does voluntourism with the aim to educate about development and address a lot of the ills that voluntourism presents.

I'm not sold on the gap year program, and she lost me on voting for orphanages - but if voluntourism is going to happen anyways she may be heading down a good path.

Iraqi men give advice to Libyans (also presumably men)

I was a little peeved by this article by Michael Schmidt in the NYT's on advice Iraqis could give to Libyans post "Liberation".

I though the premise was ok, interesting even. The situations are not that similar, but enough so for journalists to make comparisons. But I was extremely disappointed to read that the viewpoints solicited were only from men.

I worked in Iraq for a while. I can think of a few women there that would have some sound advice for Libyans, particularly concerning the erosion of women's rights and the rights of minorities. Are the viewpoints of men the only voices that count? And the Libyans receiving this advice – are they also only men?

There is a paucity of women present in the rebel movement to topple the Ghaddafi regime. I think there is one in the transitional council (responsible for legal AND women's affairs). The violence has taken focus away from the fact that after Ghaddafi, freedom – or liberation as the article puts it - may only exist for men in Libya. Unlike in Egypt where the participation of women in the revolution was lauded, and the exclusion of women from decision making decried, we are extremely silent on what the Libyan revolution means for half the population of the country. There are a few accounts of females fighting or on life at the home front but much of the media coverage only shows men.

I would be extremely interested to see an article showing the views and suggestions of various members of the population, including women, but also of different ages, backgrounds and locations. Iraqis have a lot of advice to share about experiments in statebuilding - male and female.

Model United Nations in Ghana

I was (possibly wish I was still) a HUGE model UN dork in High School. So much so that I got involved in organising high school conference in University, volunteered at the famed UNAUSA symposium in New York, and may or may not have attended a few university level conferences myself. **I still maintain that by university - at least - you should be trying to change the world for real. Not for pretend. But the travel was subsidised - and there were good parties.**

Anyways! I was over-the-moon to see this on my walk back to the hotel from Osu.



41 YEARS! Good to know MUN is strong everywhere.

Orphanage Idol in Nigeria

I think my jaw dropped when I watched a commercial for Melody Star. It's a televised singing competition for orphans. There's a cash prize for the winner, and other prizes for the runners up. The sponsors come across quite earnest, but it's extremely exploitative. As in many countries, homes for disadvantaged and abandoned children are for the most part privately run in Nigeria. Even state supported homes don't really get that much support. So creative ways of fundraising help. However, publicly displaying - to the entirety of West Africa - the children as sad, poor victims and having them sing for their support may not the best way to do it.

I met up with my old supervisor/mentor/superwoman from my first gig out of college - the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice in Ghana [she now works for ISODEC. Great places - look them up.] We got on to the topic of the emergence of corporate social responsibility in Ghana and it's impact on Accra's orphanages. Here too, company's are realising that they should give back to communities - and are also realising that it gets them great press. But there is limited needs assessments or community consultation as to how their help could be best used. So we end up with a case of classic SWEDOW. Companies donate food, clothing and toys to orphanages without much concern for whether they need those items, and then in return receive a performance of song and/or dance for their cameras. She said that over weekends, the orphanages can be so booked up with donations that the children end up working all day. Yet the orphanages are wary of shunning the support - it is charity and also draws attention to the issue of neglected children in Ghana. A number of orphanages are actually more like foster homes, hosting children that do have surviving parents or relatives, but are unable/unwilling to care for them.

There are other ways to promote your company's compassionate side without exploiting your beneficiaries - obviously. Donors, such as CIDA, are becoming slightly more interested in CSR and supporting companies develop their programs in a responsible fashion. Perhaps a new avenue for West African CSOs could start with CSR programs with a child protection lens?

Posters and GBV

In Sierra Leone, there is a clear public campaign to counter sexual exploitation and assault of women. This is in the professional and domestic sphere. I saw a number of posters and billboards with women being harassed or in imminent danger of being beaten - I particularly enjoy the use of posters from the Ghanaian Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (my old stomping ground) - reminding us that sexual abuse and exploitation is not acceptable and is punishable. Some are in Krio -possibly much more useful then straight up English for billboards at least - and seem to act as a reminder to men not to prey on women. I did not see any posters in Salone with men being abused by women, unlike in Ghana.



Gender based violence and exploitation is endemic in Sierra Leone, from cultural initiations into secret societies that involve genital cutting to human sacrifices (there's concern of this increasing in the lead up to the elections next year). I'm working with the police, and sexual harassment and exploitation is more than just common place. Fortunately this is an area that is heavily supported programmatically and institutionally (for example the SLP has a new Sexual Harassment Policy and a complaints division), but as of yet it's difficult to tell if this is making a difference. Or whether this is just lip service. I didn't really see many posters IN police stations or headquarters reminding people that sexual exploitation, assault, or domestic violence is wrong (there were large billboards beside or in front of some police stations in Freetown at least). I only conducted a basic search for information on how effective the posters are. Obviously many poster campaigns are coupled with use of other media (radio discussions/adverts, television, comic strips, public protest, training and workshops etc). But I couldn't really find anything - I'm not sure if anyone has any suggestions.



While we're on this topic, there was an interesting article in Foreign Affairs on the reliability of rape reporting numbers during war.

Freetown

I haven't had much sun in Freetown. But when there's been a break from the torrential rain I've managed to snap a few shots.

Liberia's Bike Riders

Motorcycles are everywhere in Monrovia.

During the Liberian civil war combatants and refugees sought refuge in neighbouring Guinea. Inspired by the enterprising young Guineans running their own business, Liberians returned with an idea to fill the transportation gap in their country ravaged by years of war. Former Combatants used the money they received from the DDRR process to purchase inexpensive Chinese motorcycles and lease them to drivers.

The business model exploded.

The work serves as good employment for scores of unemployed young men - an estimated 75% or more are former combatants. It also provides employments for younger members of society, as motorcycles washers. The children use the money to pay excess school fees.

But the model isn’t perfect. This mode of transportation is dangerous. Daily there are several crashes resulting in severe injuries and sometimes death. The bikers do not wear protective gear – neither do their passengers – and outside Monrovia, it’s rare that they have a license. The bike riders have a tenuous relationship with the police and some members of the community who see the bike gangs as unsafe. Altercations with the police have left some police stations up in flames. Police and community members know bike riders can organise quickly and as a result there is unease about the gangs of bike riders.

It’s something the police are going to have to work with. Motorcycle taxis, or “motos” as they are known in some areas are becoming an increasingly common mode of public transportation in West Africa. It is inexpensive, the bikes are easy to maintain, and business is flourishing as a result of limited public transportation options. More importantly, they are fast. They can weave in and out congested traffic on overcrowded streets.

There is work to further professionalize the practice – realising that it provides much needed employment to young men (from what I’ve gathered there aren’t any female bike riders). NGOs, the UN and even the World Bank have worked with the Bike Riders Association – their informal union – to increase licensing, encourage safer practices and facilitate dialogue between the police and the bike riders. These actions have some effect, yet more is likely needed to improve the safety of the community and the riders themselves. Much more needs to be done to build trust between the police and the bike riders.

Dear Artesunate,

I love you. You should be everywhere.

Symbols of the Liberian Electoral Season

Liberia is heading into elections season, starting with a referendum on constitutional reform followed presidential and congressional elections.

The referendum looks to review a few key things, like the amount of time you need to have been in Liberia before you can run for president or vice president (10 years), raising the age of supreme court judges from 70 to 75, moving the election date from the second Tuesday of October to November, and changing the presidential vote from a two round voting system to a first past the post.

To accommodate voters that are semi-literate and illiterate the referendum is using symbols to assist voters.



Now at first I found the symbols confusing. Liberians I spoke to said despite some organisations doing civic education on the symbols – it will not make much of a difference. Political parties are telling people to vote either all yes, or all no. But the impact of the decisions, particularly the question of residency, could have destabilising effects. Candidates have already begun campaigning for the elections. If they do not meet the residency requirements, their investment will be for nought.

Political parties, instead of actively engaging young people and community members in the political system, have produced their power base through reliance on what they can provide to their specific power group. Some NGOs in Liberia, such as International Alert, are concerned that election outcomes could result in post-referendum and/or post-election violence. They are working to counter this through engaging youth leaders (approximately 60% of Liberia’s population is under 30), but the onus in turn is on the youth leaders to engage a wider base of youth so that more understand what the referendum and the elections actually mean.

Back... And In Monrovia

I'm in Monrovia for fieldwork. I love it.

It's chaotic, warm, friendly and... temperate (in comparison to southern Ontario this time of year)!
Despite the incredibly large UN presence and a US Embassy compound that could rival the NEC in Baghdad - It's beautiful.

Happy Birthday to The Republic Of South Sudan!

A big welcome to the world's newest country!

Suad Amiry at TedXRamallah

I kept meaning to post this from TedXRamallah. Suad Amiry's closing speech. She is such an enthusiastic and brilliantly funny story teller. Her book "Sharon and My Mother and Law" was given to me to read before I moved to Ramallah - funnily enough into a house quite close to her mother-in-law's. It was helpful in preparing me for the absurdity of the day-to-day existence in the Occupied Territories.

Part 1

Part 2

... oh and there is this. Response to uprisings? Consolidating efforts? Kissing and making up for the greater good? Will be interesting to watch.

TEDxRamallah

TED Talks are coming to the Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon on 16 April 2011!

Tomorrow is the last day to register for TEDxRamallah (for attendance in the Levant area of the Middle East). There are a number of sites globally where you can attend and view the Talks in the Gulf, Europe, North America and around the Middle East. ALSO if you are interested in hosting a TEDxRamallah gathering, you can – get in touch with the organisers before 16 April 2011.

All you need is a laptop, internet and some eager viewers.

The event include talks from personalities such as Suad Amiry – author of “Sharon and My Mother-in-Law: Ramallah Diaries”, Julia Bacha – filmmaker, and musical performances from artists such as DAM – an acclaimed Palestinian rap group.

More information can be found on the event page.

(logo from the event)

The Youth Vote

What many youth around the world would die for - a chance to determine their country's political future. But in Canada - Apathy amongst young eligible voters remains.


From CBC's "Rick Mercer Report" 28 March 2011

The Best Day of the Year!

International Women's Day!
If you are in Ottawa - Come celebrate the 100th Anniversary (!) at the National Archives from 7-10pm!
Details HERE

Also check out this list of the 100 most influential women as composed by the Guardian. As well as a great article by Stephanie Nolen about how for we need to go still...

Yup

Article on the key role youth can play in the Middle East from the National Journal

stopping sexual violence and harassment with technology

There was a lot of buzz created by the assault CBS reporter Lara Logan in Tahrir Square. On the twittersphere a lot of the discussion has pointed to the blame and owness that is placed on the survivors - Still!

There are a lot of tools out there to break the stigma of talking about sexual harassment and assault. A number of which were spearheaded in the middle east where taunting and catcalling are endemic, and little fault or blame is placed on the perpetrator. Instead, the survivor - primarily women - is blamed and her freedoms are curtailed in order to preserve honour and to "prevent" these acts from "occurring again" (wear less revealing clothes, don't go outside without a male escort etc.).

Despite tireless efforts to dispel myths surrounding SGBV, it still occurs and can be difficult to combat because there is so little hard data on the topic. This is why new initiatives using technology to map from the ground up are so important.

Here are some tools I have come across:

Hollaback : Global site using online and mobile technology to track and collect data/information on street harassment.

HarassMap Similar to HollaBack, spear headed in Egypt (in arabic)

There is Visualising Women's Rights in the Arab World is an online space for women's rights initiatives including SGBV work.

In DRC there is Si jeunesse savait an online and mobile support network for young feminists. (in French)

A general project taking place during the 16 days of Activism is Take Back the Tech imploring women to use technology to combat violence against women and girls and highlighting projects. It has a handy map of what is going on tech wise associated with the project around the globe.

On a more national/state driven and generic level there's CartoCrime, and initiative by l'Observatoire National de la Délinquance in France that maps crime in general. (in French)

These are the few I can think of with websites. Any more? (I'm sure there are tons)

Egypt! Where are the women?!

As the Egyptian government is transformed a great opportunity presents itself. Women are often excluded or at the very least underrepresented in state affairs, peace processes and statebuilding exercises. Egypt is presented with an opportunity to buck the trend and involve women in the formation of their new state governing apparatus. A democratic reform process has the aim of creating a freer, fairer governing apparatus that respects the rights and will of all people, including women. This end goal is impossible without the inclusion of women, a point recognised and highlighted internationally through the Beijing Declaration and subsequent UN resolutions. Yet women still remain excluded. Journalist and political commentator Mona Eltahawy tweeted on 14 February that despite women being active in the Egyptian revolution, they have been all but excluded from talks with the military. Only one woman, Asmaa Mahfouz, who’s Vlogs are cited as one of the drivers of the youth movement, was present at talks between youth organisers and the military. Egypt and other stakeholders need to recognise the importance of having a balanced perspective when building a new governance structure. Egypt can provide women with an equal voice, unprecedented in that region (or further afield for that matter). Let us support women activists in having their voices heard.

Today we are all Egyptian.

Alhumdelah. Mubarak and his friends have listened to the 18-days worth of protests. The army will take over, and oversee a hopefully peaceful transition of power and reform. Let us hope that Egyptians will have the opportunity to actively and substantially support the change in their country. Let us hope that results of this change will be recognised by the international stakeholders (i.e. what happened in Gaza/West Bank elections). Let us hope they get what they have sacrificed for (and that we leave them alone to do it).

But for now, let us celebrate with Egyptians. They have shown us a fine example of peaceful activism to bring about change. Something we can learn from. Today we are all Egyptians.

"We" supported technology in favour of facilitating democracy. But "we" didn't mean use it! (and more hypocrisy etc)

Across the Middle East and North Africa, most obviously in Egypt, populations are coming out in droves in support of regime change. One of the many positive outcomes from the surprise overturn of the Tunisian government by the Tunisian public is that it provided an example of what masses can do. It created a fearless public face that spread to young people across the region, telling them change is possible, and you do not have to live without rights.

According to the Carnegie Foundation two-thirds of the population of Egypt are under the age of 30 and nine out of ten are jobless. This is similar to the rest of the region, where the Middle East Initiative has placed 65% of the population under 30 years of age. For many, their current regimes are all they have ever known in terms of government. Realising this, innovative programs for youth engagement throughout the Middle East provided and supported by western donors, such as the United States, have promoted the use of new technologies to build bridges and support democracy, as well as to prepare them for the work force. Programs meant as extracurricular activities promoting peace and dialogue have also prepared youth to take the reins in their country and become a driving force for change. Through connectivity, they have learned of the perceived social and economic benefits of democracy. Now youth are pouring out onto the streets in search of these democratic and social rights. They crave the ability to make effective change in their own country, rather than pandering to the concerns of an outside power. They want a real voice – and we have given it to them. Our muted responses, are an attempt to say “speak out, but not too loudly”, but in doing this, the voices will only get louder.

Using mobile phones, social networking sites and proxies to get around firewalls, youth aid each other in banding together and getting a message out to a wider, begrudged audience. The fearlessness displayed by Tunisians and now by more and more Egyptians has shown the level of anger that exists among the young populations, the power and popularity of these new tools, and also how angry people get when they are taken away. The grievances are endemic and structural. They are about access to food, jobs, inflation, freer and fairer governance, services, safety and security, and so much more. No fix can be quick. People on the ground know this. What they do not want to see is more of the same old guard. A way to prevent this is to engage those who were most instrumental in mobilising the country. Actively engage youth.

Tunisia’s new transitional government has incorporated young activists in the cabinet. Persons such as Slim Amamou (@Slim404) are available on Twitter to their constituents. There could be important lessons drawn from this case. Greater support for change in the way that Tunisia and other governments’ reform can be a model for the rest of the Middle East. What governments should not do is pick sides. This is a reform that needs to be driven from the bottom up. Support should be provided accordingly.

Youth engagement needs to continue at a broader level, making sure the voices of both young men and young women are heard. A number of men have emerged as potential opposition leaders, but few women have been catapulted to the forefront. This is an opportunity to bring women (note: plural) to a negotiating table, ensure their viewpoints are being heard, and quell fears of conservative governance.

Overall, if the West and – and other current regimes - wants stability in Egypt and wider region, the viewpoints of all must be heard, and respected. Canada can play a strong role in supporting a new government, providing and advocating for assistance to reform the constitution, as well as support whole of government reform to ministries and services with the aim of greater civilian oversight, stronger judiciary, and a vibrant civil society. Canada, as a multicultural country, with visible and strong minorities and a history of peace we have a lot to share with our friends in Egypt.

All I am watching...

I'm glued to what is happening in Egypt. Fortunately for me I can watch this for work on Al Jazeera. The youth-led revolution is coming to a head with the government controlled, police enforced "pro-government supporters". In a future Egypt, it will be interesting to see how people can make amends with a police force that has been equated to thugs.

Other Arab regimes are falling in line, and trying to buck the trend - Jordan and Yemen in particular. I am most interested (aside from current events) in what will happen with the Palestinians. Will this open an opportunity to leverage on their side a better deal from the peace process? Or will it drive young people to protest en masse (more than usual) against their own government and their current situation? Does the momentum created in Tunisia compounded with the release of the Palestinian Papers provide the perfect opportunity for change?

Broken Record: Women and Youth. Youth and Women.

People are finally catching on! Of course the uprisings in the Middle East are “Youth Uprisings”. My Grandad was on Facebook, but I’m pretty sure he was in the minority of septuagenarians. Well done to ElBadari to state that “youth are important”.

Also, interesting new watchdog on the scene for the UN, particularly watching what happens (or does not happen) with UNWomen. VSO has started “The Godmothers”. Signing up will get you updates on what is happening and how you can push for change, or at least try to keep the UN and donor countries on track. For more information see an article by Madeleine Bunting in the Guardian.

Palestinian Papers. Israel. Win.

The Palestinian Papers released gives insight into Middle East negotiations, and have been interpreted as a blow to the old guard of the PA. An article by Chatham House’s Kate Nevens and Jessica Forsythe sums up the fear of western stakeholders that this will increase support for Hamas, and also stoke violent resistance again against Israel from the West Bank, but also further a field in Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. Much of this is agreed. There is already widespread disenchantment from Palestinians with Fatah, but also with the political situation in general. Many also do not see Hamas as a viable option wither… just worth a shot in the face limited options. More importantly, reports are ignoring the elephant in the room. The easy win the Israeli government has received from these accounts of historic concessions. With support for Fatah split, Hamas may gain more power, but less of a bargaining chip with western stakeholders. Palestinian political groups disenfranchised on a whole could very well revolt against both guards. What we could be faced with is in internal struggle in the West Bank between multiple power brokers, making oppression easier. Likely in the name of security. Hopefully, this is recognised early, and alternatives are presented. A good start would be for the PA to cycle in some new blood, and at risk of sounding like a broken record, give greater voice to younger party members. Additionally, moderate leaders in general need to embrace new methods of communication and news sources rather than attacking it, to allow for more democratic input into next steps as well as to monitor activity throughout the territories by all groups. (See a great OpEd by Naserine Malik in the Guardian on Al Jazeera). The more open and transparent Palestinian leaders can be right now, the better, in order to reduce the opportunity for violence and extremism.

In other news. Have you been watching Egypt? Oh. And how about Lebanon?

In light of Tunisia and Youth...

Posts on the revolution in Tunisia.

Well educated youth + socioeconomic and political grievances + new social media = Revolution


Op-Ed from Nawaat (French) and the Guardian (English) from 13 January by a youth activist.

From the Telegraph

Make Youth Count in Sudan

This Saturday marks the end of the voting period in a referendum of self-determination for the Southern Sudanese.

No matter what the outcome will be after January 15th, as Sudan moves forward, both the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, international organisations, donors and all other stakeholders should be mindful to involve all parties (women and men of all ages) in the statebuilding process. They should also be mindful to maintain substantial involvement of the largest demographic, youth, in order for peace to continue into the future.

The government, donor countries and all stakeholders in times of statebuilding implement projects to engage youth to various degrees in attempts ranging from diffusing a potential spoiler group, to building peace. Standard programming ranges from vocational training and employment schemes, to involvement in civil society organisations and youth activities. A wise move, given that according to the Southern Sudan centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation, 72% of the population of Southern Sudan is under 30 years of age. Youth programming, if well-coordinated and developed in a participatory fashion, can bring together youth from different backgrounds in building a stronger state.

Engagement between different groups of youth, externally but also internally in Southern Sudan, and greater Sudan, will help mend fences broken by decades of conflict. Projects that bridge understanding so that all Sudanese see each other as equals, such as inter-Sudanese peacebuilding projects, online discussions and youth conferences will ease some of the divide. However, youth need other motivations to build and participate in peaceful states. They need jobs. They need to be empowered. They need to feel valued and be heard.

The media spotlight on Sudan means that many have now heard the grim figures and uphill battle that Southern Sudan in particular faces in terms of healthcare, education, jobs and gender equality. Those who have been following the context are aware that a girl in Southern Sudan is more likely to die in childbirth than finish grade school. The illiteracy rate stands at 24% in Southern Sudan and 55% for Sudan as a whole, with immense gender discrepancies. But many are unaware that while the governments in Khartoum and Juba provide the majority of formal employment, there is a growing private sector hungry for educated Sudanese youth that have the prescribed skill sets. Discouragingly, while vocational training does exist, provided by both the government and external organisations, there are no common curriculum or shared certification programs, and the training targets limited numbers. Companies turn to better educated foreigners or returnee Sudanese who were trained outside of the country. They are perceived as more capable and reliable, but also create tension between Sudanese that stayed in Sudan and other groups. Moreover, many of the new businesses started in Southern Sudan are not by Sudanese, but by people from neighbouring countries. Foreign investment and development can be a positive thing, but it must be matched with Sudanese growth, particularly in areas of strength such as farming and animal husbandry. Entrepreneurship and financial support for youth led-business development will also stem some of these concerns, but financial capital must be extended to young people in an effort to promote youth-driven development and in support of youth empowerment in the statebuilding process.

Girls are missing out as well. The Government of Southern Sudan has made a commendable effort in promoting the inclusion of women into the public service, including into male dominated forums such as the Southern Sudanese Police Service. Despite this, girls’ education and involvement in the workforce in Southern Sudan is drastically low. The majority of youth programs are notoriously designed with young boys in mind, stemming from the belief that large groups of idle young men left to their own devices have the potential to become a source of political unrest. Girls are often taken on through promotion of access to education, a tactic that the Government of Canada is using. This is a start, however youth issues are far more complex than this, and links are rarely made between the disempowerment of young girls and cycles of poverty and violence. Education programs coupled with job creation and political and civil society programs targeted at women can help combat early marriage, transmission of STDs, improve maternal and infant health, reduce violence against women and improve society as a whole. Reaching young adolescents and women is key to building a strong and peaceful state. Numbers are better for Sudan as a whole, however fear remains that should the South choose to separate, women’s liberties will move backwards under strict application of Islamic law.

Youth issues are complex and under studied.In Southern Sudan, as well as in the rest of the country, there are generations that have known nothing but varying states of war. Although some have been demobilised, there are youth, both men and women, in large militias and armed forces on both sides. Some point to the so called “youth bulge” in a fragile state context such as the one in Sudan as one that will lead to unrest. I’m inconclusive. What I do know, is that this, compounded with a feeling of exclusion from the political process, perpetrated by corrupt governments, and little economic and employment growth will cause problems for future Sudanese state(s). Governments and other stakeholders need to be holistic in their approach, and listen to the youth.