Viceversa

Working with empowered girls Reports from Nicaragua Bangladesh Ethiopia Preview Girls Advocacy Alliance

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©Wahid Adnan

EDITORIAL

Colophon

Contributors to this edition: Wahid Adnan, Leonard Faüstle, Ronald de Hommel, Janneke Juffermans, Arachne Molema, Ellen Mangnus, Sanne de Boer Merel Rumping, Vamba Sherif, Petterik Wiggers Cover: Wahid Adnan (the photo shows Keya Ghosh, member of the girl forum in Angarpara, Bangladesh) Plan Nederland Stadhouderskade 60 1072 AC Amsterdam T +31 20 549 55 20 @ info@plannederland.nl W www.plannederland.nl KvK Amsterdam 41198890 IBAN NL11RABO 0393586766 @PlanNederland facebook.com/plannederland youtube.com/user/PlanNL This edition was made thanks to Vice Versa

'Girl Power. It just sounds so great.' Mohammad Masud, the friendly manager of the Girl Power Project in Bangladesh, thinks it's a shame that he will have to say goodbye to the project's catchy name at the end of the year. I have just arrived in Dhaka and am due to travel to Dinajpur, an isolated rural region, with his colleague Salma Sultana early tomorrow morning. 'You'll notice how self-confident some of the girls are. Not shy at all', says Masud enthusiastically. 'They talk to everyone, even to the local administrators.' He believes these girls will become very important for their community in the future. ‘Their power is invisible. It’s in their heart and mind.’

But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw during the next few days. And their power is certainly not invisible! I was blown away by the energy and maturity of many of the girls that I met in Dinajpur. How tall they stood and how they strode towards me to shake my hand. How they talked, full of self-confidence, about abuse in their village, in front of a full meeting hall. How they beamed as they told me of their love of karate or the theatre, how they wanted to prevent other young girls from getting married too early and about their plans for the future. I daydreamed about coming back to see them all in ten years time.

Photographer Wahid Adnan was extremely successful in making sure their power is clearly visible. Boys and men, as well as girls and women, have a place in our report about child marriage free villages. I wonder if you will find their stories as inspiring as I did?

In this publication we hope to provide an overview of the efforts made by the Girl Power Alliance and of the benefits of investing in independent girls.

Sanne de Boer Editor and journalist

CONTENTS 03

Contents 04

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28

Introduction

Reportage

Preview

Child free marriages in Bangladesh

Girls Advocacy Alliance

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21

24

Awareness and justice for girls and women

by writer Vamba Sherif

Under the observant eyes of the government

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22

Kathleen Ferrier, Roelof van Laar and Elisabeth van der Steenhoven?

Helga van Kampen

Girl Power Programme

Reportage Nicaragua

Column

What does Girl Power Interview with partnership broker mean for‌

Reportage Ethiopia

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INTRODUCTION

Girls full of self-confidence The Girl Power Programme by Plan Nederland, Women Win, Free Press Unlimited, Child Helpline International, Defence for ChildrenECPAT and International Child Development Initiatives ends at the end of this year. What were its aims and have they been reached? text

Janneke Juffermans

W

hen women and girls gain self-confidence and achieve a better position within society, this can initially provoke violence. This is one of the risks that the Girl Power Programme had to take into account. In 2011, the Dutch partners Plan Nederland (secretary), Women Win, Free Press Unlimited, Child Helpline International, Defence for Children- ECPAT and International Child Development Initiatives started work with a subsidy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Over the past few years, they have worked in no fewer than ten countries across three continents In Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan), Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Zambia) and Latin-America (Bolivia and Nicaragua) a lot of work was done to change the mentalities of the girls themselves and of their environment.

The Girl Power Programme focuses on strengthening the position of adolescent girls. The most important objectives in this context are improved access to education, protection against violence and increasing political participation and economic opportunities. Adolescents are a large and growing group in many developing countries and girls, much more so than boys, encounter substantial hindrances in this phase of their lives. In many cultures, there are attempts to try to contain and manage their emerging sexuality. Girls also run the risk of violence and oppression. If they have made it through primary school, they are often prevented from attending a secondary school. Furthermore, they are often married off, sexually abused or they are pregnant at a very young age.

The period from the age of about thirteen to eighteen is crucial; in this phase, the future opportunities for girls can be severely limited or significantly expanded. And even though many development organisations focus on women, adolescent girls are not automatically considered to be part of the women's rights agenda. In 2009, with their 'smartest investment philosophy', the World Bank demonstrated why we must invest in girls. Girls and women who are well educated and protected from violence and exploitation can participate in the labour market. The money that they earn can then be invested in their families. Educated women also have children later in life and make well-informed decisions about having a smaller family.

They send their daughters as well as their sons to school. In short: investing in girls has a longterm effect and the entire society benefits. For this reason, the Girl Power Alliance decided to focus their efforts on young girls and women.

Evaluation With a collective goal of reducing existing barriers for adolescent girls, the various alliance partners found each another quite quickly. In order to report and reduce violence, girls could turn to the member organisations of Child Helpline International. Free Press Unlimited contributed to disseminating a progressive message about women and girls via media-partners. Girls and women also found a voice for putting their point across and breaking through taboos, via these media. The partners of Women Win use sport to increase the self-confidence of girls and women and raise awareness about their rights. Partners of International Child Development Initiatives trained local authorities and encouraged coop-

eration between educational and healthcare services. Plan strengthened social organisations and provided information about the rights of girls. The legal expertise and lobbying power of partners Defence for Children-ECPAT were employed to target policy and behavioural changes in relation to local and national policy-makers and authorities.

In all countries, steering groups were founded in which the local partners could coordinate their activities, discuss difficult questions and share successful experiences. Not only the possible increase in violence, but also the general reaction of men and young boys was addressed by the partners. Would young boys perhaps feel neglected if so much attention was exclusively paid to adolescent girls? How could this be prevented? This turned out to be a well-founded fear, according to an evaluation that took place in 2013, halfway through the programme. Boys did, indeed, feel disadvantaged and were subsequently involved more readily in the programme.

The mid-term evaluation also showed that the cooperation between the partners was appreciated, even though it took some getting used to in the beginning because not all of the organisations were familiar with one another. Over time,

GIRL POWER

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ŠWahid Adnan

Future plan

Karate turns out to make girls more resilient, literally and metaphorically. The Bengali Taposi Roy, in the foreground, was trained by the Girl Power Programme and now teaches others karate.

On page 16 you can read her story.

the smaller organisations came to realise that they could leon on the larger ones and, as a result, develop contacts with the government.

Large organisations also provided innovative ideas for the smaller ones. Sometimes Plan, as secretary, regarded the other parties as the implementing organisations or subcontractors rather than equal partners. There was also an issue with partners competing with one another.

If the partners were geographically too far removed from one another, cooperation was reduced to a simple exchange of expertise.

Nevertheless, the collaboration did bear fruit.

This is clear from the mid-term evaluation which found that the protection of girls against violence has improved. The percentage of girls that indicate that they or girls they know have been physically assaulted reduced between 2011 and 2013 from 70 to 57.5 in the age range 14 to 17, and from 75 to 60 in the age range 18 to 24.

Just as important is the fact that, according to researchers, girls are beginning to realise that violence against them is not normal. Further-

The whole of society benefits in the long-term more, they are much more aware of where they can turn when they encounter violence.

The social and political participation of girls and women has also improved. According to researchers, it is no longer just girls who believe they should have a voice but, their communities have also realised this. Moreover, men are backing this attitude up with actions; girls are more frequently given a voice in school councils and neighbourhood committees.

Girls must go to school, according to the people questioned; not only when they are young but also if they marry young and have children.

These views have changed considerably since the start of the programme.

The researchers also realised, that girls still have very restricted access to the labour market. 'It is clear that most of the local alliance partners do not have the expertise, experience and network to initiate economically strengthening activities', they wrote. They added that this also applied to their Dutch donors and alliance members. Skills had clearly improved, but these skills were only useful for low-paid jobs and not really attuned to the market. This criticism was taken very seriously. Now that the programme is coming to an end, better strategies have been set up with regard to economic empowerment. These will be applied from 2016 in the Girls Advocacy Alliance, the new partnership with Plan, Terre des Hommes and Defence for Children- ECPAT. There are thus convincing business cases to show to companies, which highlight the advantages of investing in female employees and entrepreneurs.

At the same time, there are efforts in terms of collective agreements between government, companies and NGOs in order to reduce exploitation of and discrimination against women in the labour market.

This latter activity falls under lobbying and influencing, which are central components in the new financing framework. According to the evaluation, this aspect was a weakness in the programme, particularly the 'harmonisation with the government'. Jos van Heijningen from Plan Nederland acknowledges the criticism. 'At a local level, a great deal can be achieved but it remains a challenge to change policy and laws on a national level. In Bangladesh, for example, you see successful child marriage free villages, however, on a national level, there is still a threat that the law that bans marriage under the age of 18 will be reversed. We are not there yet.'

The Girl Power Programme was awarded 52 million euro by the Dutch government. Now that it is coming to an end, new financing is being sought for activities that do not fall under the lobby and influence alliance, as well as for the continuation of work in Bolivia and Nicaragua, countries which are being released from the new alliance. For the time being, the focus on girls and women remains necessary on all fronts.

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INTRODUCTION

Highlights from the Girl Power Programme Child Helpline International

After the civil war in Sierra Leone, Free Press Unlimited helped provide information by organising training for start-up television producers, specifically for the creators of the new youth news programme Wetin Now (What’s Up?).

The outbreak of the ebola epidemic did not hinder the plans entirely. With a limited budget, a successful pilot episode was made. The only national TV broadcaster in Sierra Leone now broadcasts a youth news programme every Saturday afternoon. Various topics, from young girls getting pregnant to the difficulties of the unstable power supply, are presented from the perspective of children and young people.

supports child telephone helplines in ten countries in the context of the Girl Power Programme. They also developed a Gender Tool kit: a practical guide with training modules and tools that allows children's help-lines to respond better to problems that girls encounter, such as abuse and violence. Employees involved in the help-lines run by partners Aparajeyo-Bangladesh and Child Workers in Nepal took the three-day course last year.

The Gender Tool kit is now being rolled out within their specific organisations.

Sheila M. Donovan, director of Child Helpline International: ‘Child help-lines are recognised worldwide as a crucial method for protecting girls against violence and abuse. The Girl Power Programme has not only delivered positive results for our own organisation and the child helplines that we support, it has also contributed towards ensuring that, within the networks and child protection bodies, there is a greater focus on the interests, opinions, problems of and opportunities for girls.’

Ruth Kronenburg, director of Operations from Free Press Unlimited: 'Children and young people form over a third of the world's population but only a small part of the news is aimed at them.'

Defence for Children - ECPAT In the Girl Power Programme, Defence for Children-ECPAT Sierra Leone helps girls to file an official complaint, offers legal advice and psychosocial assistance.

DCI also organises meetings for girls.

Every event attracts around 100 girls from Freetown and around. They debate topics such as rights and who is responsible for strengthening the position of girls and women. The abuse of power, working hard in the household and forced marriage are also subjects that come up for discussion.

Abdul Manaff Kemokai, director of Defence for Children Sierra Leone: 'With our programme, we teach girls and young women to protect themselves and also ensure that the perpetrators of sexual violence against girls and young women are prosecuted.'

Aloys van Rest, director of Defence for Children – ECPAT Nederland: 'If there is any evidence of abuse, DCI-Sierra Leone supports the girls and young women directly, both in legal terms and otherwise. This means that their rights are genuinely upheld.'

GIRL POWER

International Child Development Initiatives (ICDI) was active in six of the Girl Power Programme countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan and Sierra Leone. In the latest country, ICDI worked alongside partner organisation One Family People (OFP) on supporting adolescent girls (particularly disabled girls) in Freetown and the Moyamba district via self-help groups, music and dance, vocational training and lobbying the relevant authorities. Lobby contributed towards two new acts: The Persons with Disability Act (2011) and The Sexual Offences Act (2012).

Mathijs Euwema, director of International Child Development Initiative: ‘Many of the girls and young women that took part in the Girl Power Programme felt strong and independent for the first time in their lives, and felt able to make a genuine contribution. The community regarded their potential in a different light and the willingness to support them has increased.'

Women Win partner Empowering Plan Nederland, together with local partner organisations in Nepal, set up over 3,750 savings and loan groups and 90 women's cooperatives. As a result, around 40,000 women now earn their own income. They are thus given a greater 'say' in what goes on. Many of the groups also entered into a dialogue with village and district councils which led to concrete successes such as budgets for activities for and by young women. Having their own income also makes women less vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

Monique van ’t Hek, director of Plan Nederland: 'We are proud of what we have achieved for girls with our partners.

We would like these positive changes to continue after the end of this collaboration. Let's give girls across the world an opportunity to develop into powerful women.'

Women Nepal provides information and guidance for women about their rights.

After the training, they can work in the tourism and mountain sport sectors which have traditionally been dominated by men.

Mari Bobenrieth, director of Women Win: ‘Women Win is leading the field in empowering girls via sport. Manu Gurung in Nepal, for example, became a mountain guide via one of the programmes provided by Women Win. This changed her life. She explains: 'At moments when I had little hope, I wanted to challenge myself. I decided to climb a mountain but people said that women couldn't do it, that they had to stay indoors. With help from Empowering Women Nepal, I did it anyway. By telling my story, I want to show that we can do anything we set our minds to. Be patient and never give up.'

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REPORTAGE

Edutainment

Nicaragua has the highest rate of teenage mothers in Latin-America and over one in ten of the girls between the ages of 15 and 19 is subjected to physical or sexual violence. The Girl Power Alliance set to work in this context.

Merel Rumping gives us an idea of the protection mechanisms that were set up.

Merel Rumping photos Ronald de Hommel text

‘ Men are afraid of us’ In a square room with concrete walls, there's a yellowing family portrait here and there and a smiling poster of a blue-eyed, blonde-haired Jesus. Chickens peck around on the brown tiled, mosaic floor. Twelve plastic chairs are not sufficient for the girls and the babies that have arrived for the meeting. We are in the village Villa Sandino, deep inland in Nicaragua.

'What are you doing? Knocking on a door or something?' asks the workshop leader who is aged 16. She is wearing a bright pink shirt emblazoned with the words Girl Power. A sum of a girl aged barely thirteen stands uneasily in front of her audience, all of whom are from the village. She looks down at her feet, that are clad in high-heels, with a shy smile. She then lifts up her right arm, still with her head bowed, and makes a knocking movement in the air.

'Come on, do it more fiercely!', the workshop leader demands. She turns towards the audience: 'Ladies, what is going on here?'

'She is hitting someone?' says someone in the hall. ''Who has another example?'

A girl stands up. She is wearing trousers and regards the meeting with confidence. She begins to pull her own hair. Her head resists the pull and wobbles backwards and forwards.

Someone in the group says 'pulling hair'.

'Is this normal?'

'No!' the girls call out in unison.

'What other forms of violence are there?' It goes quiet. Then a girl holding a baby to her breast says: 'Psychological violence? I mean, when they shout at you like you're an animal, like you have no value at all.'

In terms of awareness of sexual rights and the protection of girls and women against violence, there is a long way to go in Nicaragua. A quarter of the Nicaraguan mothers get pregnant between the ages of fourteen and nineteen and (sexual) violence against women is sometimes socially accepted. One of the methods used by the Girl Power Programme to raise awareness about the rights of girls is working with the niñas monitoras, or the 'supervisory girls' They are workshop leaders whose ages range from 13 to 17, who have had at least 20 hours training about gender equality, violence and sexuality.

Once a month, they pass their knowledge on to their fellow villagers. This pyramid model has already helped reach out to 1,286 workshop leaders and 3,690 girls. In addition, the girls also spread their message via the radio, television and theatre productions. Some of the workshop leaders also link their educational message to football training.

Claudia Samcam from alliance partner Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres (FCAM), explains that the girls learn life-skills during this training in order to make considered decisions, on issues such as pregnancy or avoiding HIV for example.

She explains: 'Discrimination and sexual stereotyping often become evident in relation to sport.

Just getting involved in sport brings about changes, not just for the girl but also with regard to her position in society. I recently heard how the boys in the village always used to occupy the football field. When a group of girls went to play there, it created conflict. The boys shouted: 'You've got no right to be here, this is a place for men. Women don't belong on the street: you should be making tortillas, not playing football.'

The girls stood their ground: 'We are not bad women because we want to play football. Why are you so jealous?' In the end, they were able to play together. 'They were assertive and learnt how to stipulate boundaries.'

The television programme De Humo also helps bring these subjects up for discussion. The programme, produced by Girl Power partner organisation Promedia, is broadcast every Sunday for half an hour on a national television station.

The films on YouTube have been viewed 185,000 times in Nicaragua, according to Mariana Rivas who works for De Humo TV. In a month or two, her baby will 'see the light', as they say here; she hopes that, just like the viewers of De Humo TV, he or she will also grow up to be a critical thinker. The concept of 'edutainment', or education crossed with entertainment, allows the adolescent-centred programme to cover political and economic issues, on the one hand, and women's rights, gender equality and sexuality, on the other. Rivas believes: 'Young people are primarily exposed to 'tele junk'.

NICARAGUA

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Workshop leaders or ‘niñas monitoras’ talk to a group of girls about sexuality and domestic violence in Villa Sandino, Nicaragua

There are plenty of shows with celebrities and gossip, but access to information on topics such as domestic violence, male dominance, or how to use a tampon, simply don't exist. And this is important because sexual violence is still morally acceptable in Nicaragua. The concept of gender equality is still in its infancy.' She adds: 'We recently conducted street research and many of the girls told us: 'My brother can go outside to play but I have to wash the dishes or serve dad's dinner'.

Masturbation What do the parents and teachers think about the programme? 'We have received overwhelmingly positive responses. But recently a father said on Facebook that he found it unacceptable that a topic such as female masturbation was on tv', says Rivas. 'These taboos were created by the church. If it's about boys, we can talk about it. Indeed, mothers think it's completely normal that their sons masturbate! Our role is to demystify and break through these taboos.'

In the programme, we see a young presenter remonstrating passionately: 'We live in a macho society where we learn that women's bodies are for reproduction and sexual pleasure. Young

boys can talk about masturbation but we can't, simply because we're girls! And that is exactly why we are doing just that today!'

Girls of 16 and 17 say: 'My family says that masturbation is a sin.' Samples from songs about masturbation by Britney Spears, Rihanna and Pink connect into the item's conclusion: 'Masturbating is healthy. It helps you to get to know your body and regulate or release your sexual desires. It is also safer than sex; you do not run any risk of pregnancy of disease. But wash your hands before you start.'

De Humo TV is not welcome in public schools but the programmes are used as lesson material at private and semi-private schools. 'Teachers sometimes ask us to make a programme on a topic that they struggle to explain.'

Sample Study So what is the situation legally? Is violence against women a criminal offence? Argentina Espinoza, national coordinator of the Girl Power Programme, explains in Managua: ‘2012 saw the implementation of a comprehensive law regarding violence against women. At that moment, violence against women finally became a criminal offence.' She adds, proudly: ‘Plan Nicaragua

'The problem is not only incest, but also the acknowledgement of incest'

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REPORTAGE

A boy watches the workshop in Bilwi on the Atlantic coast

lobbied incredibly hard for this law.’ But the fight is not over yet: 'Last year, conservative forces revolted, who stated that the law would disrupts the unity within families.' She raises her eyebrows with skepticism. 'As a result, the law was elaborated into a specific regulation. And this states that so-called 'less serious' incidents do not need to be reported immediately, but that a village council can mediate.'

I am curious whether there is general awareness of the law. If I check it out for myself and ask ten or so men on the street whether violence against women is a problem in their country, they all agree that it is. Milton, a 35 year old artist who works with acrylics to create images of women and landscapes on pieces of cloth, says: ‘In Nicaragua, there are many femicidios, or female murders. In isolated villages in the country, women are often not aware of their rights. They are sometimes illiterate and are prepared at a very young age for married life as a housewife.

They are often victims of violence. But, recently, a law has been introduced that makes violence against women a criminal offence.' Other men

from my sample study also directly refer to the law. But are women actually reporting the offences? We travel by plane to the provincial city of Bilwi, on the Atlantic coast, to find out more.

Justice The colourful houses in Bilwi are built on poles and, seen from above, look like M&Ms that have been scattered around in the yellow-green grass. At some distance from one another, they are dotted around a vast landscape. The distance provides a form of privacy which is not always beneficial to the women and children.

Everything is a long way away and anyone who has to go to hospital or the police must take the bus for hours on a bumpy road. Partner organisation Asociacion de Mujeres Indigenas de la Costa Atlantica (AMICA) is reducing the distance by providing guidance to victims of domestic violence and, if necessary, helping them take legal measures. AMICA works in isolated villages via 'referentes', or referrals. The core of this network can be found in the village of Santa Martha and comprises five women: a traditional village judge called a 'huista', a lawyer and three

other villagers.

At a time when the institutional mechanisms did not used to offer protection, the huista was responsible, within the indigenous population, for legal decisions and other local matters. Until about ten years ago, this meant that your parents would go to talk to the huista if you had been raped. If you were pregnant, you would more often than not have to marry the perpetrator. In some villages on the Atlantic coast, these stubborn traditions remain and the huistas still play an important role in the local communities.

They are elected democratically by a village council. Over the past few years, increasing numbers of female huistas have been elected.

AMICA understands that it is wise not to break this type of structure but rather strengthen and support it.

'Many women turn to me', says Sunilda Haylock, a woman with prominent cheekbones who is over 75 years old. 'Recently, I had an abused mother in my lounge. I said: 'Enough is enough.

If your husband doesn't want to come and talk, I think you should fill in this form. Tomorrow, we will go to the city and you can report this.' She left for home and her eight year old son soon appeared at the door looking frigntened. He found the document under his mother's mattress and was terrified that his father would punish her. Then, a remorseful father appeared at the door and we started a process of mediation.

This would not have happened if it had involved rape or abuse involving knives or other weapons; when this is the case, we go straight to the police. We prayed, talked and made agreements. We are keeping an eye on this family and they are doing well.'

One of the other 'referentes', Dinora Rosales, a single woman, explains that supervising victims does not come without risk. 'A few years ago, a group of men came to my door shouting: 'If you carry on with this work, we'll cut your face open.' With her hands in her hair, she sneers: 'Ha! Men are afraid of us. Recently, someone said: 'You only have to give a woman a nasty look and you'll end up in prison!' I think I'll stay on my own.' 'On average, the referentes take around ten women to report a violent crime every month.

Emotional support Reporting a crime begins with knowing that a right has been breached. Shira Downs is director of the Nydia White house for children that have suffered sexual abuse in Bilwi. She explains: 'Around 15 percent of the girls that we take in is pregnant; some are just 10 years old. Last week, we saw a 13 year old girl, pregnant with her father's child. Te problem is not only incest, but also the acknowledgement of incest. Mothers often don't believe their daughters or make them feel guilty. 'If you report your father, who

NICARAGUA

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Versatility Within the Girl Power Alliance in Nicaragua, ten organisations from civil society and three government bodies work with one another in 51 communities, spread across five provinces.

The Girl Power programme focuses on individuals, communities, civil society and institutions, and employs various methods to develop awareness and the recognition of girls' rights. The activities vary from supporting victims of sexual abuse, conducting media campaigns and supporting the child helplines, to economic participation projects within which women are supported in generating their own income.

Dinora Rosales (left in the photo) who assists the victims of domestic violence, explains that she has met with some resistance as a result of her work.

will feed your brother? And who will help me?'

And what would the community think of us?

Who would want to marry you if everyone knows? I also experienced it but I kept quiet and still became a woman. 'You just have to deal with it!', most of the mothers say'. The refuge can house around 20 girls between the ages of 7 and 14; most of them stay for about six months. 'Our aim is to provide emotional support and help the girls process their trauma.

That is why a psychologist joins us on a daily basis and offers group as well as individual therapy. The victims must re-establish themselves in society and become aware of their rights. They sometimes pass their knowledge onto others.

Recently, a girl visited us, who had lived wih us.

She had returned with a few school friends, who were sisters. 'These three are going through what I went through, she said.'

Balance After 25 interviews spread across 13 different locations, we gained a pretty good overview of the Girl Power Programme in Nicaragua. It is great that there is a balance between prevention (working with parents, radio and TV, and a transfer of knowledge by the 'niñas monitoras’), legal support (guiding and supporting victims) care and processing (refuge for street children and the victims of sexual abuse).

Now that the Girl Power programme is coming to an end, and there is no further financial and technical support in this context coming into

Nicaragua from the Dutch alliance, the partner organisations will have to continue the programme under their own management. The niñas monitoras have indicated that they will carry on. They have learnt how to present to a group, to discuss the causes and consequences of violence, the meaning of gender inequality and what constitutes sexual abuse. They have learnt how to make girls more resilient and raise awareness.

Let's hope that the niñas monitoras and all of the others can continue their good work. And that boys can also be included in the workshops.

Because, in the end, according to the ‘niñas’ themselves, we can't avoid the fact that it takes two to tango.

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EXPERTS

Arachne Molema photos Leonard Fäustle text

What does Girl Power mean for...?

University tutor in Hong Kong, specialist in the area of human rights and sustainability, former politician of the Dutch Christian Democrats.

Stand up for your rights ‘Girl power is evident in a girl that has responsibilities that far outstrip her years, but who still manages to survive. You can also see it in the current refugee situation: all these desperate children who have faced violence and hardship.

I also think about girls, for example in the Philippines, who have to keep a family afloat because their mother is working as a childminder in her role as domestic helper. I think about girls in contemporary slavery, exploited in sweatshops or in the sex industry; girls who, as a result of rape, have ended up pregnant and who somehow find the inner strength to keep their head above water. For me, this is true girl power.

At the time of Pinochet, I worked in the poor districts of Chilli for seven years; I then worked in the slums of SĂŁo Paolo. During my time with the organisation for migrant churches SKIN, I came across innumerable girls who managed to survive in the most unbearable circumstances.

So many images. But there is one image that has really stayed with me and it is actually a story from my mother. In her class, as a young school teacher in Suriname, there was an eleven year old pupil of Hindu origin who was being married off. The girl was scared of the man and did not want to marry him. My mother discussed the issue with the family and with the authorities. It all got out of hand and she even hid at one point. But my mother did not give up and, in the end, the girl was able to finish her education.

The message that my mother gave me with this story was: stand up for your rights!

It is great that we are doing all we can to eradicate forced child marriage. I am proud that the Netherlands is playing a leading role in this but we're not there just yet. Modern slavery is broader than just forced child marriage; I see that close-up in Asia. That is why I argue that we must not lose sight of the broader picture and must adapt policy and legislation accordingly. I

also advocate focussing on the importance of higher and university education, for girls. This will allow girl power to flourish so that women can be economically independent and can make a contribution towards society.'

GIRL POWER

Member of Parliament for the Dutch Labour Party, spokesman for Development cooperation and international trade.

Being free from roles and expectations 'Girl power is too often invisible. Girls have a huge potential that is rarely used. They are kept small by their environment, but also by themselves. Often, girls don't even know what power they have. All of the studies show that women who are given the same resources in the same situation as men achieve much more and are more effective, no matter what the sector. We still have no idea how the world would look if we could unleash all of the girl power.

Triveni Balkrishna Acharya, director of the Rescue Foundation, comes to mind when I think of girl power. At the beginning of the nineties, she was working as a journalist in Mumbai and came

Director of WO=MEN

A catalyst ‘For me, girl power means the resilience and capacity that girls have to overcome obstacles.

These obstacles could be poverty, violence or disease, but also a lack of awareness of their rights, lack of education and low expectations from within their environment. The figures regarding violence are startling. Half of all violent incidents involve girls below the age of sixteen.

Despite this suffocating situation, many of them are able to carry on and keep their heads above water.

At the same time, I see girl power as a catalyst.

If you invest in a girl, you get so much in return.

The profit is unimaginably great. For each year that a girl is educated, child mortality reduces by five to ten percent. There is no medicine that can do this. Investing in girls is not just the fair

across an eight year old girl working in an area known for prostitution. The girl was crying.

Triveni asked where her mother worked, thinking that it must be in a brothel. But it transpired that the girl herself worked in a brothel. As an Indian woman from a high caste, Triveni had no idea that so many young girls worked within prostitution. With her first campaign, she freed thirteen girls. Triveni and her husband offered shelter to the girls in their apartment and called Nepal, where the girls originated. They took them back themselves. They saved girls for over ten years. Now, the organisation has three refuges and they free hundreds of girls every year.

Triveni is one of the most impressive people I've ever met. A successful, hard worker who lives a simple life and is always available to the girls.

She devotes her life to girls who have lost everything.

Men must support their weight behind gender equality. Women and men are locked into roles and expectations that are disadvantageous to both. We are full of ideas about how men and women should act. In actual fact, roles are still very traditional even in the Netherlands. These sexual divisions are more substantial than in neighbouring countries. In the Netherlands, around 10% of IT specialists are female; this is

thing to do; it is also efficient and effective. It is absolutely right that the Girl Power programme combines so many different elements: education and resilience and preventing violence.

I have seen girls in so many different countries across the world, but the girls I saw in Columbia, in a region that was home to much fighting, are my clearest recollection. These girls managed to home-school themselves despite having to care for their brothers and sisters and take on a huge burden of responsibility. They taught themselves to read with ancient books in huts without light.

In the Netherlands, there is broad support for the idea that child prostitution is totally unacceptable. Products made by children are also unacceptable. It is fantastic that there is greater focus on this area now. Subcontractors are also responsible for this. With chain-responsibility, every link, right up to the last one in the chain, has to take responsibility.

Another focus area is the position of girls in conflict areas – and the violence with which they are confronted. Sex is still used as a weapon of war; Boko Haram and IS, for example, use robbery, kidnapping and rape (when a girl is punished twice as she is also cast out afterwards). It is also important that we provide information on this front. Plan is a member of the WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform and actively lobbies for the

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higher elsewhere. This must also be tackled if we are to achieve all of the sustainable development goals. Without girl power, we will not achieve the development goals.'

prevention of violence. A girl is not a spoil of war; she is not a possession. She is a person that has a right to an education, protection from violence and information about her rights. And she is a person who should have high expectations for herself.

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REPORTAGE

Wedding busters In Bangladesh one in three girls marries before they are 15. But that's not so easy in some places: responsible girls, teachers, progressive imams and decisive governors are setting up networks with the same goal: in their villages children will no longer be married off.

Sanne de Boer photos Wahid Adnan text

Ronjita Akter Rozy (15)

‘O

n Monday, he came to inspect me with his parents. I was not allowed to look straight at him, but I saw out of the corner of my eye that he was at least ten years older than me. I cried because I was scared. I was 13 and didn't want to get married for a long time. On Wednesday I heard that the deal had been done. We were to marry that Friday.'

Ronjita Akter Rozy arranges her golden-green headscarf shyly. Child marriage is against the law in Bangladesh, as are dowries. However, they are still the rule rather than the exception.

The father of Ronjita, a poor farmer, had to pay 70,000 taka (around 800 euros) and a pair of golden earrings to find a husband for his 13 year old daughter. The older they are, the more expensive the dowry becomes.

'I told my parents that I didn't want to marry and wanted to go to school but they said they were poor and the neighbours thought I was old enough. On Thursday I rang the mayor. He informed the police and told my parents that they'd be arrested if they went through with the marriage.'

Talent On Ronjita’s lap, there is a black handbag with a golden bow. Everything she is wearing matches, just like her friends. The girls in the rural area of Dinajpur stand out with their colourful, smart garments in contrast to the boys in their faded T-shirts and jeans. They decorate the dust tracks

BANGLADESH like party lights as they walk in small groups past the rice fields, banana trees, distracted cows and lost goats. They wind their way elegantly through the village streets between the rickshaws and the buses that never stop sounding their horns. The monsoon has almost come to an end and they carefully avoid the large puddles of rainwater with their glittering slippers.

Are they on their way to school or home, or heading off to their jobs? Or perhaps to karate lessons?

In this poor district in the north of Bangladesh, near the border with India, something amazing has happened. For the past few years, one village after another has become 'child-marriage free'. Girls like Ronjita Akter can count on the awareness of their fellow villagers if they wish to escape the fate that still affects the majority of Bengali girls. A child marriage often means lifelong abuse.

Not everyone is as concerned but for the past few years, the mentality is changing. This is largely thanks to the SUPK's, ‘Training centre for Social Development' a highly valued Bengali partner organisation. The long history of Plan in this area also helps: in 1994 the first regional office in the country was opened here.

Most of the schools and clinics that were set up then were continued by the government. Nowadays, Plan and the SUPK in Dinajpur are primarily concerned with tackling child marriage and creating space to accommodate the talent, wishes and the independence of girls.

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Girl Forums For the past few years, girls have been able to take karate lessons so that they feel safer in vulnerable situations. Parents, teachers and governors are made aware of the damaging consequences of child marriage and the importance of a good education. But that is not all.

The voices of the girls themselves are being heard and their power is being supported by girl forums.

SUPK, which has known the children from this area for many years and which provides information, asks assertive, promising girls to take part in a forum – if they have not found out about the opportunity themselves. Every month around 25 girls and young women meet up to resolve issues between themselves. They can throw their own problems into the ring but are also tasked with keeping a good eye on their environments. If a neighbour's daughter or someone at school is being abused at home or they are to be married off, the members of the forum know exactly what to do in order to help.

They are not only given the mobile numbers of the SUPK trainers, but also of the head of the school, for example, and local authority members and sometimes even the mayor himself, as was the case with Ronjita. This creates networks between all layers and generations of the population, who all know where to find one another.

(Continued on page 20)

Radha Rani Roy (20), student and social worker: ‘My brother-in-law wanted to marry me off to one of his friends when I was 14 and my father had just died. I escaped out of the window to avoid marriage.

All of my sisters are now married. I still live with my mother, I earn my own money, study and help other girls to stand up for their rights. If I end up getting married, it will be with someone who doesn't want me to depend on him but who sees me as an equal partner.

I have prevented twelve childhood marriages already. On one occasion I was threatened afterwards.

The brother of the duped bridegroom came to our house and tried to intimidate me: 'You've told on us.

What would happen if you weren't around any more?' 'I said there would be plenty of other people who'd take on my role.'

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REPORTAGE

Binod Chandra Roy, farmer: 'You can't do much on your own to protect thousands of children. That is why we set up a committee in 2004. There are around thirty of us men, women and two youngsters, a girl and a boy of 17. We meet once a month. We provide tea and biscuits and it has begun to feel like a family. At the start, people thought we were being paid by Plan and didn't take us very seriously. But they were wrong; we only received training and information. It took a year before people realised how serious we are and now everyone wants to join us and we are highly respected. We have clear rules about who can join us: you cannot be a politician, cannot have a criminal record, and you must have attended school until at least the age of twelve. Before someone can become a member, we will monitor him/ her for a few months in order to ensure that he/she behaves appropriately.

We discuss everything, from how we can protect ourselves from flooding to negligence by teachers or domestic violence. Of course, we do all we can to prevent child marriage. If girls do end up pregnant at a very young age, however, we encourage them to go to a clinic and keep monitor their health. This helps. ’

Taposi Roy (20), karate-trainer and management student: 'Two years ago, I had my first karate lesson. I immediately felt like my life would change. With forty other girls from across the country, I soon signed up for advanced karate training in Dhaka, the capital. I was chosen as the best pupil. My family is very proud of me and I am very respected within our village. I now volunteer to give karate lessons at school. Sometimes I can claim my expenses from SUPK. I think I can use karate to achieve really good things. Girls can use karate to show that they can do some things better than boys.'

BANGLADESH

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Nazmul Huda (17), pupil: 'I am the eldest; I have one brother and one sister. My uncle nominated me for the child protection committee in our village. We were all given training and I made loads of new friends. My father is a farmer and my mother is a housewife. Initially, they didn't have much of an opinion on child marriage, but now they are against it. I am very proud that there is hardly any childhood marriage in our village now. It only happens if parents secretly take their children to another region and it escapes our attention.

Mohammad Mubarak Ali Shah, chairman of Fazilpur, a union of twenty villages with a total of 32,000 residents: 'Many women vote for me. I have been on the board since 1977 when there was no building here, just a mud hut, and there were only half as many people in the population. I have been chosen as chairman five times. We have been awarded prizes for safety and birth control and our union was declared child marriage free. The girls sometimes approach me or ask me to help them. I often have to call the parents to tell them that they should leave their daughter at school.

Furthermore, they risk a two-year prison sentence and a high fine. Sometimes we have to turn up on the actual wedding day in order to call a halt to proceedings.

It is amazing to see girls that have escaped marriage, then do really well at school.

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XXXXXX REPORTAGE

Lima Akter (16) was taken into hospital as a result of a beating by her teacher when she was thirteen: 'Some classmates were laughing and, ironically, I had loudly asked them to be quiet. My teacher hit me with a stick until I said I would go to the head of the headmaster. Then he carried on with his bare hands.

The day I came out of hospital, he came to me ask for forgiveness. I said it was more important for him to improve his behaviour.

I always used to imagine I could verbally defend myself against violence. Now I take karate lessons and now I feel much more confident. I want to join the military police when I'm older. If there are conflicts, they bring calm. They are respected by everyone.

Didar Hossain (24) tutor: 'I love teaching because it offers me a platform to pass on important lessons. I teach young boys that they must be respectful to girls. At school, I was trained in leadership and protecting others. If I hear about a child marriage, I tell the municipality or the police.

Sometimes, I take the night watchman and go and visit the family myself. I have been responsible for an assailant ending up in prison.

I write songs and plays. My future wife must have at least finished her education. I hope that she likes singing and the theatre. I would be very disappointed if she stayed indoors all the time.'

BANGLADESH

Fenina Bistra (19), shop owner: 'I married when I was fifteen but to the man I love. I wanted to carry on with school as well as working in our shop and I was able to do so. A few years ago, I became a member of the girls and women's forum.

Many women face beatings here. If I know the man concerned, and he is one of my customers, I will talk to him about it. I tell him that he has to talk to his wife and that this will help them work it out. Usually, the men don't say anything, but they do become less aggressive. If not, we will report it to the police.

Abul Bashar, Imam: 'When there are weddings, I go along to check the birth certificates. If the girls look like they are under the age of 18, I make sure that the documents have not been forged. Poverty and social insecurity are the most important reasons for daughters being married off. I tell them about the risks at the mosque. Their daughters face life-threatening risks if they get pregnant. Last year, a 17 year old came to me; she did not want to get married. She was lacking in self-confidence but we prevented her marriage from going ahead. She is now 18 and is getting married, but to another man. I said to her: This is much better isn't it?'

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REPORTAGE

Umme Ruman (16) is a member of the girls forum in Birgonj, Dinajpur: 'My father left my mother when I was born. He was angry with my mother that I was not a boy. He was remarried twice and does not recognise me and my older sister as his children. My mother has always given us what we need. And, as a result of my good grades, I have received sholarships to pay for school. Once, I fell out of a coconut tree right before an important exam. I hurt my back. I had to stand up for three hours to do the written exam because the doctor said I could go blind if I sat down. Despite all that, I was fourth in our district.

I remember the first time someone form SUPK came to our school.

She arrived on a motorbike. I thought that was so cool! I am now going to karate lessons and have been to the girls' forum. If there is a problem, we find a solution together; we can't always wait until there is an official meeting. We usually don't have a lot of time when we want to stop a childhood marriage for example. A few months ago, we made sure that some parents were imprisoned because they wanted to proceed with a child marriage.

When I'm older, I want to be a judge or a major in the army. I would like to use this high position to tackle the extensive corruption in our country. I love politics but the political world in our country is not clean. There are many unnecessary conflicts regarding property. I'd like to do something about it.'

Zinat Rahman, editor in chief of regional newspaper The Daily Uttarbangla: 'In my opinion pieces, I share my criticisms on conservative imams, civil servants or governors who don't yet see the problems that girls face and who, for example, do nothing to tackle child marriage. They abuse their position and I challenge them on this. I have always been interested in women's rights but since the Girl Power Programme, I feel as if I have been able to get more involved in society. I have more contact with people with whom would not have had dealings with before, such as families that are planning child marriages. The Girl Power Programme has achieved a great deal but it must be continued. Three years is just not enough to change the mentality of the majority profoundly and permanently.

By far, the most convincing and objective argument that the wedding-busters have in order to stop parents from marrying off their daughtersbefore the age of 18, is that this act is a crime that could land them in prison. So it is even more distressing that the Bengali government, which is led

by a woman, is proposing that the legal age of marriage for girls is to be reduced to 16. It is not hard to imagine the damage that this would cause to the credibility of organisations such as Girl Power partner SUPK and all of the people that have been mobilised for the cause. As Zinat Rah-

man said, a couple of years is simply not enough to realise lasting mentality changes. The Girls Advocacy Alliance will hopefully apply pressure to the government from January in order to prevent the hard worn advances from being torn apart.

COLUMN

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Column

Vamba Sherif

Jembeh

W

aja Jembeh Sherif is fourteen years old but she looks more like a girl of ten.

Small and slim, with the eyes of her late mother. She lives in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Without the civil war, Jembeh would not have lived in Monrovia but in Kolahun, in the north of Liberia, where her life would have been more closely monitored than it is in the capital. Her role in life would have been clearer: get up early to help her mother heat up the water for her father, my late brother Vangamoh, who was once head of the Sherif family. Then she would have prepared breakfast, washed and put on her uniform to go to school. If she had wanted more from life, she would have gone onto secondary school. Until her adult life, she would have been under the control of the family.

But Jembeh was born during the civil war. And then everything changed in Liberia. Jembeh now has two 'sides'. One side is very modern: she wears jeans and has extensions woven into her hair so that she looks like the models she sees on television. She also has a smartphone, a Samsung, her most expensive possession, which she uses to put photos and messages on Facebook. Photos of her in the kitchen, in front of the house or on her way to school. If you ask Jembeh why she has a smartphone, she answers that all her friends have one.

After school, Jembeh cleans the house. The head of the household, my brother Fomba, works as a lawyer in the city.

When he comes home from work, Jembeh goes and chats with her friends in front of the house. They often gossip about other girls. There is always someone who has got pregnant, has been expelled, died of ebola, or stopped coming to school. Jembeh would like to become a doctor and sometimes, once her friends have left, she sits under the tree at the front of the house or in the kitchen behind the house and reads a book. It never takes long before another friend comes along, with whom she can take photos to put on Facebook.

Everyone wants to look good, especially the girls, so that they get compliments from the boys. Parents don't really see what

For her, the world is closer than ever before.

the girls, like Jembeh, do on Facebook. My brother knows that Facebook exists but has never bothered with it.

In the evening, Jembeh, the other members of the household, and the boys and girls from the neighbourhood, watch Nigerian films on an enormous television screen She dreams about the films and believes in the magic that they portray. She prefers to watch films from Nigeria than those from America, China or India, even though they used to be the main focus in Liberia. Or she watches football or one of the dozens of satellite programmes. For Jembeh, the world is closer than ever before. She knows all of the songs by Beyonce, and teaches her friends to dance to the popular African dance music Azonto. My brother sits in the house and listens to the radio or watches television if Barcelona or Real Madrid are playing.

The other side of Jembeh is that of a dedicated little girl. She supports my brother, like no other. A few years ago, he had a stroke and his movement is now limited. It is Jembeh who prepares the food, cleans his room and does the shopping.

Every time I visit Liberia, or speak to my brother on the phone, I am staggered at just how hard that girl works. Sometimes I am curious to hear her side of the story, how she feels about doing all the work even though the other young boys and girls in her house could help her out. Why does she do it?

'Because your brother is the only parent that I have left', she says. 'And because my mother taught me to work hard.'

And that from a girl of fourteen.

Vamba Sherif was born in Liberia. Since 1993, he has lived in the Netherlands and has written four novels, including 'De Getuige' (The Witness) in 2011.

In his books, he links major themes and political events, such as the civil war in Liberia or the attack on the Twin Towers, to the lives of ordinary people.

His latest book, 'De Zwarte Napoleon' (The Black Napoleon) will be published at the beginning of November.

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INTERVIEW

Partnership broker Helga van Kampen

Seeking smooth collaboration Helga van Kampen became involved in the Girl Power Alliance as a researcher. Halfway through her journey, she told the six organisations what could be improved in their collaboration. 'Having an argument can sometimes be healthy.'

Manon Stravens photos Leonard Fäustle text

‘T

he fact that multiple organisations are work together, for example, on the position of girls in developing countries, is vital', according to Helga van Kampen. Her one-man business, NewHow advises, trains and supervises consortia of companies and/or developing organisations. Van Kampens' review of the Girl Power Alliance (GPA) in 2013 illustrated how working within a cooperative partnership can be extremely effective. Advantages include gaining access to funding, an improved reputation, and getting topics on the agenda more easily.

Nevertheless, in 2015 there is not much left of the alliance, which began in 2011. Just two of the six, Plan Nederland and Defence for Children-ECPAT, will continue in the cooperative partnership. The others (Women Win, Free Press Unlimited, Child Helpline International and International Child Development Initiatives) have all formed new alliances. The partners of the organisations in the ten Girl Power countries did receive a small financial contribution in order to attract funding, if they wanted to carry on.

The fact that the lobby organisations will continue together was 'a concept from the perspective of the new subsidy system', according to Van Kampen. And not entirely unexpected, given the 'notable cut' by Ploumen: she has made lobbying and advocacy conditional. The GPA is not the only alliance that has ceased to exist. The new list of 25 Strategic partnerships includes just two or three of the 'old' alliances.

Everyone reassessing All of the parties are reassessing and looking for ideas, even the ministry itself. With a role that is shifting from financier to partner, the ministry is also becoming more open, according to Van Kampen. 'There is an idea that the ministry is rigid, but if you come up with a good argument, there is definitely room for a discussion. For example, coming up with a more suitable reporting system.'

The second co-financing system demanded that all results had to be defined for the five years. Furthermore, cutbacks dented the confidence between the alliance members, according to Van

Kampen. As a result, the GPA received just half of what it had applied for. 'The choices these organisations then had to make were fundamental. Everyone started to think in terms of their own interests, which is legitimate but it can undermine a starting partnership.'

The collaboration must runs more and more smoothly. 'In the past there was some hesitation in working with one another, but NGOs have now become more cooperative. More space has been created for progressive insights and learning.' It helps, that the contemporary theory of change is much more flexible than the older, more rigid systems.

Nevertheless, Van Kampen still believes that most of the cooperation only exists on paper. 'In practice, it tends to be a summary of activities carried out by the individual organisations. With, here and there, a new approach, such as a joint collective campaign. The added value of cooperation is not always clear and partners differ in opinion. ‘For one, it is the network that counts, for the other, it's all about improving image or a shared field office. The added value must be discussed in greater detail beforehand.'

Two forces A start-up period that is too short and a lack of attention paid to the process are important causes of difficulties, says Van Kampen. Organisations take very little time to get to know one another.

There is huge pressure on achieving results. 'If you took sufficient time to look into the assumptions and differences, you could prevent a lot of problems during implementation', she adds. Convinced that their methods are the best, each organisation works differently in the field. One carries out training, another prefers to provide financing. Within the same alliance, financing amounts can vary hugely. This can be irritating for the partners.

Discussions must be more frequent: 'You must constantly ask what the added value is and if collaboration is the right form.' Collaboration is not always necessary. 'Only if you really want it and are of the opinion that you can achieve more together. We also achieved good results with the donor-recipient relationships we used to use.'

The intention to work together is formulated on the basis of the three generally accepted principles of equality, transparency and win-win. But two forces are constantly up against each other: unity and competition. There is always a dependency on financing and the power relationship becomes very clear when things don't run smoothly.

How can you make sure that everyone remains committed and continues to talk to one another?

Van Kampen: 'Creating an argument can sometimes be healthy. We are far too scared of conflict even though it often provides new insights.'

The end of a collaboration is also often stressful as a result of uncertainty about the future and a

HELGA VAN KAMPEN

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‘For one, it is the network that counts, for the other, it's all about improving image or a shared field office’

need for clarity about who will carry on and who will not. Everyone focusses on 'afterwards'. 'If you don't focus on the last part of the collaboration, you will see energy seeping away and the individual interests expanding.' Organisations will concentrate on other areas and people who have been taken on for the partnership will look for new jobs. This also happened with the GPA. In this type of stress-situation, the ministry should get more involved by talking to the organisations in good time and more effectively preparing them for new policy.

Experiments According to Van Kampen, alliances often struggle with the same dilemmas. The secretarial process and decision-making are invariably found to be complicated. There are a lot of expectations back and forth, such as the assumption that the secretary will organise everything.

There could well be further experimentation with management models so that they fit the partnership more effectively. In Van Kampen's opinion, management tends to place too much emphasis on monitoring and support and less creating commitment, inspiration and providing the right information. 'Instead of a steering committee at the top, you could also consider a support group at

the bottom.' For example, taking a different approach to providing information, which usually runs from the partners, to the secretary and then onto the ministry. 'There's too much one-way traffic.' Providing the right amount of information is also important so that everyone knows what is going on without being overwhelmed with emails. Experiments can also take place in the partner countries. The GPA, for example, works with the steering committees from organisations instead of with one, leading club. This creates a sense of equality.' In Zambia, the partners opted for a rotating leadership role. According to the review, GPA partners in the countries can be much more involved with the creation of a programme.

The success of a partnership depends on the people, not the functions, in Van Kampen's opinion.

'People who look to the future and can sense where change is necessary; they often do things behind the scenes. This is what a collaboration depends on but this is not always acknowledged.'

The Girl Power Desk, comprising two people in the Netherlands acting like 'middlemen', provided the 'lubrication' for the GPA collaboration. They drafted reports, drew up a collective learning agenda and made a few phone calls every now and then to ask for input for a reflection day.

'Say what you like, but without this desk, the unity would have been hard to find in the GPA.' ‘Life is messy and so is collaboration. This will always be the case and you have to be comfortable with that', says Van Kampen. She predicts that, in future, organisations will have to be much more careful about choosing the organisations they work with. 'And focus on the process and the added value.' She warns against overly large and, as a result, unmanageable alliances. 'Collaborations around concrete projects, with a start and an end and clear goals in a specific geographic area', are most realistic in her opinion. There is also a great deal to be gained from cross-sector partnerships, with local government, knowledge institutions and businesses. Perhaps the most important point is that organisations begin to operate from their own strength. 'On the basis of what they want to do and what they can do, rather than how much funding they have.'

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REPORTAGE

When children's rights are taboo In Ethiopia, NGOs are more or less banned from openly supporting human rights. In order to achieve their goals, therefore, the partners of the Girl Power Alliance must not only have capable staff but must also know how to navigate the political landscape. Ellen Mangnus investigated how they could achieve this.

Ellen Mangnus photos Petterik Wiggers text

R

attling, pounding and shouting. The noise even penetrates the car. Enormous excavation machines are opening up the ground to lay sewerage pipes. Builders are everywhere.

Sometimes with helmets on but, more often than not, with fabric wrapped around their heads. Addis Abeba is under construction. Hundreds of thousands of trees serve as scaffolding or as pillars holding up floors until the walls have been built. People walk along the street in suits, uniforms or trendy jackets and casual sneakers.

Cars stream along the arteries of this capital city while the verges are populated with shoe-cleaners or sales carts. Aside from the women that sit roasting corn on the cob everytghing moves: Upwards, forwards and criss-cross.

We are on the way to Plan Ethiopia. The driver points to a slipway between two roads: 'The Chinese are building a modern tram line here. China is very active when it comes to creating infrastructure in Ethiopia. This seems positive but the quality if problematic.' He laughs: 'They want us to drive Lifans even though the Chinese don't use them at all. They all have Toyotas.' He points to a red lorry: 'That is the Chinese Sino-truck.

Very unreliable. A Daf stops when you brake; the Sino truck may or may not. There have been many accidents; we call them the red terror truck here.'

Charities Act With red-terror, the driver is referring to the Mengistu Haile Mariam (1937) regime which governed Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991. Mengistu created a culture of oppression that is still very much evident. Around 150,000 political opponents were eliminated under his reign of terror.

In 1991, Mengistu and his contemporaries were driven out by guerilla movements. The Democratic Ethiopian Revolutionary Front (EDRDF), a coalition of four parties with ethnic backgrounds has firmly taken the reins since then. Even though the EDRDF supports international human rights, there is little room for opposition. In 2015, the party won 99.9 percent of the votes and were heavily criticised by human rights organisations for the impenetrable voting process and threats made to political opponents.

Ethiopia receives a great deal of international development aid, partly because the country plays a strategic role in the unstable horn of Africa. In 2009, the government introduced the Charities and Societies Proclamation Act, whereby organisations that obtained over ten percent of their resources from foreign financing, were banned from working for the causes of human rights, democratisation or conflict management. Many NGOs left Ethiopia; others reduced the number of projects. Human Rights Watch accused the donor community of closing

their eyes to the issue and said that the Ethiopian government was abusing international aid to control the population and undermine opponents.

So, how do organisations that focus on the rights of girls and young women move around in this context?

Freedom of movement Adamu Getachew, coordinator of the national Girl Power Programme, welcomes us. 'Sorry for the difficulties in preparing for your visit. We asked for proof that you are journalists because this is a government requirement. The Ethiopian government is very cautious about anyone who can take a critical view of their policy. We have a good relationship with the government and would like to retain our freedom of movement.

That is why we want to fulfil the requirements they set.'

Adamu explains that the Girl Power Programme in Ethiopia is a partnership between eleven organisations. 'The aim of the alliance is to encourage gender equality by offering girls and women the opportunity to determine their own destiny.'

The eleven organisations work very closely with local communities. They are involved in the implementation of projects depending on their experience and expertise. ‘In 2009, the government limited the freedom of NGOs to function as representatives and support the rights of citi-

ETHIOPIA

zens. Therefore, we had to cancel the political participation from of the programme. Nevertheless, we have continued many activities by presenting them in different ways. For example, we have formulated activities regarding children's rights in our plans as 'activities for improving child welfare'.

The Girl Power Alliance supports the rights of women and children and fights against issues such as forced marriages, violence, female genital mutilation, child trafficking and child labour.

All of these problems have their roots set in culture and society. It is clear from visits to the various alliance partners they will not be easily eliminated.

Changing behaviour Selemawit Girmay of the Child Legal Protection Centre that was set up by the African Child Policy Forum explains: 'The aim of the organisation is to make the Ethiopian legal system more child-friendly. Our centre supervises and assists

children that have to deal with the legal system, both victims of abuses as well as children who come into conflict with the law.' One of the most important improvements that have been achieved is a different set up within the courts of law. The judges and lawyers no longer sit opposite the victim or the accused child but communicate with the child via a social worker in a separate room. The child therefore does not see the court itself or the perpetrators. An intercom system enables the child's voice to be heard in the court.

Another important activity is training professionals that are closely involved in the court system, such as lawyers and judges. Police officers are also trained because they are often the first people to have contact with a child. 'We teach them how to deal with both the child that is a victim and children who are accused of a crime', explains Selamawit.

In response to the question why the average Ethiopian regards the police as unreliable and

In Ethiopia, activities relating to children's rights may be carried out, but under another name.

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REPORTAGE

associates them with corruption and violence, Selamawit answers; 'We know for sure that the police officers that we train do not hit or kick people. The project trains sixty police men and women from various offices in Addis Abeba. Of course, we don't have the illusion that we will change the entire policie system.' She adds: 'The police act in line with society's norms and we have accepted that police officers hit people. In order to change the mentality of the officers, intensive coaching is required. It is incredibly difficult to change their behaviour on a large scale.'

Prostitution At the outer edges of Addis Abeba in a pleasant neighbourhood, there is a house for girls that have worked in the sex industry. They stay for six months under the supervision of social workers and psychologists. The girls learn how to be more resilient and gain social skills so that they can be more independent in their lives. They are also helped with working through their traumas.

Yayesh Gezimu shares her story with me. She comes from the south of Ethiopia and left her family after her mother died. In Addis Abeba, she started work as a domestic help. But she earned too little and saw no future in it. Other girls told her that prostitution provided more money and offered greater freedom. She hung around bars where she offered her services to customers for two years. One night working meant she would have a bed and a shower in a hotel. On other nights, she stayed on the streets.

Endale Demissie, programme manager for the Forum for Sustainable Child Empowerment, the Girl Power Alliance partner which set up the refuge, is realistic: 'We achieve great results. Some of our girls now have their own hairdressers or restaurant. But, there are girls of course who return to prostitution once they have left us. You can't avoid it. There is a great deal of unemployment and for some girls, prostitution is still an easy way to earn money quickly. I console myself with the idea that they have made a deliberate decision to do so. We have given them self-confidence and taught them skills to earn

With the support of the Girl Power Alliance, this hairdresser found a job

money in a different way.'

All across the world, it is incredibly hard to change behaviour and embedded social patterns. The experiences of the Girl Power Alliance partners have found that the political context in Ethiopia doesn't make it any easier.

Helpline Outside Addis Abeba, the landscape lightens. The motorway looks like a black carpet laid out across the green hills. The bustling provincial city of Adama, however, will shake the day-dreaming traveller from his reverie. Tuktuks shoot between the cars and noisy street-sellers. The sun feels warmer than high up in Addis Abeba. Hamba Tesfaye Ayana, coordinator of the child protection programme at Plan's office in Adama, is waiting for us to arrive as we plan to visit a local partner: Enhancing Child Focused Activities, member of Child Helpline International. The organisation is housed in a grey, concrete flat.

'We have been around since 2007 and offer guidance to all the children that call us. This

could involve personal questions that all adolescents are faced with but also serious issues such as domestic violence and rape', explains a helpline employee. 'The children can speak to our psychologist on the phone but also face-to-face.

When there are serious incidents of abuse, we put the child in touch with the ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs. This ensures that the situation is investigated properly and that the appropriate measures are taken. This could involve removal from home, professional help or supervision during a legal case. Last year, proceedings followed 132 reports.'

It is not easy to set up and maintain a helpline for children in a country such as Ethiopia. The staff working for NGOs not only have to be very capable, they also have to know how to navigate within the political landscape. This means making sure that information is shared and being aware of activities that the government could consider to be activism. But it seems that strategic work with the government can also sometimes offer opportunities.

ETHIOPIA

Optimism At the end of the day, the coffee houses and fresh juice outlets are full. Groups of men are heading home from their offices; couples and students sit on small chairs at low tables. The amber evening lighting makes the streets and terraces feel cosy and snug. Small cups of fresh coffee and large glasses of juice are passed around. Here, there is another protocol; in Ethiopia, food and drinks are shared, as are stories, experiences and opinions. Perhaps the cacophony in the packed rooms tempers the intensity of the opinions that people are expressing. Or maybe, it allows people to forget about the possibility of governmental 'ears' listening in.

'Everyone knows what is happening. Many people have relations with the government via family members or friends. And, vice versa, the government knows how NGOs deal with policy in practice', explains someone at our table who has a family member who works for the government. 'I am an opponent of the current regime,

have taken part in student protests and have been to prison on several occasions. But I grew tired of public protests. Now I have a family and children and I need stability.'

This is why he opted for a job with an NGO. 'The space for our work is very limited. The government is scared that the Ethiopian population will become aware of its rights and become critical.

An SMS service, for example, was stopped because it was sending out messages on international women's day saying things such as 'protect our children' or 'women, fight for your rights'. The telecom company in Ethiopia, however, is in the hands of the government. If you send a message, you are quite literally sending it to the government. And they absolutely do not want women and children being more aware of their rights.' Nevertheless, there are ways of organising things: 'There are always options for communicating your message. We can, for example, broadcast radio messages at a local level or work with the ministry for Women, Children and Youth Affairs to achieve a better position for

27

girls and women, but then not directly discuss the issue of rights.'

Despite his optimism, he must acknowledge that Ethiopia is a tricky location for an NGO that works towards improving the lives of women and children. The determination, diplomacy and creativity of the organisations which refuse to be shut out is quite remarkable.

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ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION

The start of 2016 signals an end to the Girl Power Alliance. However, Plan Nederland and Defence for Children-ECPAT found themselves in a new alliance regarding girl's rights - with Terre des Hommes. This Girls Advocacy Alliance is set to strengthen the position of young girls via and influence, in collaboration with the Dutch government.

How do each of the three organisations perceive this? A meeting with directors Monique van ’t Hek (Plan Nederland), Aloys van Rest (Defence for Children – ECPAT) and Albert-Jaap van Santbrink (Terre des Hommes). text

Janneke Juffermans

photos

Leonard Fäustle

Sailing on a new tack

GIRLS ADVOCACY ALLIANCE

T

he interview takes place at Plan Nederland, the alliance's secretary, on one of the last summer days in August. Everyone is back from their holidays. Tea, coffee and biscuits are laid out on the table and a warm welcome is provided by Monique van 't Hek, who is flanked by two gentlemen.

So, how did they find each other?

Van ’t Hek, answers enthusiastically: 'This new policy framework offers a perspective that is

completely different to the co-financing system, as we now only focus on lobby and influence. So we wanted to take a neutral and rejuvenated view of things. We talked to various parties but, in actual fact, we knew straight away that we wanted to work with Defence for Children. You are a genuine lobby organisation and that is precisely what is needed.'

Van Rest: 'And we have been collaborating effectively for five years, with in the Girl Power Programme.'

Van ’t Hek: 'Yes, that too. We then had a surprisingly pleasant meeting with Terre des Hommes to see if we could work together.'

Van Santbrink (nods thoughtfully): 'Maybe it wasn't so surprising, as we had also worked in collaboration with Defence for Children-ECPAT previously and also work in the same sectors, including protecting girls from sexual exploitation. We clicked with Plan and soon had drawn up an agreement.'

Van Rest: 'We worked together in Brazil too.'

Van ’t Hek: 'Yes, indeed. At the time of the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, all three of us worked with Free a Girl and the Ministry of Security and Justice on the campaign Don't Look Away that tackled child prostitution. This gave us an opportunity to get to know one another.'

Van Santbrink: 'We know where to find each other and the lines are short between our organisations; that is extremely important for effective collaboration. Sometimes it feels like we have the same DNA or work within the same political party.'

Terre des Hommes and Defence for ChildrenECPAT principally target vulnerable children while Plan focuses on young girls and women. Was that a stumbling block?

Van ’t Hek: 'We don't exclude boys, but we do tend to focus on improving the positions of girls in collaboration with young boys and men.'

Van Rest: 'In terms of the programme that we implement internationally, the target group is made up of 90% girls, when it comes to child prostitution, for example.'

Van Santbrink: ‘This is the case for Terre des Hommes too. Even though we don't present ourselves in that way, we almost always end up dealing with girls and women, for example in cases of domestic violence or child labour. We also see lots of girls during our training courses.'

Van ’t Hek: 'The realisation that it is important to invest in girls is a question of advancing insights.

Not just for us, but across the entire international development sector. Since the creation of the Millennium goals, a great deal has changed for the better. Ninety percent of the registered children in the world now go to primary school, and this group is made up of almost as many girls as boys for the first time ever. However, girls don't From left to right: Albert-Jaap van Santbrink, Monique van ’t Hek en Aloys van Rest

29

do very well when it comes to secondary education or vocational training. This is all to do with poverty, tradition and culture. Between the ages of 12 and 17, there are huge differences: twothirds of boys in the category go onto secondary education but, when it comes to girls, it is just half. Girls of this age also often become victims of violence, human trafficking, child labour and child marriages.

Van Rest: 'International research has shown that we are missing out on a great deal of economic growth because there is insufficient investment in girls.'

Reason enough to collaborate on this issue.

How did you divide out the tasks?

Van Rest: 'Plan is the secretary, and we then divided out the rest of the roles. We, for example, have a great track-record in Sierra Leone and Liberia. We work with our local partners at a range of levels. We use the girls' clubs to raise awareness among girls and women of their rights. We provide information to civil servants and teachers, but also to families and municipalities with respect to complying with children's rights. It varies per country. But we are organisational specialists. We take care of the legal aspects of developing or enhancing the national legislation that protects girls and women and also provide social and legal support to victims of (sexual) violence. Plan provides its network, coordination and contact with the private sector.’

What is the specific contribution made by Terre des Hommes?

Van Santbrink: 'We have a great deal of knowledge in relation to sexual exploitation and tackling this via lobby campaigns. With the Sweetie campaign, where we used a virtual girl to track the perpetrators of webcam sex with children, we demonstrated that lobbying can be successful at various levels. The general public was heavily involved and this also applied to the countries from which the perpetrators originated, such as the Netherlands, America and India.

Legislation is now being improved or implemented more effectively. In the Philippines, where Sweetie 'came from', the police have become much more active. They visit neighbourhoods, take people to task and help victims.

Local agents are dealt with. In the Netherlands, Corrine Dettmeijer (National Monitor of Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence against Children) now finds she can get the topic on the agenda more quickly and easily. The campaign was, therefore, a success. I think it was interesting for Plan and Defence for Children, but also for the ministry.'

Van ’t Hek: 'Definitely!'

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ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION

Albert-Jaap van Santbrink

'If you give girls and women more freedom, we believe that the world will be a better place. '

What are your concrete plans?

Van ’t Hek: 'We would like to tackle violence against girls and young women and connect this into economic empowerment. In the last alliance, this latter topic was only a minor consideration. But girls must also be able to work properly. Our organisations have experience in this context. We work with companies to provide training and work for girls.

Why is has it now become a more important issue within the Girl Power Programme?

Van ’t Hek: 'Economic independence gives girls and young women greater income but also improved opportunities for the future. It also leads to more self-confidence and resilience in terms of violence and abuse. Educated girls will also invest much more than men in the family, enabling their children to benefit as a result.'

And is this easy to achieve with lobby and influence? Are other methods not required too?

Van Rest: 'Yes they are. It is not one thing or the other. You have to motivate and get people moving within the programme but also organise issues within legislation and policy. It is a longterm approach but will hopefully have a huge impact.'

Van ’t Hek: 'Over the past few years, many organisations in this sector have shifted from 'hardware' such as building schools and digging wells, to 'software' such as training and raising awareness. The greatest obstacles are often found in traditional norms and values. If a school has no teachers, it is a problem but if the girls are not allowed to go to school, then the availability of a teacher makes no difference to them anyway. Many Asian countries have outlawed dowries and being married off. These laws, however, often go unheeded. People must learn to stand up for themselves and make their governments accountable. I can very much relate to our government's view that other governments must actually implement what has been set out.

Ultimately, governments must ensure, for themselves, that there is good education and healthcare. Lobbying may well be the best way to achieve this. That's what we are hoping, anyway.'

Van Rest: 'This is an opportunity to work much more intensively with the Dutch government without getting in one another's way because we are both taking a different route. Each body needs its own space and its own responsibilities.

It makes things very interesting and challenging.

We will see if we can make a success of it. That applies to us but also to the ministry. They must give us the freedom to innovate.'

In some countries, there is a great deal of mistrust between government and social organisations. How will it work if you go to these places alongside the Dutch government, with the same message?

Van Santbrink: 'In some countries, there is a great deal of mistrust, such as a few Asian and African countries where NGOs are not welcome.

The fact that the NGOs are not welcome is very damaging as social opposition parties are suppressed in these countries. Nevertheless, the combination of government and social organisations is very strong. We can relate to one an-

Monique van ’t Hek

'Governments must ultimately ensure, for themselves, that there is good education' and healthcare. other, for example, in relation to Minister Ploumen's policy regarding the clothing industry and the private sector. We have seen that applying pressure from various perspectives and realising change is effective.

Van ’t Hek: 'I think that the way it all works out differs per country. When I'm abroad, I go to embassies and I have recently noticed significant change. They encompass many politically aware people that are well-read, know the region well and dare to voice their opinions. Previously, the ambassador was hard to get hold of, very cautious and much more diplomatic. This breath of fresh air in the context of working alongside the government is very positive.'

Van Rest: 'We must ensure that we do not appear to be a government add-on. That is not what we want. We have to keep our autonomy and complement one another in terms of strategy. The government can thus take a diplomatic route and we can work via our partners.'

Van ’t Hek: 'This will undoubtedly not always run

GIRLS ADVOCACY ALLIANCE

Aloys van Rest

‘ The ministry must allow us to innovate’

smoothly. We could end up in surprising situations, both positive and negative, but we hope that we can then discuss the issues together and come up with a suitable solution. It is certainly possible. We can be critical of the government as well as collaborating with them.'

To Aloys van Rest: 'See, for example, how critical you already are about legislation and implementation in the Netherlands. It's part of your DNA.' Van Rest nods: 'That's right, we work intensively with the police and the judiciary; they are both vital in order to achieve genuine change. Simultaneously, we are very critical.'

Do you know what the government's role will be in this alliance?

Van ’t Hek: 'For the moment, it is still very general; we are only just starting out. When the programme was being developed, we held regional workshops in programme countries and invited embassy representatives to take part. This was a very positive development.'

Can you see other points where there could be tension?

Van ’t Hek: In terms of content, I think not but we could have two completely different opinions on how to approach specific questions.

There has to be that freedom. That is what the government refers to all the time: dialogue and contradiction.

Van Rest: 'It is very important for us as an organisation to remain as independent as possible.

Because tensions will correspond to fundamental issues to which we are very committed and which, from a diplomatic standpoint, the Dutch government cannot do much about because they are under pressure from...'

Van ’t Hek: 'From the government in the country where we are working.'

Van Rest: 'Yes. This is bound to happen. This requires good harmonisation between us and the Dutch government. I hope that we can all be adult enough to sort this out.'

Will you work with the government in order to raise awareness among the Dutch public regarding the importance of investing in girls?

Van ’t Hek: 'That is a very interesting questions.

We have not thought about this in-depth but the issue has been raised. I think that the reason for the focus on girls is widely known within the sector and among politicians but this is not really the case among the general public. It would be interesting to work on this together.'

Van Santbrink: 'The ministry has suggested involving the general public in partner countries in some of the campaigns and in campaigning on a local level. And, in terms of the Netherlands, Minister Ploumen also asks Dutch companies abroad to pay particular attention to girls and women. A number of Sustainable Development Goals specifically target girls and women.'

Van ’t Hek: 'We have campaigned hard to raise international awareness of this issue. And we are very proud of our achievements. In the end, you can look at the world from many different perspectives. There are, for example, people who say that if we continue using nature and the environment as we do, we are heading for disaster.

We are working on behalf of girls because they have been structurally excluded.'

Aside from the fact that they are victims and need support, are girls and women and their leadership skills more vital than ever, therefore, to raise consciousness about how we deal with the world around us?

Van Rest: 'We have not yet resolved this issue even in our own society.'

Van ’t Hek: 'We are very old fashioned. We are not doing very well at all in the Netherlands.

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Girls and women are hugely under-represented in political and managerial positions.'

Van Rest: 'We have partners where women have management positions and I always think 'wow, what a difference they make, what great input'.

But they too will have had to fight their way up.'

Van ’t Hek: 'I'm a football fan. If you see the problems with FIFA... There are many girls and women who play football but there's not a single woman on the board. Just macho-men who only have money on their minds. More women could certainly help combat this, I think. I genuinely believe in the balance between the influence of men and women. But you are men... maybe you have a different viewpoint?'

Van Rest: 'I agree. I think it is hugely important, in our work, that women lead the fight for other women. Women can also offer many hidden talents that have so far been marginalised. I think that these skills must be allowed to develop into full maturity.'

Van ’t Hek: 'In the eighties, I worked in Columbia at the time of President Belisario Bentancur. He said; 'I believe in women.

We have no female ministers and state secretaries. All state secretaries from now on will be female and I will appoint only women to positions that involve money. Because they are so much more responsible and honest with money than men. That's what he said. Just like that! And he did it too.

There were already many well-educated women. He gave the country a huge boost, principally within the context of security and social politics. Over the past few years, Columbia has developed massively in terms of social-politics and the economy. There is now another atmosphere in the country; everyone is getting involved.'

Van Santbrink: 'We work for the rights of girls and women but, on the other side of the coin, they represent their own solution. That is what is so amazing. If you give girls and women more freedom, we believe that the world will be a better place. But it is a bitter pill to swallow that the people who could most benefit the world are currently the most exploited.'