Gender-Based Violence in conflict zones in Mali Mohamed Sogoba Amnesty International Mali

 CONTEXT  CAMPAIGN STRATEGIC FRAMERORK  ALLIANCES  ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN

The population in the north of Mali is for the majority a poor population. The violence that has been brought by the armed groups has increased more the poverty of these populations, women specially. Women have been obliged to stay in their houses, they can’t go anywhere, can’t talk to any man (even their parents) outside, they can’t go to the market to buy anything or perform their economic activities, etc. Girls have been all the time beaten by Islamic police officers when they’ve been suspected to have had a son without being married or a relation with a man that is not their husband. From January to September 2012, many girls (about 20 girls) have been raped collectively by Islamists and enforced to marry Islamist officers. According to UN there are more than persons displaced in the border countries of Mali such as Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger. Also more than persons are displaced inside the country. (Source: d%C3%A9plac%C3%A9s-maliens ) d%C3%A9plac%C3%A9s-maliens This situation has caused a humanitarian crisis in which women and children are the most affected.

Origins  The occupation of the north of Mali,  Cultural matters such religious considerations(Islamists think even they’re wrong, that they are working in the name of the religion)  Economic matters: characterized by the drug trafficking. And having weapon is to them the only best way to achieve this aim.

Causes :  The availability of arms in bad hands  The religion matters  The lack of arms regulation (that’s one is political and in a high level)  The will to control the zone  The drug trafficking  The terrorism

Impacts  Degradation of the social and economic situation of women,  Women are morally, physically and psychically affected,  Fear inside the communities  Diseases (one raped girl was infected by HIV)  Women are morally, physically and psychically affected  The increase of poverty

 Objectives:  Objective 1: To bring government of Mali to enforce the law on arm-detention and to ensure that it’s effective by setting up a rigorous control on weapon detention by the end of December 2014  Objective 2: To bring the communities to reject owning arms by the end of 2015.

ObjectivesKey targets Objective 1: To bring government of Mali to enforce the law on arm-detention and to ensure that it’s effective by setting up a rigorous control on weapon detention by the end of December The minister of territorial administration - The minister of justice -Judges -Police Objective 2: To bring the communities to reject owning arms by the end of Arm-holders - Arms producers, - Arms traders

POPULAR MOBILIZATION OBJECTIVES TARGETSDESCRIPTIONSARGUMENTS Objective 1: To bring government of Mali to enforce the law on arm- detention and to ensure that its effective by the end of December Human right organization - Women and youth group associations - Opinion leader s - Powerful to influence the decision makers, - Great capacity of lobbying - Opinion leaders are influents and are listened by decision makers - It’s you families that are victims of the violence that are caused by arms - If it doesn’t stop by now the consequences will be more disastrous later Objective 2 : To bring the communities to reject owning arms by the end of Women associations - Youth group associations - Opinion leaders - Medias - They are listened and respected - Powerful and numerous so can be a great force of change - Medias can take louder the voices of victims and it’s one of the best means of communication - As long as arms are being within your community you will always be victims of violence - You, your families and your children will be safe if you accept to refuse owning arms because, - Arm detention create violence and conflict within you society and increase poverty,

OBJE CTIV ES DECISION MAKERSTYPES OF PRESSURE ACTIONS TO BE PROPOSED TO MOBILIZED PEOPLE Obj 1 - Minister of territorial administration, - Minister of justice - Signing petitions and sending them to the different ministers. - Lobbying informally their friends within the ministries - Sending petitions to authorities to decision makers - Organizing radio diffusion on the issue - Lobbying the ministers by calling them or meeting them in their work place or home Obj 2 - Arm-holders, - Arms producers, - Arms traders - Communities themselves, - Local human right associations/organizations - Local associations organize regular meeting with arm- traders and arms dealers - Radio animators organize broadcasting on the issue, - Opinion leaders organize session to talk about the issue with local stakeholders - Organizing demonstrations, meeting, radio programs, etc.

StrengthsWeakness - The huge membership of the organization - The huge partnership established with many other organizations to work on the issue, - The credibility the organization have had along the times, - The independence and availability of a huge range of resource persons, - Lack of necessary funding in AI Mali. OpportunitiesThreats - Malian government is favorable for a arm trade treaty - The women international days can be used to inform and sensitize population on the danger of irresponsible arm transfer on people life, particularly on women’s life, - The availability of all the Amnesty International sections around the world to work on the issue, - The availability of data and information about the issue - Traditional and new Medias. - The political situation in Mali is such as -

 Key alliances to build with organizations ORGANIZATIONS TYPE OF ALLIANCES APDF, APROFEN, CAFO, FNAM, journalists. Partnership

Objecti ve TargetYear 1 Desired Outcome Activity Timeli ne Resource s 1. To bring govern ment of Mali to enforc e the law on arm- detenti on by the end of Decem ber Human right organization - Women rights defending associations - A coalition of human right organizations working in Gender-Based Violence, and women rights defending associations is set up. - 1 workshop to set up the coalition - 2 training sessions to build the capacities of the members of the coalition. Jan2 014 Feb 2014 Financial Material Human resource s (to be estimate d) - Media especially private press and radios stations - At least 10 journalists from private press and 10 journalists of radio stations have their capacities strengthened about GBV and arm proliferation. - A media group is set up to amplify the communication on the GBV and arm proliferation. - 1 workshop on GBV and arm proliferation and to set up the media group on the issue April 2014 Financial Material Human resource s (to be estimate d)

2. To bring the com munit ies to reject ownin g arms by the end of Local opinion leaders of Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu - Youth group association and women associations of Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu - Opinion leaders understood the issue and involve to sensitize the community - 1 workshop on the GBV and arm proliferation in each of three regions (Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu) July- August 2014 Financial Material, Human resources (to be estimated) - Arm dealers and arm- producers - The national association of the arms producers of Mali - Arm dealers and arm-producers are informed about the problems caused by weapon and are proposed some alternative to prevent those problems. - 1 workshop with registered arm dealers and arm- producers of Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu. Septe mber – Nove mber 2014 Financial, Material Human resources (to be estimated) - authorities of Mali - and Partners - Reports are available and successes are shared. - Production of 2 assessment reports Jun 2014 & Jan 2015 Financial,Material Human resources (to be estimated)

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