All around us, humanity is in peril. It seems like the only certainty in our world is how many uncertainties we face. The impacts of war and conflict, humanitarian catastrophes, widening economic disparities, mental health crisis, the harmful impact of polarisation and climate change have reached unimaginable heights. Systemic discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity is affecting many people around the world. These rapidly evolving times present us with many opportunities to reimagine a more just world, but they also threaten to separate us through fear.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed that human rights are for everyone, yet the reality remains far from this promise. For INERELA+ the realization of human rights for all people is a key metric in achieving gender equality and universal HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Progress towards the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 has been powered by progress in protecting human rights. Munya Mandipaza – Executive Director Laws, policies, and practices that punish, discriminate against, and stigmatize people obstruct access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care. Our stance is stigma kills and solidarity saves lives.
Through our advocacy efforts we have continued to call on leaders and institutions to take action to make policymaking and decision-making spaces more representative of the communities they serve. Putting more diverse perspectives around the decision-making table is the only way to ensure we don’t continue to repeat past mistakes.
We have been championing intergenerational solidarity and finding innovative solutions even in the most challenging of circumstances through our capacitated Religious Leaders and change agents who have reminded us that a better world is still possible. The challenge we continue to face is young people, women and girls are nearly invisible in positions of power and are becoming increasingly frustrated with being tokenized, marginalized, and ignored.
To rebuild trust and restore hope we need to see meaningful youth, women and girls’ engagement becoming the norm at all levels backed by dedicated resourcing everywhere around the world. We need more young people, women and girls to be represented in all spheres of decision-making — within government, at the United Nations, in civil society, private sector and academia and they must be taken seriously.
ELNINO IMPACT
Southeastern Zambia, northern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and parts of Mozambique are experiencing abnormal dryness due to insufficient rainfall across Southern Africa. Severe rainfall deficits have worsened drought conditions in these countries. Livestock deaths have occurred in Botswana, southern Zambia, and western Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe nearly 9,880 drought – related cattle deaths have been recorded. Dry conditions have increased food insecurity and food prices.
El Niño-induced drought have driven many people to unsafe water sources, fuelling a subregional cholera outbreak. Mozambique and Zambia have reported over 10,000 and 20,000 cholera cases respectively since October 2023. Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania have reported outbreaks since October 2023.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING
In order to survive and grow in the perpetually changing environment, INERELA+ is using an approach that resolves immediate issues whilst cultivating the capabilities of the internal systems. Our investment is a combination of capacity building and institutional strengthening have been used as a rock-solid foundation for our organization’s future success and anchors of sustainable growth and adaptability. Our Partnership with Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (SAPST) offered our country networks with the much-needed support to improve their approach to legislative and policy advocacy work IN April 2024. The Gender and Policy Advocacy Specialist from SAPST trained and coached participants form our Country Networks on how to strengthen strengthen their relationship with Members of Parliament in their countries through an MOU.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition.!!!!
In Solidarity,
Munya Mandipaza
Executive Director