732 Scenes
PH: DR: Mr. Rigobert OROU GANNI, President of the Board of Directors of the Benin Social Watch Network
Mr. Rigobert OROU GANNI, President of the Board of Directors of the Benin Social Watch Network, gives his comments at the end of the work on the Maputo conference.
(Maputo, Propos reccueillis: Aline ASSANKPON)
“Indeed, for three days, we have been meeting here in Maputo, the capital of the Republic of Mozambique, to discuss the feminist approach to debt. During our stay, we attended sessions on various topics related to the main theme, namely: “The Debt Crisis in Africa: Pan-African Women’s Perspectives and Alternatives”. We saw the sharing of experiences and good practices in terms of empowering women and the important role that women play in the development process.
In short, we have got slogans asking Africans to come together and take the issue of debt to heart.
The feminist approach to debt came about because it has been proven that African countries share the same characteristics: Women dominate the population of our countries. There is a greater percentage of women than men. They work hard and represent the working class. They are victims of inequality, beaten and raped.
What are our leaders doing with the money from the debt they received? This forum aimed to draw the attention of our leaders to responsible debt contracts; debt that benefits more vulnerable groups and contributes to the emancipation of women.
When we talk about taxes, it is women who pay taxes at the market and in hospitals, many of them without the necessary means to seek treatment. At the same time, our leaders are holding debts to build infrastructure that will not benefit the people.
We heard this testimony in Maputo, about debt that was contracted to build a bridge when this infrastructure did not improve the misery of women. Our leaders need to think differently. Debt becomes a burden when it is taken out to solve individual problems. Debt becomes evil when it does not benefit the general interest.
He is to move WHO has begun in all African countries and coalitions are already established for advocacy and pressure at the level of each government so that the debt that will be contracted in the future is truly accountable; because when a debt is contracted, it is the generations that pay this debt.
We hope that the feminist approach to debt will be very successful as long as there is some kind of collaboration around women’s activities. The feminist approach is not only about women, but it is about men and women together, the participation of women in this movement. It is therefore important that everyone, as big as we are in each country, can join together to move forward together.
On this, we appeal to our leaders who must contract responsible and transparent debt. Public debt must be held accountable: What was the debt money used for? We ask our directors to disseminate information on debt management.
