Women Activists

"We hear the voices from across the world telling us, yes it has been done elsewhere — it can also be done in Kenya"

"When you speak up, our government listens. When you activate your networks, that is awesome"

"They’ll never be able to shake off the shackles of oppression"

"Unless the people are equipped with all the information they require, and they need, to make the right decisions"

"I wanted to die. For three months, I cried every day"

"We still felt the fear, but continued to do it anyway because it was the right thing. We understand that it is our duty, and that of our generation, to replace the present despair with a new hope"

"The brain is a very powerful organ, whatever you tell it, it does. The body will just adjust"

"Women’s dressing has been weaponized. Society uses the dress as a backlash against women who are proponents of certain changes."

"In Africa and in Kenya we have all the resources"

"I have used my voice to give the voiceless a voice."

"I see no issue if you can be able to give your voice to people and help them. My only problem would be if you know nothing about what you are speaking of hence, misadvising listeners"

"There has been absolutely no addition in terms of rights secured for women"

"I have experienced harassment, smear campaigns, defamation, death threats and calls for my assassination"

"Men already had an issue with women accessing the public space, but now they are forced to remain in a space typically reserved for women, many men are struggling to accept it"

"allowed people to say: 'Guess what, women can be just as effective as political leaders as their male counterparts"

"Citizens must take charge"

"We didn't see a drastic shift in public opinion on women's rights, prior to this appointment"

"The question is whether this will continue and become normal or whether it is just temporary"

"I am shocked that in Tunisia or elsewhere, violence against women would be an issue to be relegated to the minister of women"

"We lack the collective will to redefine the family and review our priorities"

"In the morning, I start with the gardening. And I've discovered I still know how to crochet"

"When you find a network of people who are thinking alike with a common desire to bring change, you achieve a lot."

"My advice to such radio presenters is, go to a counselling school and learn do you can offer constructive advice. Radio is a very powerful tool and some listeners take our word as the gospel truth"

"It's not very feminist of me but I've realised it's a pleasure and not an obligation. Today men are sewing and cooking, we can't have complexes about these things. If it's done for pleasure, it's a luxury"

"I talk to myself. Najiambia ‘Anne, whatever you have, put it behind. You are the voice of hope to the people outside there"

"In marriage, woman is a serf. In public instruction, she is sacrificed. In labor, she is made inferior. Civilly, she is a minor. Politically, she has no existence. She is the equal of man only when punishment and the payment of taxes are in question. I claim the rights of woman, because it is time to make the nineteenth century ashamed of its culpable denial of justice to half the human species; Because the state of inferiority in which we are held corrupts morals, dissolves society, deteriorates and enfeebles the race; Because the progress of enlightenment, in which woman participates, has transformed her in social power, and because this new power produces evil in default of the good which it is not permitted to do; Because the time for according reforms has come, since women are protesting against the order which oppresses them; some by disdain of laws and prejudices; others by taking possession of contested positions, and by organizing themselves into societies to claim their share of human rights, as is done in America; Lastly, because it seems to me useful to reply, no longer with sentimentality, but with vigor, to those men who, terrified by the emancipating movement, call to their aid false science to prove that woman is outside the pale of right; and carry indecorum and the opposite of courage, even to insult, even to the most revolting outrages."

"It was not easy for the gender movement to easily convince that gender should not be a point of discrimination. It is imbibed in the viewpoint of society. You don’t find these things on the cover of a book; they are very deeply rooted. Such things exist in the being of a society. It requires a very systematic and collaborative effort to address them. In my opinion, empowering a society that has zero tolerance for any form discrimination is the solution. I know it is a long term investment and people would want an answer for facing discrimination that entails their group being given priority in this fight. However, that would result in other groups being left behind. I would encourage partnership, human oriented thinking of development where it is not only about numbers rather it is about the ability to ensure that no one is left behind. I would encourage joint movement of human beings and recognition of human diversity as values in a given society. I think that can take us forward."

"I think that is where I would call for inclusive schools. If we in principle agree that an education is not just a privilege for few but is a right for everyone, I think every educational facility be it physical or academic should be prepared to serve everyone regardless of gender or disability. All of the barriers that I had faced in an integrated school were artificial barriers. None of them were natural barriers. I believe that society has the power to remove all those barriers. I think it is about the various beliefs – if education is considered a right for everyone, every facility while being designed and used will be designed to cater to everyone’s use. It is about a mindset I would say. If you budget printing books in ink, you should also budget printing books in braille as it can easily be done!"

"I’m blind. I don’t have partial vision but I can see colours as long as the colours are bright. I have a vision but I don’t see (laughs)!"

"If you’re a rape survivor, pregnant as a result of that assault, you must pay for your own emergency medical care – something that is out of reach for most victims."

"If you’re a woman, you may be denied contraception, simply because you don’t have your husband’s permission. And if you do manage to get contraception, you may be forced to use it in secret for fear of being accused of adultery by your partner or in-laws – just because you want to prevent an unwanted pregnancy."

"It’s us who carry the pregnancy to term, us alone! We have to decide whether we want to get pregnant or not!"

"I said, ‘I won’t do it unless the prime minister calls me himself, or you put it in writing."

"We have seen that more proactive actions from state actors happen when the country’s leader steps up and declares action against gender-based violence."

"Addressing gender-based violence should be the rule and not the exception."

"It’s now been 100 days since the day we met, and it has only gotten worse. I knew it then, I knew it before then, and I know it now: he’s in denial, he’s delusional. His leadership is failing."

"Nothing they could do would be worse than what already happens here to women, the way women are forced to live every day. Ever since we are small they tell us to be calm, to behave well, to dress a certain way, everything to find a husband. We must also study to be able to marry, because young guys today want a woman who works."

"We brought back the most painful stories, and every side was implicated."

"Have reached the height of self-determination: we no longer obey any authority, neither family nor religious. We know what we want and we make our own decisions."

"I’m afraid for my life and the lives of my family."

"[W]e should focus not only on ending all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls in Kenya, but on being proactive about making the country a more just society for all."

"The war has polarised the country so deeply that I know many people will label me as a liar simply because I say the government has also done painful, horrible things."

"My body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone’s honor."

"Women who have entered into leadership positions attribute their success to factors such as access to education and work opportunities, good mentoring by both men and women, support from family, employers, supervisors, teachers and colleagues, and successful lobbying by gender activists"

"We simply cannot develop a continent if half of its population is left out. African governments need to tap into the talent and wisdom of women"

"In September 2009, while demonstrating against the regime in Guinea, women were raped and sexually abused in the capital – Conakry. This horrible event hunts my life every single day. There was a young woman who was at her 3rd year at the University among the victims, she was raped and sexually abused. When I saw a picture of her being dragged half naked by two soldiers, I couldn’t sleep for nights. At that point, I decided that I couldn’t keep going on with my life knowing what has just happened without taking actions. That young woman could have been me and her crime was just to ask for democracy and peace."

"It is not a secret that the world’s challenges will not be effectively addressed unless the exclusion faced by women and girls is tackled across the board. We need to have more women in decision-making and leadership positions because whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security; the participation and inclusion of women is needed today more than ever for more sustainable and equitable solutions"

"The participation and inclusion of African Women and girls are vital to the continent growth and development. African governments can simply no longer afford to deny the full potential of half of the population. Women and girls need to be empowered and have their developmental skills unleashed to participate in the socio-economic and political development of the continent"

"If you know what you want and you have the passion and motivation to do it, nothing will stand in your way. More importantly, you have to believe in yourself and stand by your decisions. Life is full of challenges and you will never overcome these challenges if you doubt yourself. Always remember that nothing is impossible if you believe in it and put some work into it, you will succeed"

"I wanted to do something that could have a positive impact on African women’s and girls’ lives – and the African Women’s Decade was the perfect opportunity"