In a comprehensive report titled “Gender Inequality in Family Laws in Africa: An Overview of Key Trends in Select Countries,” significant disparities and discriminatory practices within family laws across Africa have been brought to light. The report, which examines the legal frameworks of several African nations, sheds light on the prevailing gender inequalities and calls for urgent reforms to combat sexism and discrimination in family law systems.
The report, compiled by Equality Now in collaboration with FEMNET, Musawah, and SIHA, presents a detailed analysis of family laws in 20 selected countries. It reveals that none of the countries included in the study have achieved full legal equality in family law reform. Discrimination against women persists in various aspects, including child marriage, registration and legal recognition of marriages, polygamy, gender-based violence within the family, divorce, child custody, inheritance, and matrimonial property rights.
The findings indicate that legal pluralism, which includes the coexistence of civil, customary, and religious family law systems, poses a significant challenge to gender equality. Moreover, cultural and religious practices often impede progress and threaten the reversal of gains made in critical areas such as ending child marriage and female genital mutilation.
The report emphasizes the need for data-driven reforms and policy changes to address the systemic biases and discriminatory practices prevalent in family laws. It calls upon governments, policymakers, and judicial institutions to take immediate action to ensure gender equality within the family unit.
The Africa Family Law Network (AFLN), a coalition formed by Equality Now, FEMNET, Musawah, and SIHA, is set to utilize the report as a valuable resource for advocacy and evidence-based interventions. By collaborating with the policy and judicial organs of the African Union, particularly the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, the AFLN aims to influence positive change and promote gender equality in family laws.
The report arrives at a critical juncture, coinciding with the launch of the AFLN. The network, supported by Equality Now, will leverage the findings of the report to engage in meaningful dialogue with policymakers and work towards comprehensive legal, policy, and practice reforms that eliminate gender-based discrimination in family laws.
As the African continent strives to achieve the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 of the African Union, the report serves as a vital tool to drive meaningful changes in the lives of African girls and women. By dismantling discriminatory family laws, Africa can pave the way for a more just and equitable society, where every individual’s rights are protected and upheld.
The report concludes with a resounding call for action, urging stakeholders across Africa to seize the opportunity to effect lasting change and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate gender inequality within family laws.
Things are heating up between the core of the ‘deep state’ and voters/citizens. Situations have gotten so bad that elected high officials are forced to play second fiddle (when it comes to running the country’s affairs.) Even the US president, considered the most powerful person on the planet, doesn’t seem to have much of a leeway in areas where the deep state has big stakes. Currently, the ‘intelligence’ & the ‘media’ are giving presidents a run for their money! It helps to recall our definition of the deep state: It is the-military-intelligence-industrial-banking-media-complex. We feel all other organs of the bureaucracy that favor ‘deep statism’ and devoutly play by its hidden rules, by and large, are either mere derivatives of the above entities or are compromised elements of elected officialdom!
To be sure, bona fide ‘deep states’ are (predominantly) features of industrially advanced democratic countries. The operation of the ‘deep state’, supported by technology, is quite deep in the West, even though the Western sheeple doesn’t seem to be acutely disturbed about the situation. Nevertheless, recent happenstances in places like the UK & US seem to indicate the sheeple’s increased awareness of the deep state’s studied manipulation. Here is the kind of reaction that is brewing in the make believe world of the ‘deep state.’ Not very long ago, a UK general announced that he would not hesitate to remove officials from power, by force, if they become prime minster! In the US; the unprecedented bantering (unseen in generations) between the President and the media, as well as the intelligence community’s systemic maneuvering to undermine the President’s policies is something that has shocked the sheeple all over. The sheeple, in its own clumsy ways, seems to have resolved that such blatant tendencies, if allowed to continue, are bound to emasculate Western countries’ democratic tradition. Election rigging in many countries of the world is one of the routine businesses of the ‘deep state’, as recently reveled by Wikileaks (CIA methodically engages in electioneering of even friendly countries of Western Europe, to accomplish/forge deep state’s desired outcome.) Unbeknownst to many in the West, (at least up to now), these are the kind of things the ‘deep state’ is immeasurably accomplished in! Such things are proofs that whatever the sheeple decides on, it cannot be taken seriously, unless approved by the powerful state (deep state) behind the formal elected state!
In the freer countries of the OECD (rich world), the sheeple is willing (more and more) to resort to public referendums to make its voice heard. Following orders from sterile bureaucrats stationed thousands of miles away and utterly detached from the sheeple’s reality have had its days. From the look of things, the desire of the western sheeple seems to be, amongst other things, the recapturing of sovereignty and devolvement or decentralization. We can infer that the sheeple’s current strategy to accomplishing these objectives is full democracy (people’s power) or failing that, chaos. The old trick of the establishment that leveraged ‘trickle down economics’ via capitalism or crony capitalism to be more precise is now passé. So far, the ‘deep state’ has not managed to fully take over all ‘election processes’ (in the West), hence the sheeple still has some room to articulate as well as air its grievances through newly formed political parties, except in places like the US where the electioneering game is rigged against newcomers. As it stands, it is almost impossible to have a new political party emerge in the ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’ At times, the US ‘deep state’ resembles the ‘Mafia State’ to which we Africans are quite familiar with. Be that as it may, the battle between the ‘deep state’ and the ‘sheeple’ is hitting up in the first world. Who will ultimately prevail is anybody’s guess!
Despite the superciliously intended misnomer, ‘Populism’ is a push, a ‘common sense’ one at that, to stop entrenched and crazed parasites from destroying life on our planet. If truth be told, the prevailing modern world system, run by moronic elites, doesn’t even have the precious God given life as the overriding purpose of collective social existence. To these cretins, life comes second, only after the greedy pursuit of material accumulation. Nonetheless, what these characters want to insinuate is very clear; they want to tell global humanity they are the all-knowing experts, (on all and sundry) while the populous is without analysis/thinking! In fact, the over used word ‘elite’ is itself a misnomer, given the level of stupidity that prevails within the ranks of the ruling cliques all over the world. For instance, the founding fathers of the US were ‘elites’ (with all their human failings) in the best sense of the word. They employed their outstanding capacity, not only to govern, but also to reflect/articulate fundamental concepts, not only to improve situations in general governance, but also in philosophy, religions, science, etc. Thomas Jefferson used his bed to partition two rooms. On one side of his bed was his bedroom and on the other side, his library. Jefferson, unlike many of our ignorant leaders, was well acquainted, amongst other things, with Euclid’s Elements (mathematics.) Besides being the main author of the ‘Declaration of Independence’, he also designed the campus of the University of Virginia as well as his own Italian inspired mansion, etc. etc.
In a recent development, the management contract of Addis Chamber at the Exhibition Center was terminated by the city administration, sparking concerns and questions about the future collaboration between the two entities. This termination marks the end of a longstanding partnership that has spanned over 27 years, raising inquiries about the implications and the way forward. In an exclusive interview with Capital, Shibeshi Bettemariam, Secretary-General Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, sheds light on various aspects surrounding this termination, the ensuing legal actions, and the Chamber’s strategies to navigate this transition period. Excerpts;
Capital: The management contract of Addis Chamber at the Exhibition Center was terminated by the city administration. What is the issue of working together after this contract is terminated?
Shibeshi: Yes, the management contract that was in operation, with some hiccups now and then, has officially been terminated by the City Administration as of Tikimt 1, 2016 EC. Nonetheless, we have maintained a smooth and cordial relationship with the Exhibition Center over the past 27 or more years, first as clients organizing fairs and exhibitions, and later as partners. In my opinion, our relationship with the Exhibition Center was good, healthy, and mutually beneficial. It withstood the test of time, both in good and hard times. I don’t think profit-making and financial aspects are the sole objectives of the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center. There are far-reaching societal objectives, like stabilizing food and related prices by availing essential commodities to consumers and enhancing the city’s image by organizing non-pecuniary events.
That said, it should be emphasized that our chamber has consistently generated a financial surplus for the center. We have also implemented systems that institutionalized the center, from policies, procedures, and guidelines to staffing with skilled personnel, and developing infrastructure (vehicles, ICT, etc.), including cleaning, maintenance, and service quality, even during the harshest period of the COVID-19 pandemic when the center was closed for more than a year. Therefore, focusing solely on financial revenue generation would not accurately represent our decades-long relationship. It would be unfair to reduce everything we did as partners to financial metrics alone. I believe the City Administration, especially at the higher echelons, will understand this. What matters is doing the right things ethically, and in that regard, Addis Chamber has no parallels, both before my tenure and during it. In summary, the claim that the contract is terminated due to a lack of financial inflows is not supported by the hard facts on the ground.
Capital: What are your charges against the city administration? Why did you go to court?
Shibeshi: We are not the judiciary, and we don’t have any charges; we just have claims of unpaid dividends that should have been paid back to us by the Exhibition Center. As I mentioned before, it has only been a year since the city administration appointed its own board, canceling our management contract. This action unequivocally established a new supervisory board, but it is a basic principle in management and governance that two boards cannot coexist within the same institution. This means, for example, that we cannot simply stand by when the budget our board approved for the Exhibition Center during FY 2015 EC is managed by another entity, as it creates a serious accountability issue. You cannot have one system deciding on the strategic direction and approving a budget while another entity manages and executes it.
So, what took us to court was a claim over unpaid dividends from the net profit, which is now undergoing legal processes. We wrote letters to the center reminding them to pay the dividends, and after almost a year of delay, we took legal action, even after notifying them that this would be an option.
The next logical issue following the termination of the management contract is the liquidation process. This involves appointing an independent financial audit/accounting firm to close the books, conduct a proper audit, and then equitably distribute the fixed and other liquid assets according to the applicable financial policy. To this end, both parties have established a technical team consisting of professionals from our institutions, and work has begun. We are now waiting for their recommendations to reach a mutually agreed and beneficial solution for both our institutions.
Capital: What will the Chamber of Commerce lose after the Addis Chamber’s authority to manage the Exhibition Center is terminated, and what are you doing to increase your income?
Shibeshi: It is no doubt that the management contract was one of our clear sources of revenue, revenue that we generated through our sweat, professional management, and stewardship. Losing that revenue will undoubtedly lower the chamber’s income. But will it compromise Addis Chamber’s financial position? That is not true. It does not create an “existential threat” to our chamber. Addis Chamber is one of the few institutions in the country with a long track record, around 17 years, of strategic management. We are always guided by five-year mid-term strategic plans and even developed one for the Exhibition Center while it was under our supervision.
To shed light on this, the revenue streams for Addis Chamber have significantly grown over the last two years. Almost all our overhead costs, including salaries and vehicle operations, are now fully covered by the income we generate from our membership development and services. We have strong institutions like the Arbitration Institute, the Training Institute, and the Institute of Directors, which, in combination, generate substantial income that has tripled in just two years since my appointment as Secretary General. We have put in place completely new and modern infrastructure, including a fleet of transport vehicles to manage all our operations, and implemented a state-of-the-art Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, replacing the old and obsolete ICT infrastructure. We have managed to attract above-average talents, remunerate adequately, and retain professional staff who are exceptional in their fields.
To illustrate, the largest revenue the Chamber collected from its members per year was 8 million birr just three years ago. This has risen to more than 24 million birr for two consecutive years. Our training institute reached more than 4,000 trainees and generated over 16 million birr in just the past 9 months. In addition to establishing a director’s institute, we also provide 13 types of legal services to our members. Another achievement, which we have not boasted about, is our Business Innovation Center (AACCSA-BIC), which is playing its role in the entrepreneurship and start-up milieu.
We achieved this because we are guided by a realistic strategic plan that includes sustainability as one of its core objectives. How did we manage this? Because we have committed staff who are driven by a unity of purpose and guided by servant leadership, focused on our members’ needs.
Capital: How do organizers who won the bid to organize various events at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center view the fees they charge to rent the space to businessmen?
Shibeshi: Before I address this, let me give you an example. Addis Chamber organizes no less than three exhibitions per year, some at the very Exhibition Center we mentioned and some at other convenient fairgrounds, including the Millennium Hall. In November, we organized one of our trade fairs at the Exhibition Center with a payment of close to 1.2 million birr. Many uninformed people think that Addis Chamber organizes trade fairs at the Exhibition Center for free. We have never done that throughout our recorded history or partnership; we pay like any other third-party event organizer.
Under normal circumstances, the Exhibition Center’s business model is to rent a hall to an event organizer and earn its revenue, while the organizer adds its own margin, just like any other business model. In our case, when we organize trade fairs, our overriding objective is not to maximize profits. We organize events primarily to promote our business members’ products and services, create market linkages, and recoup our costs with minimal net proceeds.
Capital: The price differences seen at exhibition centers are often exaggerated relative to the standard market. In this case, what should be done to control the price difference?
Shibeshi: Event organizers, as I mentioned earlier, rent the halls from the center, design their business plans, incur promotional and marketing expenses, add their own margins, and then rent the spaces to businesses at a higher price, generating their own profit. This can indeed create price hikes. There are times when the prices at the Exhibition Center are far higher than what you would pay for the same product in Merkato. I haven’t conducted a survey, but this is what people are telling us.
I don’t think there is a convention and exhibition center capable of controlling this entirely, because without these dynamics, the space would be empty without tenants. The challenge is how the Exhibition Center can balance its seemingly contradictory objectives of financial revenue and societal goals. I think, with serious attention, a solution can be found. If the Exhibition Center is to continue as a convention center, it must find a way to balance consumer capabilities and fulfill its social mission.
Capital: What is the current status of the Addis-African Convention Center? What’s your role now?
Shibeshi: Addis Chamber is the pioneer of the Addis Africa International Exhibition and Convention Center. Addis Chamber has been at the heart of the entire strategic conception until the establishment of the existing company along with its share company organization in its current form. The demand for huge financial outlay has been the reason for Addis Chamber to relinquish its total ownership claim of the center in favor of the share company model. We are extremely proud of that. We generated a huge idea that could rally a nation, invited others—public and private alike—to share in this significant business opportunity, and paved the way for other leaders to take charge of this notable mega project and transform our city. This is Addis Chamber’s unique and unparalleled legacy.
Today, compared to many other shareholders, our share is small in financial terms, but it was the founding share, the golden egg that gave birth to this giant edifice that stretches over 100,000 square meters. In summary, Addis Chamber is not just about talking machines; we are the brains and working hands behind this monumental project!
