Greens Party of Benin

Report of the Benin Greens Women's Convention

La Lama Forest 9-12th December 2003

Financially supported by Green Forum of Sweden and with the participation of the Australian Greens

Cotonou January 2004
Introduction

On the 30th May 2003 Mr Toussaint Hinvi, President of the Greens Party of Benin was invited by Eva Goes, Chairwoman of Green Forum (of the Swedish Greens) to request funding. The Benin Greens' proposal for a Benin Greens Women's Convention was accepted, as it conformed to the principles of positive action on women's issues and supported their desire to become involved in politics.

The objectives of the Benin Greens Women's Convention 9-12 December 2003 were:

• analyse the role of Beninese women in environmental protection
• ensure effective participation of women in politics
• ensure the political education of activists
• study the role Beninese women can play in the Presidential elections in 2006
• establish a platform of action 2004-2006.
• formulate a global strategy to attain power

Section 1 General report
Section 2 Working group reports and speeches Section 3 Motions of thanks
Section 4 The program and list of participants

Section 1 GENERAL REPORT ON THE CONVENTION

The Greens women's convention was held in Benin from 9-12th December 2003, with many participants coming from various areas in the country's south. Of those overseas delegates invited, one each from Sweden and Australia accepted.

At 7pm on 9th December 2003 participants left Cotonou for Bohicon where the convention was held. Despite transport problems, delegates arrived at Bohicon around 11pm. Some were given lodging at the Holli Centre and others at Carder Zou.

On the morning of the 10th December, all participants went to the Lama Forest and were immediately welcomed upon their arrival by enthusiastic and joyous local Greens committee members with drumming, singing and dancing. There were about 200 people overjoyed at being together for the first time in Benin Green's history.

The planned 9am start actually occurred around 2pm. Mrs Radji Mondi,, the president of the local Greens group welcomed participants onto the land of her ancestors and implored them to feel at home for the 5 days of the convention. Then Mrs Colette Adoglo who had organized the convention thanked the participants for making the trip to the Lama and for tolerating any glitches that may occur in the organization of this landmark event.

Mrs Eva Goes, co-founder of the Swedish Greens and president of Green Forum was pleased to be in Africa for the 11th time. She outlined how the Swedish Greens were founded and are now represented in the Swedish and European parliament. Although work was initially very difficult, the women remained especially determined to succeed in politics. She invited the women of Benin to take their chances too. She promised she would support any resolutions resulting from this convention. She was applauded at length.

Mrs Jaye Allan was in Africa for the first time. Jaye retraced the history of the Greens in Australia, pointing out that the first Green party was founded in Australia. Australian Greens today number senators, parliamentarians and local councillors and many of them are women. Australia held the first international conference of about 65 Greens parties, the Global Greens in 2001, and it was hoped that the next such meeting would be held in Africa, witness to the tenacity of the African Greens. She wished the participants courage and determination to succeed. Her attendance was possible thanks to Margaret Blakers and her husband, who both supported her trip.

The President of the Benin Greens then expressed his satisfaction that the participants and Eva Goes from Sweden and Jaye Allan from Australia had all accepted to come.

The convention would reinforce north-south cooperation, with developed countries supporting developing countries in their fight for electoral success and social change. Environmental and social problems know no borders. The convention was a chance for everyone to re-examine his/her involvement in Greens politics. It was especially a call for women not to remain on the margins of society, but to formulate a program of action for the years to come. The president invited participants to take their work seriously, starting in the afternoon of the 10th December.

Section 2 WORKING GROUP REPORTS & SPEECHES

2:1 Working group reports

Participants sorted themselves into 4 working groups: 1 Organization of women's participation in the Benin Greens 2 Women in the Presidential elections in 2006 3 Continuing Education for women
4 Action Plan 2004-2006.

The following strategies were adopted:

• create and strengthen Greens branches throughout the country with the management structure: president, treasurer, secretary, committee members
• formulate statutes and rules for local and regional branches
• hold monthly meetings
• use the media to promote the aims and objectives of Women Greens
• approach NGOs to inform women about environmental problems
• enable people in villages and isolated areas to obtain their Voting Cards.
• provide transport and refreshment for women in isolated areas during electoral campaigns
• organize training outings every 3 months
• define meeting themes and financial and other support
• invite guest speakers on public health, mother-child health issues, and environmental pollution and conservation


• set up Greens credit unions to provide micro-finance (loans) for rural women
• inspire good will amongst groups for concerted action
• be truthful at all times
• develop a feeling of success in all women
• devise campaign slogans
• think of a logo for Women Greens in Benin

Working group secretaries: Bibiane Azandossessi, Celestine Kougnande, Philomene Igue (nee Sagbo), Veronique Dokponou.

Working group No. 1 - Organization of women in the Benin Greens

We understood "organization" to mean assigning roles with fixed objectives. In each branch group, the executive must be composed of: 1 president
1 secretary
1 treasurer
1 IT and education officer
1 organiztion officer
1 resource officer
1 electoral officer
All members should be informed of the constitution and rules. Branch groups should meet at least once a month, and aim to increase membership before the national congress.

The general organization of a congress should aim to inform the public (by radio and TV) of the rationale for creating a party branch and the objectives Greens women hope to achieve. Then an executive should be set up for each branch, suburban or commune group.

Working group No.2 - Women in the Presidential elections 2006

Strategies before the elections:

• install a Greens credit union in each locality
• link up with NGOs which will inform women on ecological issues
• provide people in villages and isolated areas with voting cards.
• promise to provide villagers with what they need (pharmacy, school, well, roads, markets etc)

• transport for visits to women
• refreshments for the public during information sessions

• Regular training outings, once every 3 months
• make information from this convention available to all
• set a topic for the next meeting in advance
• request the use of the Environmental Education Centre's bus/car
• find financial and other support
• find guest speakers
• find health personnel to mobilize the population
• speak about the credit union before mentioning the Greens party

• Pollution in general
• Access to credit for rural women
• Health education for women and children
• How to protect our environment

• Regular meetings (public meetings, branch group meetings)
• A friendly teamwork atmosphere
• A positive attitude at the individual level
• use the credit union loans to attract more women to the Greens
• set up local and regional credit unions
• formulate a wide variety of projects at grass roots level
• strengthen and support existing womens' groups
• broaden the Greens influence to include all regions of Benin
• think up logos and campaign slogans
• being to focus already on key issues

United for the national convention of Women Greens of Benin from 9-12th December in the forest of the Lama, approximately 120 participants came together to reflect on their involvement in strengthening the Greens Party of Benin.

They decided during this meeting to play an essential role in Beninese political life. They especially appreciated the participation of a Swedish and an Australian delegate at this historical gathering.

They decided to work together with their colleagues from different areas of Benin. They committed themselves to presenting numerous candidates at the next elections. They set their sights on victory in the elections in 2006.

Lama forest, 12th December 2003

2:2 Speeches

SPEECH BY COLETTE ADOGLO AT THE OPENING OF THE BENIN WOMEN'S CONVENTION

It is my privilege to thank you today, Wednesday 10th December, on behalf of the organizers of this convention for replying to our invitations.

I remember when the Greens executive asked me to oversee the organization of this convention I wondered if I could manage. But once all the committee members helped, I could stop worrying. We got to work and here is the result.

I'd like to thank all those who were so enthusiastic about this task, and some of them are present today. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank our hosts, the local La Lama branch of the Benin Greens. Without their contribution we wouldn't have been able to organize the convention. I would ask you to please be tolerant of any glitches you might notice during this convention.

Why has the Greens party organized this convention in fact? Here are the main objectives:

• strengthen the organization of women Greens within the party structure and in the community


• allow women from all walks of life to exchange and share experiences
• learn from our sisters in other countries, such as Sweden and Australia. I ask you to give these two delegates a round of applause.

So we women must get involved in protecting the foundations of life and above all mother nature. And while we're doing that, we should reflect on the political role that we should play from now on , so that the environment will become a major concern of our leaders.

I wish you all success.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN WITHIN THE GREENS PARTY NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS Presented by Colette Adoglo,
member of the executive committee of the Benin Greens

For those of you who don't know me, I am Colette Adoglo, wife of Sebo and I have been a member of the Benin Greens party since it was founded 7 years ago. It was only very small then and few people understood its ecological vision. Many citizens and intellectuals wondered what this group was all about. Would it be an advantage to have a Greens Party? Wasn't it too early? Today we are pleased to at least be part of the national political scene, although we still haven't had any candidates elected.

Allow me to give you a bit of the history of our first involvement in elections.

The Greens party first presented a list of candidates for the national elections in 1997. I can tell it was not easy. The first difficulty was that according to electoral law in this country we had to present a list of 200 members, prepare impossible candidate dossiers and pay fees of 5,000,000 CFA (over $10,000 AUS). The effort and expense involved in preparing the dossiers was as much again as the fees.

Our new party only had about 20 founding members. How would we ever be able to get the money to contest elections? We had 2 choices:

1) sell ourselves out to other parties, no matter what their principles were 2) brave the storm and stay true to our own principles

Faced with this dilemma, the party did not hesitate to focus on its main principle of environmental conservation. This was a difficult choice, since we needed funding to get to the national elections. Our party decided to form an alliance with other political groups such as Saka Lafia's UDS, Dossou Robert's ASD, Zoumarou Wallis' UDFP and Chabi Kao's UDP. An alliance was agreed upon between these parties just for the national elections at that time. Thus the fees were shared and the Greens paid their share, that is 1,000,000 CFA ($2,500 AUS). I'll spare you the details of the costs involved in putting together the candidates' files. Suffice to say that our President and ourselves were determined to make it onto the political scene. And indeed, we had reached stage one. The National election commission allowed us to participate in the elections.

Now for stage two, launching an electoral campaign. The party was already in debt and had no money left to continue the battle. This is when the campaign really got going. We had to:

1) get hold of funding and material support for the campaign 2) reach the public through meetings and press conferences.

The president was the only one of us to commit his car for campaign use. As the party had no assets, the president took out a loan from the bank so that we could put up posters and buy petrol for his 505 Peugeot. A week later, the campaign was officially launched and the Greens put their posters up everywhere in the cities of Cotonou and Porto Novo. And the sole campaign vehicle drove the long way round between Porto Novo and Cotonou inviting the public to vote for their candidate. Toussaint Hinvi was the candidate for division 15 in Cotonou and I was the candidate in Porto Novo.

It was a David and Goliath struggle, ant against elephant, the lamb taking on the wolf. The result was inevitable. On the Greens ticket I was the only woman, and I relished the work we were doing, even if others were reluctant.

The Presidential elections in 2001

I'd like to remind you that by electoral law in Benin, a candidate must pay a fee of 5 million West African Francs ($10,000 AUS), on top of campaign costs. We still had not completely paid off our debt from 1997 and didn't really want to borrow more money yet. So our party chose to support the opposition candidate, Mr Saka Lafia, who had at least agreed to mention our campaign program during his own campaign. Our president became his campaign manager. That's why we were not in the 2001 elections.

The local elections in December 2002

After the Presidential elections in 2001 came the local elections in 2002. Our president had already realised since our first attempt in 1997, that it would be a good idea to interest our overseas friends in what we were trying to do. In November 1998 our president, Toussaint Hinvi was invited to Nairobi to participate in the European-African Greens Summit. That's where he met Eva Goes from Sweden and this was a turning point for us. Please give her your applause. Our president was impressed by European deputies Paul Lannoye and Inger Schorling (from Sweden) and was invited to attend the European parliament the following year, where he met up again with Eva Goes, Inger Schorling and Paul Lannoye and relations were further strengthened. Our active participation in the local elections was strongly supported by the Belgian Greens, although we still could not contest the elections as a separate party.

And it was the same for the national elections in March 2003. Although no candidates were successful, the last elections proved that large numbers of voters now support us. We are making progress.

Our chances for the Presidential elections in March 2006

We are wondering how to get organized for a winning candidate. And so we really appreciate how the Swedish and Australian Greens have helped us organize this meeting. We have to think hard about how we are going to participate in these elections and how we will win. I would like to congratulate all the women who have just joined with us in the Greens cause. We women have to get even more involved. Yesterday we heard the histories of women in the Swedish and Australian Greens parties. Now we need large numbers of Beninese women to participate in the political life of our country. I know there are huge problems, but we have to start taking action to solve them.

As for me, I am more determined than ever to one day make it into parliament in our country and help to change things. I reaffirm before you my deep commitment to help bring this Party to victory.

Thank you for listening to me so intently.

THE BENIN GREENS CREDIT UNION
A MOTIVATIONAL SOCIAL TOOL IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST POVERTY AND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

presented by Mrs Celestine Kougnande

Ladies and gentlemen,
Honorable participants at the Benin Greens Women's Convention

First I'd like to thank you for leaving your husbands and children to come to this meeting of Greens women in Benin. Others were not able to be here simply because they couldn't spare the time. To all of you who have come, my sincere congratulations.

Many of you are hearing about the Greens Credit union for the first time and many of you are already members. The Greens party of Benin has already participated in elections four times. My colleague Colette will answer many of your questions about elections tomorrow, since she is the first woman Green here to have participated in elections.

What our party and we have learned from these elections is that most of the people of Benin live in poverty every day. And that includes women. They and their children are the first victims. And you well know the family responsibilities we women face. Our Party has understood that when the Greens are in power things will change. But does the public, do ordinary people realise that the Greens are different from other political parties? From liars and demogogues? Who are the Greens? How are they so different that they can reverse the misery that has always characterised this world? And like all political parties, won't they forget us when they get into power? These are some of the questions, ladies and gentlemen that the public asks about the Greens.

I can assure you that people are not wrong to ask this kind of question. What we have to do is reassure them. Desperate people will more likely trust us if we do something to help solve their social problems. So the Greens party after some thinking decided to jump in head first and do something, clearly and confidently.

Greens Credit Unions

After several meetings, the party decided in June 2002 to set up the Benin Greens Credit Union.

What is the aim of this credit union?
Its aim is to bring poor women together in an association, in order to help them sort out their own problems.

What are the objectives of this credit union? It has 3 objectives:

1) assist members to solve their social problems 2) engender group solidarity, by organizing regular meetings and exchanges between members in different localities
3) extend loans of 50-100 USD at low interest, reimbursable annually. Loans are to help the women members of this credit union to undertake revenue-generating activities to feed themselves and provide for their children's education. 4) organize continuing education for its members. For example, some members of this credit union have been on visits to the very forest where we are now. Others have been to Lome in Togo to see their ocean pollution problems and to the Lome market to see inspiring money-making ventures.

Local branches of the Benin Greens credit union

Today, many women have given us their trust and the branches are expanding. So far we have branches in:

• Godomey (where the idea began)
• Porto Novo Ouando
• Porto Novo Kandevie
• Porto Novo Attake
• Kpomasse
• Abomey-Calavi
• Akadjame
• La Lama
• Womey
• Haute Tension

All this work could not have been possible without the good will and tireless work of our President, who never stops reminding us that if we fail in this social enterprise, the party will fall apart. What's the point of wishing for change if people won't trust us. He watches us carefully and gives us logistic support. I could not finish my speech, without first thanking our hosts at this convention, Eva from Sweden and Jaye from Australia. I ask you to applaud them. Thank you.
THE EVOLUTION OF WOMEN IN AFRICA AND ESPECIALLY IN BENIN POLITICS

presented by Mrs Celestine Kougnande
Vice-president of the Greens Credit Union

Let's start on the development of women by defining a woman as a human being of the female sex, as compared to the man of male sex.

A woman is considered capable of bearing children. For a long time she was nothing other than a baby-making object. And yet her role in society has been much more than that. Can we reduce a woman's role to being a simple procreation machine?

Women have engaged in a plethora of different activities and yet they do not occupy pride of place in the political superstructure. How have women evolved in African and particularly in Beninese politics?

After having analysed the status of women in our traditional African societies, we will try to show the place she occupies in the developmental process in general, and finally we will cover her political evolution.

Woman's position in traditional African societies

In our traditional African societies, the woman was reduced to an object for making babies. She had her role in the household: looking after the housework, safe-keeping and feeding her family, playing an active role in farming, animal husbandry and even fishing.

And yet she was excluded from making decisions in society. She was not allowed to have her say in the public affairs of her town. In short, she was politically marginalised. However, that's not the way it has always been.

King Ghezo understood things so well that in the particular case of Benin, then known as Dahomey that during the wars of conquest he sent his Amazons (female warriors) out in the front line. There has long been talk of the bravery of the Amazons. Other kings did not continue this. But women had nonetheless played a significant role in the process of development.

Role of women in the process of development

Although by definition little more than an object, women have been involved in the developmental process at all levels.

In the agricultural sector it is the woman who prepares the fields in many villages. She tends the crops and takes off the harvest. She is in charge of selling the produce. That explains why in our markets which are very important places of exchange and economic hubs almost all of the people involved in commerce are women. They gather up their savings and go into our villages and into the countryside to buy produce from their sisters and bring it back to town for distribution and sale.

Many women's groups have become cooperatives in a wide variety of economic (revenue-generating) activities. Women are also present in social and cultural domains. It is not rare to meet women traditional healers who know the virtues of plants and help cure many diseases. Our villages and our towns are full of talented women stars who astound the public with their voices and the messages in their songs.

A woman's place in 1960-1970s politics in Africa

During the anti-colonial struggles very few woman shone. Then African countries obtained their independence. In these first few hours of independence, women were absent from politics. But already some countries had women in government. In Ivory Coast Boigny Houphouet appointed two women, one was Hortense Aka Anguy. And in Gabon Omar Bongo Ondimba had promoted Mrs Lasseni Duboze and Mrs Houangni Dossou-Naky to ministerial posts.

Sekou Toure's government in Guinea also included women. Nevertheless these women were nominated because they were the leaders of women's movements in the parties in power. They began to play important political roles. They became more and more steadfast in their struggle to emancipate people.

Let's take a look at the special case of Benin.

ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE LEAD UP TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 2006

presented by Mrs Fouleratou Garba Issiaka

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to present myself. I am Fouleratou, a professional teacher and the president of the Benin Greens credit union. I will speak to you about the role of Greens women in the lead up to the Presidential elections in 2006.

I will talk from my own campaign experience. I was very active in General Kerekou's campaign. I was visiting homes in Godomey all hours of the day and night. I hardly slept. I have to tell, it's difficult but the result is that we won in spite of the difficulties.

The most important thing is that women should play an essential role in organizing elections.

What can women do now, we women? Now that I have become a Green I can tell you that the Greens will win the elections in 2006 and you know what I mean. Because of the important the Greens party accords to women I know that if the Greens win, I will be a minister.

I am sure that our party will play its part in 2006. And I am equally sure that we will be defending a cause which is solid and real - the protection of the environment and life on this planet.This is a noble cause. Women should become involved in this party and make it theirs. I am convinced that if women want to reach their full potential, they have only to come to the Greens party.

I want to tell you at this meeting that all the people I worked with during the last elections will soon be Greens.

I'd like to ask you when you go back to tell everyone around you what you have heard here, and tell others that you have met women from Sweden and Australia who have played an important role in political education in their countries.

• When you're at the market, don't forget to talk about the Greens
• When you're fetching water, use the opportunity
• When you're in the fields working with your friends, same thing
• During village ceremonies, there's a good chance to inform people
• In public places
• Don't hesitate to say that you are a Green and that you stand for life-affirming values.
• Don't be reluctant to tell your husbands that you are a Green and then ask them. If they say they are something other than Green, take the time to talk to them about the Greens and we will win.

Section 3 THANKS

Motion of thanks to our overseas hosts

We Greens women, gathered together for our national convention have really appreciated this opportunity to meet each other and hold discussions.

We all express our thanks to our illustrious hosts from overseas, Eva Goes from Sweden and Jaye Allan from Australia. Once again we thank you. La Lama 11th December 2003.

Motion of thanks to the Holli

The women Greens of Benin, who have gathered here for their national convention express all their thanks that you have so actively participated in all activities.

We take this opportunity to wish you a safe return to your homes. We wish you all the best in your continuing efforts to develop an effective Greens group in the Holli region. La Lama 11th December 2003.

Motion of thanks to the Convention Support Team

We, the women Greens of Benin will never forget these enjoyable moments spent together discussing the future of our party.

We wish to express our thanks to all those who have contributed to the success of this convention and who have put themselves out to give us the best possible conditions for our stay. We would like to name the cooks, drivers, waitresses and everyone who has helped in whatever way. La Lama 11th December 2003