In continuation of the project, “Towards Mobilizing Women Involved in Cross Border Trade to Protect their Rights to Free Movement and To Enhance their Dignities and Capacities to Engage in Cross Border Trade”, the Young Women’s Actions for Rights, Peace and Development (YWARPD), has organized a cross-border engagement at the Liberian-Guinea border, in the border town of Yeala.
The engagement, which was organized by with support from Het Actiefonds, a Dutch based solidarity organization, brought together women from both sides of the border, and included a workshop, solidarity march and dialogue. The workshop provided formal training in the reporting mechanisms for abuse and exploitation, understanding of regional protocols on trade and free movement. The training workshop was also designed to raise the awareness of small-scale and informal cross-border women traders on trade rules, customs procedures, and traders’ rights and obligations, as well as to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.
As part of the engagement, the women held a brainstorming session during which time they identified some of the challenges they face on a daily basis while engaged in their trade. They identified a number of issues, including exploitation, violence, harassment, lack of recognition, and poor working conditions. . Specific challenges include:
- Exploitation and Violence:
Women traders are vulnerable to exploitation through bribery, theft, and arbitrary confiscation of goods, as well as experiencing physical, psychological, and economic harm.
- Harassment and Discrimination:
They may encounter verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of discrimination at border posts due to gender imbalances in staff and a lack of gender-sensitive infrastructure.
- Lack of Resources:
Limited access to finance, training, and market information hinders their ability to compete and grow their businesses.
- Poor Working Conditions:
Border posts may lack basic amenities like clean restrooms and overnight accommodation, and poor lighting can create safety risks, especially for women working at night.
These challenges are further exacerbated by issues like bureaucratic hurdles, lack of resources, and gender-based discrimination at border posts. The participants presented their findings to the border authorities in a peaceful march. The next activities are slated to be held in Foya at the Liberian-Guinea border.
In a related development, the Program Team of YWARPD has held a meeting with UN Women and proposed a regional Mano River Conference on Women in Cross-border Trade to discuss key actions from the ongoing border initiative to highlight the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mano River Protocols, and ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme.
YWARPD was established in 2022 and focuses on empowering young women through civic education, research, and advocacy to promote their rights, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. YWARPD’S’s work includes advancing gender equality, and ensuring young women’s participation in decision-making processes, including local democracy and peacebuilding efforts.
Het Actiefonds is a revolutionary fund that has been working towards large-scale, bottom-up social change since 1968. Het Actiefonds supports social movements around the world by providing small-scale grants for direct actions.