Veteran women’s right advocate Thandiwe Chidavarume has been appointed the inaugural chairperson of the recently formed Africa Wide Climate Justice Movement. Mooted three years ago, the vibrant feminist collective championing climate and environmental justice brings together multiple women’s rights movements across the continent aimed at ensuring climate justice for communities bearing the brunt of the adverse effects of climate change.
Following numerous meetings to establish structures, a substantive committee was voted into office in October 2023. The mandate of the committee is to come up with the terms of references of and fundraise for the movement as well as to bring forth recommendations to governments of member states.
According to Chidavarume, the movement was a response to the unfair representation of women voices on global platforms on climate change. “This is a large step towards the inclusion of women in climate change discussions. Rural women’s voices were muted at platforms such as the Conference of Parties, where agreements reached benefitted the rich whilst poor communities who bear the brunt of climate change have no say.” She also noted that the movement will give women significant negotiating power on climate change deals.
“Women’s voices will become louder and more influential. With membership from all the five regions of Africa, we will represent a large constituency with stronger negotiating power.”
Chidavarume who is the National Coordinator of rural women’s land right organization, Women and Land in Zimbabwe argues that climate change deals do not benefit the people worst affected by climate change.
“It is important that there is climate justice as there are communities that must be compensated. We will be able to identify these communities and take to task those with obligation to compensate them” The coordinating committee is made up of representatives from all the five regions of Africa with Nigeria’s Ndudi Boweni and Guinea’s Sia Anne Marie Kamano deputizing Chidavarume. The committee also reserves positions for the youth and a representative of people living with disabilities.
The movement has divided the climate change concerns into four thematic clusters of Land, The Forest, Protection of Water Sources and Solidarity with those affected by climate change calamities like Cyclone Idai. Currently, the eleven countries who make up the one-million-member Rural Women’s Assembly are members of the Africa Wide Climate Justice Movement.
The movement holds its next meeting in Uganda from the 26th of February to the 3rd of March 2024 where the draft terms of reference will be signed and where a draft strategy will be discussed.
