This text is part of the special International Cooperation section
2024 is a big year for Oxfam-Québec, which is celebrating half a century of existence. The opportunity to return to its action with women in the countries of the South, to strive to reduce the inequalities of which they are victims. His method? Support them towards power, act to enable them to achieve food autonomy and emancipation.
“It’s a bit like our mantra, to say that not only are we working to fight against climate and economic inequalities that affect women, but also to ensure that they are at the decision-making tables,” says Béatrice Vaugrante, general director of Oxfam-Quebec.
Since its creation, the organization has been committed to involving women in decisions on issues that affect them. To do this, Oxfam works with local organizations to better identify needs and find lasting solutions. “The idea is not to finish a project and leave, but to support the existence of these organizations,” explains the director.
The first victims of climate change along with children, women are also those who have the power to act directly at the root of the problem, she recalls. “Women are responsible for agriculture in Africa, so when there are droughts or floods, they are the ones who find solutions. For example, we will help them find seeds that are more resistant to various climatic conditions,” underlines M.me Vaugrante.
Sexual and reproductive independence
Another program that is close to the director’s heart this year is “Power to Choose”, aimed at helping women in seven countries gain greater autonomy in sexual and reproductive health. “We have a great project in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the association of obstetricians and gynecologists from there and from Canada. There is a lot of training for health professionals, which has made it possible to reduce infant mortality, by better treating hemorrhages in particular, and by working on the resuscitation of newborns, but also in connection with the care of mothers,” she describes.
In addition to a series of training courses for health personnel, Oxfam helps health facilities acquire medical products and equipment, as well as renovate sanitation facilities and rehabilitate water supply systems. The organization also works with young people, their parents and schools to promote prevention. “In Honduras, the objective was to have clinics for women and young people, because there are a lot of early and unwanted pregnancies, so it was a need of the community and we worked with a local association there -above. In Ghana it was a campaign on menstrual products which are highly taxed. We helped a local organization carry out this campaign. Our job is also to intervene with public authorities to make changes,” explains Béatrice Vaugrante.
A year of elections
This year, almost half of the world’s population will be affected by elections. “In this context, we also feel the rise of extremist and sometimes religious movements which particularly target women,” recalls the general director. Several countries are already seeing the rights of women and marginalized communities decline, according to her. In Ghana, for example, a bill proposes harsher criminal sanctions against homosexual people and the criminalization of LGBTQ+ people. Access to abortion, contraceptive products and even information remains difficult in many countries.
For 2024, Mme Vaugrante therefore hopes that Oxfam can strengthen the organizations that need it. With the Women’s Voice and Leadership program, she hopes to better document the needs of women in 410 local organizations across nine countries. “The objective is to make their voices better heard in the public space and to advance their rights,” she explains.
The organization’s advocacy mission remains essential, she recalls, “because we don’t always want to repair, but also to act at the source. The objective, then, is to have as few intermediaries as possible so that organizations can decide for themselves what is important for their community.”
Promote Oxfam here
For this year, Béatrice Vaugrante also wants to further promote Oxfam-Québec in the province. “How can we engage people more on the international page? OUR jobI think, is to communicate better, to popularize as much as possible,” she says.
The director is certain that examples of success can be shared and inspired cross-border. “A woman farmer in Burkina Faso, who invented a new way of doing sustainable agriculture, this can be useful in Quebec, there is sharing of experiences and innovations to be done,” she concludes.
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