The Right to Economic Security and Social Protection

As a network of older women advocating for the human rights of African grandmothers, we have always been guided by the African philosophy of ubuntu. Ubuntu defines what it means to be truly human: we affirm our own humanity when we acknowledge the full humanity of others. The ubuntu principles of dignity, respect, empathy, caring, sharing, and compassion are more needed than ever in these unprecedented times.

The federal Liberal Party made a commitment in its 2019 election platform to “…continu[e] to increase Canada’s international development assistance every year towards 2030, reflecting our commitment to realizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”

In the Fall of 2020, the world is rightly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments around the world are scrambling to deal with the health emergency and its economic repercussions. Developing countries have been especially hard hit.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is one of the places in the world where the impact of the climate crisis is being felt most profoundly. Twelve countries in the region have been identified where widespread hunger is already evident. The current situation is the result of prolonged drought combined with conflict and instability in some countries, and economic collapse in others. In recent years the seasonal rains are either shorter or absent, and in some places, when the rains do come, they have been so violent that flooding washes away the newly planted crops. 

GRAN's Mining Justice campaign is undertaken in support of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa experiencing human rights abuses in mining communities.   

Widespread well-documented human rights abuses have been associated with the activities of many Canadian mining companies abroad. These companies must be held accountable for their actions in the communities in which they operate.

Not surprisingly, women are disproportionately affected by human rights abuses in mining communities, including:

Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) is a human rights violation which has devastating consequences for women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa and around the world.  It perpetuates the gender inequality that grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere experience throughout their lives.  It increases the spread of HIV/AIDS and creates barriers to education, economic security, healthcare and safety – challenges identified by African grandmothers for themselves and their grandchildren.