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Webinars of the Exploration Phase

The Social Impacts of the Corona Pandemic on Children

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Prof. Dr. Jean Drèze, internationally renowned Indian development economist
Bianca Santana, Brazilian journalist and writer, anti-racist and feminist activist and a PhD in Information Science

Since March 2020, the Corona pandemic has affected all of our lives. At the very beginning the phrase »We are all in this together« was often heard. Soon it became clear that this is only partly true: Though Corona affects everybody, poor and marginalized people all over the world have less or no access to protection from an infection or decent health care and are hit hardest by social consequences of the pandemics and lockdowns. As usually, children from poor and marginalized backgrounds are especially vulnerable. As a child rights organization, we must take a close look at the consequences of the pandemic.

Recording of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbQkGDGdG0M

Child Labour – Current Global Developments and Necessities

Input by: Mike Dottridge

In the first online seminar we dealt with the consequences of the Corona pandemic for the rights of children and youth. What came out very clearly was that in the aftermath of the pandemic, child labour is on the rise again. Therefore, in this second online-seminar we will have a look at the current developments regarding child labour.

Mike Dottridge spent 25 years working in human rights organisations, Amnesty International and Anti-Slavery International, and has worked independently since 2002. He is currently a member of the board of the Issara Institute.

Recording: Seminar Child Labour - YouTube

Critical Perspectives on Development I

Input by: Denise Siemer

»Development Aid«, »Development Cooperation« - What do we really mean by »development«? Who develops whom? Into what do we develop? In this context, the term is used since the 1960ies and has been criticised ever since: Is development aid just a continuation of colonialism by other means? Does the idea of never ending development not conflict with the limited natural resources on our planet? Does it really reduce global inequalities?

In this seminar we take a critical look at what we really want to achieve jointly as equal partners in North and South.

Denise Siemer is a research assistant and PhD candidate at the chair »Global South – Feminisms and/from the Global South« at Goethe University Frankfurt. She studied Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies in Hanover, Frankfurt and Darmstadt. Her work focusses on Critical Development Theory and Practice, Global History and World System Theories, and Transnational Feminisms.

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Critical Perspectives on Development II

Input by: Prof. Dr. Aram Ziai

»Development Aid«, »Development Cooperation« - What do we really mean by »development«? Who develops whom? Into what do we develop? In this context, the term is used since the 1960ies and has been criticised ever since: Is development aid just a continuation of colonialism by other means? Does the idea of never ending development not conflict with the limited natural resources on our planet? Does it really reduce global inequalities?

All these questions around this term we so frequently use are reason enough to dedicate two Online Seminars to it, in which we have a critical look at what we really want to achieve jointly as equal partners in North and South.

Prof. Dr. Aram Ziai is Heisenberg-Professor of the German Research Foundation (DFG) for Development Policy and Postcolonial Studies and head of the research area. His focus lies in the fields of development theory and policy, postcolonial and Post-Development approaches and global economic governance.

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Gender Dynamics in Child Rights

Input by: Anthony Keedi and Vimbainashe Mutendereki

In this fifth online seminar, we will deal with cross-regional and cross-thematic issues around gender dynamics with experts from Lebanon and Zimbabwe. We will focus on the reasons for gender-based violence against children and adolescents, especially against girls, women and LGBTQI+, as this is also reflected in the current Strategic Goal on Gender Based Rights Violations. Anthony Keedi will provide an insight into the issue of masculinities, talking about men as key actors for the problem and the solution to gender-based violence. He will explore how masculinities can be defined in a less toxic or restrictive way, especially in the context of post conflict and displacement. Vimbainashe Mutendereki will give an input on gender-based violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe. She will give us an insight into the support of survivors of gender-based violence.

Anthony Keedi has been working in Lebanon for the past 13 years piloting and promoting the concept of Engaging Men in Ending Violence Against Women and Masculinities. He is a psychologist and also holds a Master’s degree in Gender Studies. In his work thus far, he has: Created local forums for men allies to end Gender Based Violence in Lebanon; Oversaw the 1st ever White Ribbon Campaign in MENA; wrote Gender Equality workbooks and manuals on with children, adolescents, and adult men and women; worked with Refugee men on Masculinities; established the 1st psychological rehabilitation clinic for men with abusive behaviors in MENA; He participated in expert panels for the CEDAW commission as well as on the 1st Human Rights Council Resolution for Engaging Men and Boys to end GBV

Vimbainashe Mutendereki is a women’s rights lawyer with over 14 years experience in gender and gender-based violence programming. She has been with Musasa since 2011, rising through the ranks until she became the Executive Director in 2021. Her current role involves providing the strategic leadership with one of the largest women’s rights organizations in Zimbabwe that focuses on both response to and prevention of violence against women and girls. Vimbainashe is a holder of a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Cape Town and her passion for gender justice led her to pursue a Masters in Women’s Law from the Southern and Eastern African Regional Centre for Women’s Law. During her time with Musasa, Vimbainashe has been part of many key milestones for the organization including the setting up of the first ever call centre for survivors of violence as well as setting up of the first community-based shelters in some of the hardest areas of Zimbabwe to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.

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