Sudan: Asha El-Karib
When Asha El-Karib speaks about life in Sudan, a country devastated by more than 40 years of civil war, she tells a story of despair but also of hope, a story of people longing for peace and justice. Asha is a mother, a professional, and a feminist activist, deeply engaged in rebuilding civil society in Sudan. She is also the Director of the Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SORD).
As a young woman in the Sudanese Women's Union (an organization since dismantled by the government), Asha began to learn about the many ways in which women were excluded and oppressed in society. Her post-doctoral research explored the role of women in agriculture and food security – a role that has long been invisible throughout the world. Gradually, Asha's interest in women's political rights moved to an interest in women's social and reproductive rights.
Asha's deep commitment to improving women's lives led her and a group of other activists to create the Gender Centre for Research and Training in 1997. The Centre provides information and analysis on the feminization of poverty, women's roles in education and the labour force, the impacts of war, and women's important contributions to conflict resolution. The Gender Centre engages in national policy debates on democracy, human rights, peace building, and poverty.
Asha recognizes the universality of women's subordination, the importance of sharing and documenting women's experiences, and of linking with women's organizations internationally. As the leader of a recent research initiative on domestic violence in Sudan, Asha made an important contribution to breaking silences and overcoming social taboo in a society that denies that violence against women exists.
Asha has also been reaching out to international women's organizations and networks that are working on issues of importance to all Sudanese women, such as women's reproductive rights, particularly the practice of female genital mutilation – a practice that is reviled and condemned by women internationally.
When Asha speaks about the negative impacts of Sharia law on both Muslim and Christian women in the north and south of Sudan, she insists that they must act together to promote democracy and equality for women in the whole of Sudan. As a feminist, Asha dreams of "breaking down the many boundaries and barriers – gender, ethnic, class, religious, geographic – that stand in the way of women's unity and the transformation of society".
Asha's faith in women to bring about change is strong, and her leadership - in both her personal and professional life – brings strength and hope to others.
In May 2004, The Gender Center for Research and Training (GCRT) in Sudan was presented with the Betty Plewes Fund – 2004 Award. Created by the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, the Fund provides a $15,000 grant to an African non-governmental organization engaged in research and policy development on issues of priority to women. In accepting the Award, Asha wrote:
From the bottom of our hearts and from the heart of Africa we extend our hands to take yours in love, hope and solidarity. Our belief and faith in making the world a better place to live – in peace and equality – has never failed us despite the pains and wounds and despite the repression and injustice. We at the Gender Center, shoulder to shoulder with the democratic movement in Sudan, maintain and nourish an egalitarian vision of a new united Sudan – stable, secular, democratic, at peace and with fraternity within its colourful diversity. We thank you, we are honoured for receiving this Award; and we promise to continue our struggle and activism.
Inter Pares is honoured to support the Gender Center for Research and Training, and congratulates all staff and volunteers associated with the Center on receiving this prestigious award.
Asha El-Karib’s radio interview with Women’s Word, September 2007
"Two Activists Take Their Own Hard Line on Improving Women's Rights in Sudan," Embassy magazine, September 26, 2007
"Between Hope and Uncertainties: The peace process in Sudan," Inter Pares Bulletin, September 2005
Asha El-Karib's testimony on Sudan before the Canadian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, May 2005
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