General

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.”

More than a year into the pandemic, governments around the world are still scrambling to deal with the health emergency and its economic repercussions. Developing countries have been especially hard hit.

The climate emergency disproportionately affects the disempowered and most marginalized across the world – the poor, the old, the very young, and women in particular. Protecting the vulnerable is a matter of justice.

Climate justice is a human-centred approach to responding to the challenges of climate change that embraces human rights, equity, and fairness.

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:

How the 2015 election can benefit the grandmothers of Africa

Women are the driving force of development in all societies. This is particularly true in AIDS ravaged sub Saharan Africa--- grandmothers provide a stellar example. But we also know that women of all ages are prevented from fulfilling their potential to raise themselves and their communities out of poverty by a number of barriers based in gender inequality that the international community, including Canada, has been promising to address for decades.