UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador

 

The famous singer Abdel Karim Alkabli, a prominent figure in the Sudanese society, has been selected by UNFPA as goodwill honorary ambassador

Violence against Women in Sudan.

Too many wrong doings can be listed under the umbrella of the violence against women in the Sudan. The following sub-titles are the main issues that shall be discussed briefly hereunder:

-        The practices of the FGM in Sudan

-        Early marriages among minor girls.

-        Undue pregnancy for small girls.

-        Rape.

-        Spread of HIV- Aids among women.

-        Illiteracy.

-        Driving small girls into unsuitable manual work.

-        Men’s full dependence on women’s work and toil in parts of Sudan.

-        Captivity in areas of war.

For almost three decades I have been lecturing about the importance of giving equal percentages for our concern about the past, the present and the future. The genuine ethics and practices of our traditions are invaluable assets because of the unfailing experiences in them. But tradition and heritage as a whole can be wise and helpful and in the meantime can be extremely harmful. Therefore, great and useful traditional heritage ought to be carried forward and preserved while bad traditions and practices ought to be discarded immediately. In our contemporary life we shall benefit out of the experiences of the past. When our knowledge about the wisdom of the past is added to our knowledge about our present life, and through powerful and far reaching imagination we can see and plan for the future. But, unfortunately the grip of blind tradition and heritage proved to be very strong, not only in under developed countries but even in advanced countries. Still, due to human built-in instinctive interest and blind self esteem leading to dominating others, human-beings are killing themselves for differences in religions, faiths, racism and economic achievements.

In Sudan, many of the above mentioned causes of violence against women can be attributed to the cruel grip of tradition and heritage. If we take for example the practice of the FGM which is described in the Sudan as Phaironic, after the Phaironic Era. Is it not surprisingly astonishing for such an obstinate tradition to continue for thousands of years?. Undoubtedly, such continuity is not the responsibility of the young generations. That is why in many meetings of the UNFPA officers in Khartoum I have suggested that in our campaign against violence against women we have to concentrate upon convincing mothers, grandmothers and old people about the dangers resulting from the FGM, early marriages among very young girls and the undue pregnancies which are the main causes of the fistula and the numerous deaths of the young girls and their infants. Also, I have suggested, in many occasions, going back to the mobile cinema which used, long ago, to visit the far away villages and nomadic tribes. Using the convincingly influential arts of music, singing and drama the mobile cinema can bring better results. Al Ahfaad University for girls, a pioneer NGO in the field of women education, is sending yearly not less than fifty groups each group consisting of about twelve girl-students to the different parts of Sudan. They spend about one week with their hosts. They live the life of their hosts day by day and hour by hour. In co-operation with Sudan UNFPA those groups, with little guidance, can operate the mobile cinema units which the UNFPA ought to provide. The material shown on the mobile cinema should be chosen carefully. Being music and singing or drama there should be psychological treatment. Initiated and encouraged by Dr. Nimal Heiatrachy, the former UNFPA representative in Sudan, I composed a song titled (My Mother) in which I imagined a young girl who passed away in delivery due to the FGM, early marriage and undue pregnancy, talking to her mother in simple words and touching expressions about the causes of her passing away. She asked her sweet mother tenderly and imploringly to pass the message over to all women in the neibourhood. Small girls should go to school and receive proper education to help their families and their country in the future. This is an example. Another example is the well appreciated endeavors of Al Ahfaad University in the production of more than three most touching films about the cruel and dangerous practice of the FGM.

Regarding the spread of the HIV/AIDS among women I do believe that the higher percentage as far as responsibility is concerned lies on men’s part. The warriors of southern Sudan who came home after the signing of the Nifasha peace treaty and those who entered Sudan from Ethiopia and Eritrea at the eastern boundaries were carriers of HIV/AIDS. That is why the percentage of the HIV/AIDS is higher in those places compared to other parts of Sudan.

From 12 to 19 December, 2004 Sudan UNFPA together with the Sudan government and the government of Uganda sponsored a learning mission to Uganda. Dr. Nimal Heiatrachy, representative of the UNFPA in Sudan and Ambassador of Uganda to Sudan Professor Mull S. Katende played a distinguished role in the success of our visit to Uganda. On the 12th. Of December, 2004 our mission, consisting of twenty three people, left for Kampala. The mission was headed by the federal minister of health Dr. Ahmed Bilal and Dr. Nimal Heiatrachy, representative of the UNFPA of Sudan. Media people, representatives from the UNICEF and other organizations, were part of the mission, and in my capacity as UNFPA good will ambassador I was among the mission. Our numerous daily meetings with the different factions in Uganda proved to be most fruitful. Our visits included the State House, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Education and Sports, Uganda AIDS Commission, TASCO, Mildmay Health Center , Uganda AIDS Information Center and Iganga Moslems’ Community region. With great admiration we knew about the miraculous success achieved by Uganda in her fight against the HIV/Aids. From the percentage of almost 37 it has been reduced to just 5 or may be 6 percent. As has truly been expressed by Dr. Nimal in his farewell speech such a success was one of the very few marvelous credits won by Africa in the international arena. The Ugandan campaign against the HIVS/AIDS was seriously started from above by President Mossifini and the first lady down to the small children of the elementary schools. The slogan has always been the three letters of a-b-c. The (a) for Abstinence, the (b) for Be Faithful and the (c) for Condom.

According to our visit schedule of time one morning at 7 a.m. our group moved by cars to Aganga in the Northern part of Uganda where most of the population were Moslems. We reached our destination after about three hours and a half hour drive. The scenery was pleasant and ever green. We were met with great hospitality and immediately we were taken to the schools where the teachers were teaching the Qoran in English but reciting the Qoranic verses in Arabic. I admired their Arabic pronunciation. The subject in all the classes we have visited was the same. The teachings of the Qoran which are firmly against adultery and the illegally sexual relations between man and woman. In Islam very drastic measures are specified against adultery. After visiting the schools and talking to the teachers and few students we were taken to the big conference place where we met the honourable lady who presided over the meeting. She was the head of the HIV/Aids campaign in the region of Aganga. We were introduced to other dignitaries. While we were being seated a group of wind instruments players were playing fine music. Then at the beginning of the meeting an old Sheikh recited in a melodious voice some verses from the holy Qoran. The lady president welcomed our visit and many speakers gave much needed information about their combat with a dangerous and lethal killer named HIV/Aids. At the last moments of that fruitful meeting Dr. Ahmed Bilal, Sudan Minister of Health and head of our Mission insistently asked me to deliver a speech on behalf of our visiting group. In English of course. I adhered immediately to the unexpected request. In my days I have been through many unexpected similar surprises. Dr. Ahmed himself is a good orator and a man of rhetoric but it seemed that he felt like giving me a chance to address that colourful group of people, or might have been inspired by the music and singing. I started by expressing our deep gratitude for the unlimited hospitality shown by our hostesses and hosts. How I personally admired the method and style of the teachers and their correct pronunciation of the Qoranic verses. Also I praised the old Sheikh who started the celebration by reciting some verses. On behalf of our visiting group I truthfully explained to our friends in Aganga how we are much indebted to the Government of Uganda, to Excellency Professor Mull S. Katende, Ambassador of Uganda in Sudan who played a big role in making our visit come true and to our hostesses and hosts in Aganga who were sitting with us. We have learnt a very useful lesson from them about fighting the HIV/Aids which lessons we shall hopefully apply in Sudan. Then I disclosed what we knew about Aganga as the last responding region in Uganda to the call of fighting the HIV/Aids. I told them that for every true Moslem such behavior is well known and would be considered as normal. In a true Moslem society there is no chance for contracting HIV/Aids through illegal sexual relation. In Islam a man can marry up to four wives. Such practice of polygamy has always been a source of criticism to Islam by Europeans and others. In this regard I told them about an interesting story told by a Sudanese Islamic sheikh while he was interviewed in a TV programme in Sudan. He spoke about his debate with a German professor in a German T.V. The topic was about the similarities and differences among faiths. He said as soon as they started the debate the professor jumped at the polygamy considering polygamy as inhumanly violating the women rights. Then the Islamic Sheikh said that he asked the German professor if he has children. The professor answered he has one daughter. The Sheikh asked how old was she and the professor answered she was twenty. The Sheikh asked if the professor loved his daughter. The professor answered very much. Then the Sheikh asked the professor about the percentage of men to women in Germany at the end of the Second World War. The professor answered about five men against nine women or may be one against three. Then the Sheikh asked the German professor to take notes if possible in writing about the fundamental basics regarding polygamy in the true Islam. Polygamy in Islam – a) Is not compulsory or a must. It is optional. – b) A virgin girl must speak by her own tongue to not less than two grown up and honest men famous for their piety telling them about her agreement or none agreement to the proposed marriage. – c) A widow or divorcee can give her consent. –d) A man who is married to more than one wife is strictly demanded by Islam to treat them equally in every respect. – e) Such marriage is a legal marriage and the children shall have a father and a mother and legal names. The Sheikh added that in Islam which is a Godly legislation, consideration has been given to the facts related to the often decrease in the number of men due to the continuous wars and to the weaknesses of the human nature as far as sex is concerned. The Sheikh continued addressing the German professor, “Now my friend going back to the equation of five men against nine woman or one against three, both would lead to the fact that in such a situation there shall be a surplus in the number of women who have the full right of having proper and legal sexual life including children bearing their fathers’ names. The share of a woman married by her own will to a man with one wife shall be the half i.e. half a man. If he is married to two wives her share would be the third. And if he is married to three wives then her share would be just a fourth of a man. What would you choose for your beloved daughter? Is she to go every one or two or three years illegally with a different man who most probably is married or do you agree that she legitimizes her sexual life and the children that might follow by marrying a man with three wives?. Moreover, how would the shape of the society be?. The Sheikh said:” The German professor accepted polygamy.”

     Before stepping down I thanked them and reminded them that I have been giving my limited knowledge of the true old Islamic Societies which are referred to nowadays by some Islamic scholars as unreachable transparences. I added that I am very happy for the response of the Iganga people to the miraculous call and the unparalleled success in the fight against the dangerous HIVS/AIDS.

A. Karim  Alkabli

 

تم صباح الخميس الموافق 7/10/2004 تم تعيين الدكتور عبد الكريم الكابلي سفيراً فخرياً من قبل صندوق الإمم المتحدة للإسكان, وقد انعقد المؤتمر بوزارة الإعلام تحت رعاية د. نيمال هيراتشي ممثل الأمم المتحدة لصندوق الإسكان والاستاذ عبد الدافع الخطيب -  وكيل وزارة الإعلام و د. حسن محتشمي نائب الدكتور نيمال كما شرف المؤتمر العديد من الإعلاميين والفنانين على رأسهم الباشا وعبد القادر سالم ,عبد الله عربي وعادل الصول. ر

وهذا المنصب جاء تحت مسمى سفير النوايا الحسنه أو سفير السلام وقد تحدث سعادة د.نيمال عن دور السفراْ الفخريين وعن الإهتمام والدعم الكبير الذي تقدمة الأمم المتحدة لهم, فكما عبر أنهم فئة من البشر تتصف بالتجرد وتمتلك صفات فيها الكثير من النبل ولهم جاذبية خاصة تؤهلهم لخدمة اخوانهم من البشر دون أن يتوقعوا أي مردود مالي للخدمات التي يقدمونها طواعية.

وقد اثنى علىالجهود التي يبذلها د. كابلي في شتى مجالات الثقافة والفنون وأكد أن هذا الإختيار جاء بعد جهود استمرت لأكثر من عامين من قبل الأمم المتحدة وأن الكابلي هو السفير الفخري رقم 8 في العالم بين الرجال ورقم 30 من بين الرجال والنساء .  

كما اوضح سعادته عن اهمية المميزات التي توفرت في شخص الكابلي وهي :

• الإهتمام الخاص بقضايا الصحة الانجابية وتمكين المرأة.
• شخصيته التي تستحوذ على إهتمام الإعلام الداخلي والعالمي.
• داعي لحقوق الإنسان ولديه اهتمام خاص بالدول انامية وسكانها.
• على استعداد تام لتقديم المساعدة.
• دعمه المستمر لقضايا المرأة والأمومة ومكافحته للعادات الضارة.

وقد طالب د. نيمال الإعلام بتقديم العون اللازم لسعادة السفير الدكتور الكابلي للوصول للأهداف والغايات بأسرع واسهل الطرق وأكد على أن هذا التشريف إنما هو تشريف للسودان فينبغي على هذا البلد أن يضع السواعد فوق بعضها البعض للنهوض والإستفادة من ثروات هذا البلد.

أما من جانب الكابلي فقد تحدث عن ايمانه العميق بالدور الذي تقدمة الأمم المتحدة واكد أنه من دون المشاركة الجماعية ووضع القلوب فوق بعضها البعض فلن تستطيع هذه المنظمات والدولة نفسها من دثر المفاهيم والعادات الضارة  بالسودان ودول الجوار كما طالب جميع الاخوة الاعلاميين وصناع القرار من اشراك الجهود وأكد على مبدأ المشاركة وأن الجميع في هذا البلد والخارج هم سفراء للسلام والنوايا الحسنه. كما اضاف بأنه سيبذل قصارى جهده من أجل ايصال الأفكار البناءه للجهات المعنية وقام الكابلي برفع الستار عن قصيدة جديدة أعدها ولحنها خصيصاً من أجل لفت الإنتباه لدى الإمهات والجدات عن مدى خطورة الزواج المبكر في بعض المناطق بالسودان.

أما عن المهام المتوقعة من الكابلي كسفير فخري للصندوق فهي:

• الدعوة لمحاربة العادات الضارة في المجتمع وخاصة خفاض البنات بكل اشكاله وسط الفئات التي تمارسه داخل  السودان أو في البلدان المجاورة.
• أن يكثف ويرفع الوعي حول الاسباب التي تقود إلى مرض الناسور البولي.
• العمل على تقليل المعدلات المرتفعة حالياً لموت الأمهات أثناء الحمل والولادة وبعد الولادة والمناداة بزيادة مستشفيات التحويل في الحالات الطارئة.
• الدعوة وذلك من خلال تجربته وإهتمامه المتصاعد والذي انعكس في اعماله الفنية المتميزة إلى تمكين المرأة وتقويتها من خلال المناداة لزيادة التعليم والمشاركة في العمل السياسي والإقتصادي.
• تكثيف الوعي حول طرق مكافحة الايدز
• استخدام مكانته الإجتماعية والحب الذي يكنه له الجمهور لزيادة الوعي وسط صانعي القرار وواضعي السياسات وقادة المجتمعبغرض استقطاب المزيد من الدعم وخلق المناخ المساند لتحسين اوضاع السكان.  

 

A. karim Alkabli

Singer,a poet, composer, and folklorist, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador   for Obstetric Fistula and Against Women Violence in Sudan for his great advocacy for women health, gender equality and human rights.

Linda Gray

Actress, women's health & rights activist, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and Chairperson of the face Campaign.

Kattis Ahlstrom

Journalist, television presenter, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Sweden

Shabana Azmi

Member of Indian parliament, film actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for India

Hanne-Vibeke Holst

Author and Journalist, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Denmark.

Alfred Bioiek

German television producer and host, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Germany.

Lupita Jones

Miss Universe 1991, UNFPA Ambassador Mexico.

Goedele Liekens

Media personality, UNFPA Ambassador for Belgium.

Magenta Devine

Radio and TV personality, UNFPA Ambassador United Kingdom.

Geri Halliwell

Singer, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador United Kingdom.

Chea Samnang

Doctor, TV and film actor, UNFPA Ambassador Cambodia   .

Mikko Kuustonen

Singer, songwriter UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Finland.

Elsa Zylberstein

Film actress UNFPA Ambassador France.

Mpule Kwelagobe

Miss Universe 1999 UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador South Africa.

Catarina Furtado

Actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Portugal.

Mary Banotti

Member of European Parliament, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Spokesperson for Ireland.

Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck

Queen of Bhutan, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Bhutan

Bertrand Piccard

Scientist adventurer and aeronaut, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Switzerland.

Bui Nakhirunkanok

Miss Universe 1988, UNFPA Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Thailand.

Chinua Achebe

Author, "Things Fall Apart" and "No Longer at Ease" UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria.

Princess Basma Bint Talal

Global and national advocate of women and children, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador.

Yuko Arimori

Silver and bronze Olympic medal winner, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Japan. Back to Top

Wendy Fitzwilliam

Miss Universe 1998, face to face Campaign Spokesperson for Trinidad and Tabago.

Abdur Razzak

Screen and stage actor, movie director, and businessman, UNFPA goodwill Ambassador for Bangladesh.

Rosy Senanavake

Miss World 1984, Women's health & rights activist, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Srilanka.

Jamal Soliman

Stage and TV actor, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Syria.

Lara Dutta

Miss Universe 2000, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and face to face Campaign Spokesperson for India.

Safia El- Emary

Actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador