Voices of empowerment : women's role in safeguarding cultural heritage and advancing human rights in Africa

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Assou-Dodji, Harold and Serwah Boateng, Janet; Sadowski, Mirosław M. and Bonaviri, Gianluigi Mastandrea and Ceccotti, Filippo, eds. (2025) Voices of empowerment : women's role in safeguarding cultural heritage and advancing human rights in Africa. In: Heritage in War and Peace IV. University of Strathclyde Publishing, Glasgow. ISBN 9781914241802 (https://doi.org/10.17868/strath.00093364)

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Abstract

This research presents a compelling exploration of African women’s profound and often overlooked role in harnessing cultural heritage as a potent instrument for protecting and advancing human rights across the diverse tapestry of Africa's rich traditions. Africa's cultural heritage is a rich mosaic of languages, traditions, rituals, and worldviews that profoundly influence the cultures and societies of the continent. Women have emerged as key change agents in harnessing these cultural underpinnings to protect human rights in times of peace and in times of war. Often uncelebrated or overshadowed, their stories present narratives of resilience, innovation, and leadership. This project seeks to amplify the voices and experiences of women at the forefront of leveraging cultural traditions for human rights advocacy. The study aims to explore the dynamic interplay between women's empowerment and their diverse human rights advocacy strategies. It is to document the authentic narratives of women who have played instrumental roles in leveraging and integrating their cultural heritage into human rights advocacy and mechanisms for preventing conflicts and promoting post-conflict community reconciliation. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the study draws on anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and human rights research to examine how women across various African regions and communities utilise their cultural heritage as a powerful tool for protecting human rights, preventing conflicts, and building, preserving, and transmitting cultural identities for future generations. Through extensive desk research, encompassing literature reviews, oral histories, case studies, ethnographic studies, and analysis of cultural practices, the study reveals how women challenge gender-based discrimination and promote equality and respect for human rights. It also examines existing legal and policy frameworks at the national and regional levels within which African women engage with cultural heritage, preserving children’s identity and safeguarding their fundamental human rights and freedoms during times of war. Ultimately, the study contributes to ongoing debates on women’s empowerment and cultural heritage in protecting and advancing human rights, especially in fostering and preserving peaceful communities.

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