The Breadwinner - Comic

Published by Alliances for Africa (AfA), this comic aims to raise awareness about the link between the economy and violence against women and girls, and advocate for gender equality and women’s human rights.
The story is set in a town in Africa and follows a family’s struggle as the effect of the global economic meltdown hits their country and threatens their livelihood. A father loses his job and the story follows the choices the family is confronted with, as well as the emotional strain this puts on the family, as the father vents his frustrations on the family. It explores various sub-themes including issues of domestic roles of men and women, child marriage, violence against women, economic power and empowerment, agriculture, gender equality, and social justice. It makes a strong case for women's role in the economy and specially their role in agriculture.
Throughout the comic, relevant international and regional human rights treaties, such as the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) are introduced using simple language.
The Breadwinner comic is one of a series of products designed by Alliances for Africa (AfA) to promote women’s human rights during the African Union’s Women’s Decade (AWD) 2010-2020. It is produced under a project titled: Using Comics for Economic, Social and Gender Justice Advocacy which is supported by the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) in Canada and co-funded by African Women’s Development Fund in Ghana.
AfA is an African-led international non-governmental human rights, peace and sustainable development organisation. AfA’s main thematic focus is on women’s rights.