Every year, March 8 is the occasion to celebrate International Women’s Rights Day. A date for reflection and capitalisation on the social, economic and political achievements of the struggle for the advancement of women around the world. In many ways, 8 March is also an opportunity to look to the future. In this respect, for the 2021 edition, Place for Africa went to meet several young girls on the African continent. From Conakry to Libreville, Cotonou and Ouagadougou, they shared with Place for Africa’s camera and microphone their definition of this day and the future they dream of for women’s rights in 30 years, by 2030.
08 March as a self-affirmation
Beyond the festive normalisation of this day, for the girls and women interviewed, this day should be a date to commemorate the achievements of women in several sectors. It should also be a time to focus on the normative evolution of women’s rights in society. Consequently, the panel invites to a reappropriation of this day in order to capitalise on the achievements required to aspire to more for a female majority facing a male minority. For them, the fight is far from being won because the patriarchy sees the empowerment of women as a kind of attack on so-called traditional values, even societal values in Africa.
It would be unjustified not to recognise the efforts, albeit minimal, of governments to create a body of legislation and regulations for the development of women through their socio-professional integration and family development in Africa. Nevertheless, there are still efforts to be made in terms of the application of these norms, but also in terms of the support structures for compliance with these norms. For many of our speakers, the liberation of the word appears to be the fatal weapon. It is necessary to free the word, to give more space and time to women because, as Hadja Idrissa from Conakry in Guinea points out, “a single day would not be enough”. In order not to aspire to a brutal change in the face of a process that has slowly taken place, it is necessary to start by stages, in particular through the implementation of a factory for deconstructing and building mentalities in order to install a system of parity.
Education as a winning bet for the empowerment of women
The aspiration of young people to change but also to reach higher levels of responsibility in the future remains their leitmotiv. It is necessary to overcome social and mental barriers, to deconstruct the idea of stagnation and to support young women and girls in dreaming big. For this, efforts must be made in the field of education and support for young girls. As Fatoumata Timbonké Diallo from Guinea said so well in her interview, education should no longer be presented as an opportunity. In the sustainable, just and equitable society that young girls dream of, education has a place of choice and therefore, it must be an obligation and not a favour granted by some to the young girl.
Through this intangible wealth, we can rightly agree to see it as a means for the young girl of today and the woman of tomorrow, a gateway for her development but also to feel more integrated and have a major role in society.
Text by : NGo Mai kibassahak Cécile