Hadja Idrissa Bah is President of the Guinea Young Women Leaders Club and a member of the West African Young Feminists Network.
Why does it make sense to get involved in the G7 process this year?
We, as young feminists, are the focus of this year's G7, as gender equality is the stated priority of the G7. There are feminist organizations all over the world, and giving us a voice during the G7 process is very important. It is essential to listen to us, the people concerned, who know the issues and difficulties we face and are best placed to deliver the messages that decision-makers need to hear. We are very happy to be among these great personalities from around the world and to speak on behalf of young feminists in West Africa and, above all, to relay the network's messages. All the priorities that were defended before the G7 authorities, particularly at the Women 7 Summit, are those of the network: how to support young feminists, how to give us more of a voice so that we can say what is wrong and what solutions need to be found.
What does the Women 7 Movement enable or facilitate for feminists like you?
W7 allows us to connect with people working in the same field around the world and to make ourselves known. As a result, feminist organizations around the world know that there is a struggle going on in West Africa. They know that there are young feminists who are deeply committed to ending violence against women and that it is essential to listen to them. This movement also gives young feminists a voice. At the W7 Summit, our words were applauded because they came from our hearts. We talk about our experiences and our desire is a desire for action. Let's take action, everyone wants to use the same verb. We don't want more talk, we want action.
What messages do West African feminists want to convey collectively?
At the G7, we want to convey two key messages. The first is: give young feminists from French-speaking West Africa a voice, listen to them, and take their recommendations into account. The second message is a request for funding for feminist associations such as ours. We fight a daily battle. We encounter difficulties, we lack resources, we often work as volunteers, etc. We need to think about young feminists in West Africa. Today, what we need to make this fight global is technical and financial support.
