Equipop advocates for the adoption of feminist public policies at the national and international levels. With this in mind, Equipop has campaigned for the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) to result in ambitious financial commitments, particularly in favor of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), support for feminist associations around the world, and the participation of young people in decision-making processes. Equipop's strategy was, at the same time, to engage in bilateral exchanges with states and institutions at different political levels, as well as to hold public discussions with them in order to elicit meaningful commitments.
An initial awareness-raising phase
Initially, the challenge was to raise awareness of the Generation Equality Forum. This institutional process, led by UN Women, France, and Mexico, was initially little discussed in West Africa. Equipop sought to facilitate the involvement of West African actors through various channels. In particular, Equipop organized two national workshops, in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, which brought together representatives of national and local authorities and international organizations, as well as members of civil society. These meetings enabled institutions to engage in the FGE process by creating a common interest with civil society representatives, particularly on women's rights issues at the national level. In several countries, often at the regional level and sometimes in collaboration with partner associations, numerous online mobilization sessions were facilitated, particularly for young feminists. The guide #FeministGenerations Activists was the result of the initial exchanges, before becoming a very practical tool for the next stages of mobilization.
The central role of the West African Young Feminists Network
Equipop has particularly supported the Network of Young Feminists in West Africa (RJFAO) so that young activists from eight countries can become fully involved in the FGE process. The Network has identified three areas to focus on: ▸ better representation of West African youth in the EGF, ▸ the involvement of young people in decision-making processes, ▸ greater financial support for West African feminist organizations. At the regional level, ahead of the WEF, they were able to make their voices heard during a virtual dialogue with the organizers. Of the nine activists invited to the meeting with Delphine O, French Ambassador to the WEF, and Oulimata Sarr, Regional Director for West and Central Africa at UN Women, six were members of the Network. They highlighted the challenges of digital inclusion, language barriers, and physical representation. On various occasions, whether at in-person events in capital cities or international online events, the activists shared their views on the specific issues facing their territories. Their expertise corresponded mainly to three FGE action coalitions: sexual and reproductive rights and health, gender-based violence, and feminist movements and leadership. Their advocacy consistently highlighted the need to activate different levers of action to engage in a truly transformative dynamic at the regional and international levels.
[vc_column css= ».vc_custom_1640625616479{background-color: #c4c4c4 !important;} »]The 6 action coalitions of the FGE Gender-based violence Economic justice and economic rights Right to control one's own body and SRHR Feminist action for climate justice Technologies and innovations for gender equality Feminist movements and leadership
In addition, the Network represented West Africa in the global campaign#StopTalkingStartFunding, organized by the Collectif Générations Féministes (see insert on p. 24). This enabled them to promote their demands, including in the media, with an opinion piece published in newspapers in eight countries, and to forge links with French organizations such as En Avant Toutes and Égaé, which launched the Les Expertes Sénégal project and provided training in speaking to the media. The Network's involvement in the FGE is seen as a step towards participation in all relevant international forums, particularly the UN. Micheline Wendyam Kaboré, a member from Burkina Faso, spoke at the CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) atthe invitation of UNFPA during the side event"Right to control one's own body and SRHR for intergenerational equality: What kind of leadership is needed?" Finally, the Network's wide range of activities has translated into media visibility, notably through the voices of Oumou Salif Touré (Mali) and Hadja Idrissa Bah (Guinea), who were interviewed on French-language radio and television programs with large audiences. In addition, two members, Dieynaba N'diom (Mauritania) and Awa Mah Camara (Mali), spoke in their local languages—Fulfulde and Mandinka—on RFI Dakar.
Support for effective participation in the process
As the health crisis prevented large numbers of West African feminists from coming to Paris, Equipop provided technical and/or financial support to its partners in the Alliance Droits et Santé and Jeunes Féministes d’Afrique de l’Ouest networks during the holding of multi-stakeholder satellite events (Abidjan, Bamako, Dakar, Ouagadougou), in partnership with the French embassies. This led to the development of medium-term partnerships, such as in Mali, where the French embassy decided to support the collective action of activists by financing an action plan. On many issues, we seized the opportunity provided by the FGE to link global advocacy efforts to local dynamics and vice versa: in Burkina Faso, on the effectiveness of free contraception and taking into account the needs of adolescents and young people; in Côte d'Ivoire on the reintroduction of the reproductive health law into the political agenda; in Guinea on the integration of comprehensive sexuality education into training curricula; in Mali with the reintroduction of the draft law on GBV. Oumou Salif Touré represented RJFAO in Paris at the opening of the FGE and spoke at the high-level event "Financing Feminist Movements." Her speech aimed to highlight the need for substantial, flexible, and sustainable funding for feminist organizations in West Africa. At the same time, other members took part in official online side events. Zipporah Ndione, an activist from Senegal, moderated the discussion at the youth session session of the SRHR Action Coalition. Ephrasie Coulibaly from Côte d'Ivoire participated in the Collectif Générations Féministes event entitled "Defending our feminism: our bodies, our genders, our choices."
