The United Nations General Assembly, currently underway, marks the beginning of a political sequence that will culminate in the summer of 2021 with the Generation Equality Forum in Paris. The coming months are a unique opportunity to advance gender equality globally, and West African states must participate fully in this momentum. Young feminists have four key recommendations, presented in a publication released today.
The 75th United Nations General Assembly is taking place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, which has highlighted and exacerbated gender inequalities. All over the world, women have played a leading role. This has been highlighted by both governments and feminist associations, which have been calling for years for ambitious public policies on health, care, and equal pay. However, the speeches made by most heads of state and government during the UN General Debate, which was held virtually this year, did not place gender equality at the heart of the issues.
A more assertive high-level statement on this issue is now eagerly awaited. The period beginning on October 1 with the high-level UN event marking the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, "Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls," and ending in the summer of 2021 with the Generation Equality Forum, will be decisive.
Four recommendations for West Africa and beyond
October 1 should not be just a day of "celebration," but a call to action for the coming months. What actions? Young feminists in West Africa have concrete recommendations that should be applied in West Africa, but which are valid for the entire planet.
1 – Facilitate networking among feminist activists and associations and create conditions for intergenerational dialogue. Young feminist movements need spaces to exchange ideas and reflect on common strategies for mobilization and advocacy.
2 – Co-develop public policies with feminist activists and associations. To achieve true equality between women and men, women must be able to participate in the development of public policies.
3 – Adapt funding mechanisms to facilitate access for local feminist organizations and achieve real societal and political change. Funding for young feminist associations is severely inadequate and too often remains inaccessible to most organizations. Priority must be given to long-term and flexible funding.
4 – Actively support the participation of young feminists in international forums. Civil society networks, and feminist networks in particular, often face various difficulties that prevent them from making their voices heard. The participation of these networks in the EGF, including in the development of the content of action coalitions, is essential
Coordinated by Equipop, today's publication details these recommendations, which echo the life stories of 13 Senegalese and Ivorian activists interviewed by five students as part of a partnership with Sciences Po.
Mobilizing widely for a Generation Equality Forum that changes the game
Beginning to implement these recommendations in the coming months will enable us to go beyond simply exchanging practices and make the Generation Equality Forum a crucial step toward a real paradigm shift in gender equality.
West Africa has a major role to play in these developments. Equipop and its partners call on political leaders in the region to engage their countries in the Generation Equality Forum process, particularly within the SRHR (sexual and reproductive health and rights) action coalition led by Burkina Faso and France.
We also call on Emmanuel Macron to ensure that young feminists from West Africa, particularly French-speaking ones, have a prominent place in all bodies related to the Generation Equality Forum.
Find the complete publication available for download in PDF format (1.9 MB).
