International forum: “African women leaders, vectors of emergence in Africa”
On 7 July 2016, UNESCO invited a group of African women to share their experience as women leaders-entrepreneurs.
The Africa Department, the Sector for Social Human Sciences and the Division for Gender Equality of UNESCO, have organized this international forum in collaboration with the NGO Women of Tomorrow, and with the participation of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
The event reflected the African governments‘ commitment to further strengthen women's right to equal access to employment opportunities. As such, the year 2015 was declared the Year of Women's Empowerment and Development for the implementation of the Agenda 2063. The aim of the forum was on the one hand to highlight the role of African women in the emergence of Africa in various fields related to the mandate of UNESCO, and on the other hand to inform and raise awareness about the partnership opportunities with emerging economic groups in Africa.
A group of professional women of high level, from various backgrounds, such as the political, banking, insurance, digital, media, fashion, shared their experience of leadership in a " man's world ". They mentioned the difficulties encountered throughout their careers, difficulties due to the place of women in their societies, their traditions and customs.
But beyond all these obstacles, they encouraged the audience, mainly women, who came in large number, to remain mobilized in the fight for the respect of civil and human rights of women, economic fairness, health, education work, and family, for the eradication of violence against women. They also recalled that this fight was not exclusively for women, and that promoting gender equality and women empowerment were men's business too.
It is clear that significant progress has been achieved in some African societies, such as Rwanda, Liberia, Namibia, regarding parity in political institutions. More and more women reach the highest positions as executive in all fields.
'' Woman has been a priority for years but she is still not visible '' emphasized Sinatou Saka, tweeter participating in the lively debate held simultaneously on tweeter, in collaboration with WikiGender of OECD, and to which took part WikiAfrica, whose goal is to is to encourage a better quality of information on Wikipedia regarding African women.
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