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Initiated by the Benin section of the movement ”Tournons la Page (TLP), the round table of reflection on the civic and political engagement of women, was held on Monday, March 27, 2023, in Cotonou. Having brought together some thirty women, this round table aims to take stock of the civic engagement of women and their role in the promotion of democracy.
what it is about : Under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Baptiste Elias, TLP-Benin Coordinator, a round table discussion brought together around thirty women in the Chant d’oiseau conference room in Cotonou. The round table focused on the theme: “The civic and political engagement of women: guarantee of good governance and sustainable development?” “. It is for the participants to carry out an in-depth reflection on the deep reasons which hinder the commitment of women in favor of the promotion and defense of their rights, both civic and political, as well as economic and social; to identify the needs in terms of support for these women in their civic engagement and their integration into the TLP movement; to develop an action plan to promote the civic and democratic engagement of women in the countries and to identify the prospects that can be implemented to meet the challenges mentioned and the means to be implemented to ensure the visibility of the civic engagement of women.
What is important: Several communications were made during this meeting. First, a first communication on the TLP movement and the Group of Women Leaders, which was provided by the Communication and Animation Officer of the TLP, Moyra Oblitas. Then a communication on the mechanisms for documenting cases of human rights violations. It was the former Minister of Higher Education and ex-president of the National Institute for Women, Vicentia Boco and Me Alexandrine Saizonou Bedié, who spoke to the participants about this theme. These communications are followed by debates and reflections. Finally, the work in the workshop furnished the seats. On behalf of the international TLP, Dr. Jean-Baptiste Elias, Coordinator TLP-Benin thanked the partners who made it possible to hold this round table. “The TLP movement has made a commitment to ensure that democracy is made with alternation. And to do this, TLP International, installed in many countries including Benin, works daily to make this reality a reality,” said TLP-Benin Coordinator, Dr. Jean-Baptiste Elias. For him, women have a very important role to play so that we can achieve this goal. Before launching the work, he invited the participants to follow the presentations diligently. He also wished for their effective participation in the reflections.
Between the lines : At the end of the work of this round table, the participants will set up a framework for meetings, exchanges and networking of women leaders. Through discussions and reflections, they will develop an action plan to promote the civic and democratic engagement of women in Benin, identify prospects and the means to be implemented to ensure the visibility of women’s civic engagement. It should be noted that this round table is part of the “Protection” project set up by the “Tournons La Page” movement in 10 French-speaking African countries. The main objective of the project is to promote, in these countries, the civic engagement of young people and women while fighting against the phenomenon of criminalization of pro-democracy activists, with the aim of widening the democratic space to new emerging figures.
Alban Tchalla