By Kemi Yesufu
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi-Brou has assured of the commitment of the regional body to improving the participation of women in politics and governance, as well as sustaining the push to drastically reduce Sex and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
Kassi-Brou in his message to mark the International Women’s Day 2021 celebrated the countless achievements of women across West Africa, saying, the day also presented the opportunity to discuss a better future for the women folk.
The theme of the 2021 IWD is, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”
“Typically, the 8 March celebration is an opportunity to highlight the economic as well as social and political achievements of women. It is an opportunity to take stock of the progress made and the challenges still facing women in relation to the recognition and protection of their rights, and further take stock of the pioneer struggles of preceding years for women’s equality, and social, economic, and political rights.
“Even today, 8 March 2021, despite the precarious health situation across
the globe, women are and always will be celebrated. Indeed, we will always need to celebrate them as a show of solidarity and commitment to ensuring that they exercise equal rights as men”, the statement read.
“As is the custom, ECOWAS adopts the global theme of the United Nations in celebration of the IWD. The theme of the 2021 IWD, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, is consistent with the priority theme chosen by the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65), which is the UN annual session for the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment. A forum that brings together the governments, civil society organisations, and technical and financial partners involved in gender-related matters.
“The theme of the 65th CSW “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”, requires of us a keen and holistic analysis in a bid to eliminate the numerous social constraints, barriers and norms which hinder women’s participation in public life”, the statement furher read.
Read full message below:
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION 2021
“WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”
MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY
BY
H.E. MR JEAN-CLAUDE KASSI BROU
PRESIDENT OF THE ECOWAS COMMISSION
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. On this notable date, 8 March 2021, the whole world celebrates the International Women’s Day. I would like to pay tribute, on behalf of ECOWAS, to women all over the world and West Africa in particular, who, this
past year, braved the consequences of an unprecedented health crisis
necessitated by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
2. Special tribute goes to the female staff of ECOWAS who, day after day,
continue to contribute significantly to our Institution’s work for the development of the sub region.
3. Typically, the 8 March celebration is an opportunity to highlight the economic as well as social and political achievements of women. It is an opportunity to take stock of the progress made and the challenges still facing women in relation to the recognition and protection of their rights,
and further take stock of the pioneer struggles of preceding years for
women’s equality, and social, economic, and political rights.
4. Even today, 8 March 2021, despite the precarious health situation across
the globe, women are and always will be celebrated. Indeed, we will always need to celebrate them as a show of solidarity and commitment to
ensuring that they exercise equal rights as men.
5. As is the custom, ECOWAS adopts the global theme of the United Nations
in celebration of the IWD. The theme of the 2021 IWD, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, is consistent with
the priority theme chosen by the 65th Session of the Commission on the
Status of Women (CSW65), which is the UN annual session for the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment. A forum that
brings together the governments, civil society organisations, and technical and financial partners involved in gender-related matters.
6. The theme of the 65th CSW “Women’s full and effective participation and
decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for
achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and
girls”, requires of us a keen and holistic analysis in a bid to eliminate the
numerous social constraints, barriers and norms which hinder women’s
participation in public life.
7. The theme prompts us to reflect even further on the security and health
challenges in our region, with respect to the Ebola Virus Disease and the
COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, food insecurity and extremism, among
others.
8. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 health crisis, several active women in
the economy, particularly the informal sector, were hard-hit by the halt
in certain economic activities, disruptions in the processing and distribution of agricultural products, reduction in household income, not forgetting the reduction in opportunities for the most vulnerable households.
9. Regarding women in leadership and positions of authority, inadequate
resources and the feminisation of poverty hamper women’s involvement in the leadership roles of political parties or in society. Moreover,
harmful social and cultural norms and practices such as unequal access
to education, training, financial resources, and healthcare equally hamper the development and empowerment of the West African woman.
10. Regarding gender-based violence, there has been a resurgence of the
phenomenon despite the existing legal arsenal in our respective Member
States. This trend therefore presents the critical need to strengthen, on
the one hand, awareness and impunity, and on the other hand, the holistic care of victims of moral, physical and economic violence. Unfortunately, the trend is not unconnected to the fallout of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on the life of women.
11. Nevertheless, the contribution of women in the fight against this pandemic demands reflection, bearing in mind the essential role of women
in our societies when it comes to caring for the sick, providing family
food security and supervising the education of children.
12. I avail myself of this opportunity to recall the numerous initiatives of the
ECOWAS Commission for women empowerment and the fight against
gender inequality. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Commission
has developed an “ECOWAS action plan for a gender approach to the
COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic”, which comprises several strategic focus areas including a recovery plan for women entrepreneurs.
13. This 8 March women’s day is therefore an opportunity to take stock of
all our initiatives aimed at promoting women’s rights and consolidate
achievements for an even more equal West Africa in terms of the rights
and duty of each citizen.
14. Now more than ever before, we feel duty-bound to celebrate women
given the obvious fact that sustainable development, social and political
stability, and economic growth cannot be attained when a section of the
population is marginalised.
15. We will therefore continue to strive towards greater access to training,
decent and productive employment, and social protection. We will help
to ensure access to loans, property, inheritance, natural resources, and
the establishment of gender sensitive frameworks.
16. We will equally help to ensure full and effective participation of women
in decision-making, public life, positions of authority, and finally maintain zero-tolerance for gender-based violence while working towards
the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls within
the ECOWAS region.
17. Based on this message of hope and a firm belief, I, on behalf of the ECOWAS Institutions, wish all the women of our Institutions and women
across the Member States a Happy Celebration.
I thank you and wish everyone of you a Happy International Women’s Day,
2021.
Long live the advancement of women’s rights!
Long live the ECOWAS of People!
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