The coordinator of the Women political participation (WPP) Program for Francophone countries, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, on Tuesday invited the Ivorian media to create sections and TV programs with a view to greater participation of women and young people in debates. policies.
"I appeal to the press groups to work with the WPP Program and its partner here in Côte d'Ivoire, the Unesco Water, Women and Decision-making Power Chair for more possibilities in television, radio and in the written press ", said Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr.
Professor Fatou Sow Sarr was speaking at a media exchange workshop on the low participation of women and young people in political debates and decision-making in African countries.
This project is supported by the WPP Program, which for its implementation in Côte d'Ivoire, "chose" the Unesco Chair in Water, Women and Decision-Making Power, headed by Euphrasie Yao, special advisor to the President of the Republic, in charge of Gender, she observed.
The program for the participation of women and young people in political debates aims to increase the political participation of African women as well as young people, in a sustainable manner, in elective governance.
For Ms. Fatou Sarr, improving the leadership of women politicians necessarily requires visibility in the media. Because the media contribute to the transformation of imaginations and occupy a central place in the change to come.
"It is a question of bringing society as a whole to realize that the future will depend on the way, all of its components, men and women, young people and adults, will play their part as far as they are concerned", she explained.
Studies conducted by major international economic institutions such as the World Bank, the IMF, the OECD, have shown that future growth will depend on gender equality, she argued.
"We did the exercise in Senegal and we were lucky to have press groups who agreed to offer us platforms and spaces where women come to show their talents and expertise," added Professor Fatou Sarr. .
She also remarked that these women "even discover themselves vis-à-vis their political leaders who come to understand that they have capacities and put them in the spotlight", and that will only be of benefit to the government. party itself.
Professor Rose Koffi-Nevry, teacher-researcher at Nangui Abrogoua University in Abidjan, full professor of microbiology, who represented Ms. Euphrasie Yao, indicated that "the aim is to see women and young people in the media in political debates ".
According to her, this predominance of men in decision-making bodies derives from the patriarchal system, and from the stereotypes that play a great deal against women and young people.
Quoting former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, she said that "countries with more gender equality have better economic growth, companies with more female leaders behave better, and agreements peace programs that include women are more sustainable ”.
In addition, "Parliaments with more women pass more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality for women. women means progress for all ".
The Unesco Chair "Water, Women and Decision-making Power" through this discussion workshop, created a framework conducive to pooling efforts with the media for efficient and effective handling of this issue.
Statistics from Côte d'Ivoire show a low participation of women in political debates and in political life as a whole. Only 12.59% of women are represented in the National Assembly, 19.2% in the Senate and 11.37% in municipal councils.
"This situation is almost the same on the scale of the African continent. As we all see, the situation of women and young people on the African political scene, with a few exceptions, is hardly brilliant", she continued.
The WPP Program, the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa (IFAN), the Caucus of Women Leaders of Senegal and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) have initiated an analysis mission in eight African countries. national contexts relating to the low presence of women and young people in political debates.
These include Botswana, DRC, Eswatini, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. This workshop, which takes place from September 21 to 22, 2021, comes after a first workshop held on September 16 and 17, 2021 in Abidjan.

AP / ls / APA