To mark International Women's Day, women in the Kédougou region took the opportunity to highlight the many challenges they still face in their pursuit of equality and empowerment. This year's theme, "Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls," emphasizes the need to remove structural barriers, eliminate discriminatory laws, and combat the social norms that continue to hinder women's advancement.

In this region of eastern Senegal, where the economy relies heavily on agriculture, gold mining, and small-scale trade, women play a central role in economic and social life. However, they continue to face numerous challenges, including limited access to land, financing, education, and decision-making bodies.

“Women work hard but remain largely unrecognized.”

In Bandafassi, Mariama Camara, president of a women's agricultural group, believes that recognizing women's work remains a major challenge. "Here, women work in the fields, take care of the home, and participate in local trade. But despite all this, they rarely have access to land or financing to develop their activities," she explains.

According to her, this year's theme must translate into concrete actions on the ground. "We often talk about women's rights, but we also need to be given the means to exercise them. Access to land and credit can change a lot of things for us," she adds.

Girls' education is a central concern

In Kédougou, Aïssatou Diallo, a teacher at a local secondary school, emphasizes the importance of girls' education in building a more equitable society. "Much progress has been made, but in some rural areas, early marriage and poverty still force girls to drop out of school," she laments.

For her, the social justice evoked in this year's theme also involves better support for families. "If girls stay in school and access higher education, they will be able to fully participate in the development of the region," she emphasizes.

Women gold miners are demanding more protection

In the gold mining areas of Khossanto and Tomboronkoto, many women also work in often difficult conditions. Fatoumata Keïta, who works in ore sorting, is calling on the authorities to better protect women workers in the sector. “We contribute to the gold mining economy, but our working conditions remain very precarious. We need supervision, training, and safety,” she says.

She believes that the justice and equality mentioned in the theme of March 8 must also concern women in mining sites.

Towards concrete actions for equality

In the Kédougou region, several women's associations and civil society organizations are planning awareness-raising activities, panels, and community meetings to mark this day. For the women interviewed, the celebration of March 8th should not be merely symbolic. Above all, it should serve as a catalyst for accelerating reforms and promoting more inclusive public policies.

“Women are at the heart of Kédougou’s development. If their rights are respected and if they have the same opportunities as men, the whole region will benefit,” concludes Mariama Camara.