The UPA Women's Parliamentary Caucus meeting opened in Lomé on November 12, bringing together legislators from across the continent to discuss ways to strengthen female leadership and empowerment in Africa. The meeting is part of the 86th session of the UPA executive committee. The theme of the meeting is "Strengthening Leadership, Economic Empowerment, and Protection of Women's Rights." The discussions will focus on transforming declarations into concrete actions to promote African women.
The meeting aims to facilitate reflections on how to move beyond declarations of principle and achieve measurable actions in favor of promoting African women. Participants will exchange ideas on transforming female leadership and accelerating economic empowerment. They will also adopt a draft resolution to translate these orientations into operational recommendations. The President of the UPA Women's Parliamentary Caucus, Aïssata Ibrahim Tahirou, emphasized that Africa cannot achieve sustainable and inclusive development without the full participation of women in decision-making processes.
According to Aïssata Ibrahim Tahirou, the issue is no longer just about numbers, but about quality, requiring leadership based on competence, responsibility, and transformative impact. She stressed that true emancipation is not possible without financial sovereignty. Tahirou encouraged her peers to actively support women's entrepreneurship, particularly in agriculture, crafts, trade, and digital sectors. She also reiterated the importance of zero tolerance for gender-based violence.
The Togolese government has made significant progress in promoting gender equality, placing it at the center of its inclusive development policy and human capital valorization. The Minister of Solidarity, Gender, Family, and Child Protection, Moni Sankaredja-Sinandja, highlighted the country's achievements, including women holding top positions in the state, such as Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly.
The Minister also cited the success of the National Inclusive Finance Fund (FNFI), launched in 2014, which has benefited over 70% women. Additionally, the government has provided support through planned agricultural development zones (ZAAP) and implemented the National Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy since 2025. Reforms have also been made to the Code of Persons and Family and women's access to land ownership.
On the social and legal fronts, the minister mentioned the application of gender-sensitive budgeting since 2022 and the continuous strengthening of listening and support centers for victims of violence nationwide. These efforts demonstrate the government's commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women in Togo.
The UPA Women's Parliamentary Caucus meeting in Lomé provides a platform for African legislators to share experiences and best practices in promoting female leadership and empowerment. The outcome of the meeting is expected to contribute to the development of concrete actions and policies to support women's empowerment and leadership in Africa.
Key points
- The meeting aims to adopt a draft resolution to translate orientations into operational recommendations for promoting women's empowerment and leadership in Africa.
