To the International Alliance of Women team,
Dear Madam, Sir,
I am sending you this message as an engaged citizen and as a voice for local coalitions working for social justice and the protection of human rights in Francophone Africa.
I want to express my strong support for your petition against sexual violence, which resonates deeply in our national contexts in transition. In sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNICEF data, more than 79 million women and girls have been victims of rape or sexual assault. One in five women is sexually abused before the age of 18. These alarming figures reflect a silent crisis, compounded by stigma, impunity and a lack of protection mechanisms.
In our States undergoing reconstruction, inaction in the face of this violence leads to:
- A massive dropout of young girls;
- Generational trauma that hinders social development;
- A loss of confidence in judicial and health institutions;
- A weakening of social cohesion, particularly in post-conflict areas.
Supporting your petition means affirming that the dignity of African women can no longer wait. It also means recognizing that justice for survivors is a critical pillar of sustainable peace and institutional legitimacy.
I am available to relay this initiative to local actors, parliamentarians and citizen organizations, in order to strengthen its impact in our political and community spaces.
With my respectful and supportive greetings,
Ilyassou Diallo
President of RAFEP Guinea, AIF focal point and mobilized for social justice and women’s rights, Conakry Guinea
3 responses
I am sorry to read this message on the difficult status of women in Africa from Ilyassou, who has been part of the IAW delegation at various CSW Sessions.
I am, however, missing a link to the petition she is referring to.
The original newsletter referred to various petitions.
I tried to find out which petition was meant and came across this one: https://www.change.org/p/african-union-convention-on-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls, which has received far too little attention so far.
Thank-you for providing this important link for us.