Expanding women’s political participation and strengthening their role in peacebuilding came under review on July 8 as the female MPs met in Yaounde to review progress on women’s rights and adopt new policy recommendations.
Meeting on the sidelines of the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), members of the Network of Women Parliamentarians examined reports on young women’s civic participation and women’s political leadership, discussed the rise of hostile sexism and masculinism, reviewed legislation affecting women in member states, and considered a declaration aimed at strengthening feminist parliamentary diplomacy under the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Opening the meeting, the Network’s First Vice President, Hon. Epoube Lydienne, described the body as “a chain of determined women” working across parliaments and continents to ensure that women’s rights remain central to legislative action. She said the network’s mission was to translate solidarity among women legislators into concrete progress within national institutions.
The discussions came against the backdrop of concerns that gains in women’s political representation are slowing worldwide. Addressing the meeting, the UN Women Resident Representative in Cameroon noted that women currently occupy 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats globally, while female parliamentary speakers account for less than one-fifth of the total. She, however, cited Cameroon as one of the countries making steady progress, with women now holding 61 of the 180 seats in the National Assembly, representing 33.9 per cent of MPs.
She urged parliamentarians to move beyond representation by strengthening laws against gender-based violence, promoting gender and climate-responsive budgeting, encouraging women’s political leadership and ensuring national commitments under the Women, Peace and Security agenda are backed by effective legislation and adequate funding.
The Network also reviewed recommendations arising from its field activities on the Women, Peace and Security agenda and examined a draft declaration promoting feminist parliamentary diplomacy, reflecting its ambition to position women not only as beneficiaries of peace but as architects of conflict prevention, mediation and sustainable development across the Francophone space.
Claudette Chin
