It’s the month of March! Undoubtedly the month that reminds us that women, our mothers, our sisters and our daughters have rights. This is the month during which major advocacy actions in favor of women’s rights are made.

However, I always have a mixed feeling when we celebrate March 8th. Faced with hope and an unshakable commitment to achieving a just society that respects women’s rights, the remarks and speeches I hear often resemble those of previous years, worse, I sometimes have the impression that we have spent 11 months fighting for women’s rights with little success or helpless witnessing their violations. The figures that are often presented at the global level on violations of women’s rights are appalling!

In Africa, particularly in Mali, it is still serious. We experience these violations on a daily basis, but we still do not have enough reliable data to measure their extent! This lack of reliable data leads to often ineffective decision-making.

Obviously, this lack of data cannot justify flagrant and unacceptable setbacks in respect for human rights.

Malian authorities are continually trying to make progress for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Unfortunately, in a failing rule of law and often led by compromised leaders, the weight of customary or religious misinterpretations becomes a drag that slows down society in its development.

The blocking of the reform of the code of family persons and the law on gender-based violations are facts that show the extent to which certain actors in our society are critically out of step with the principles of secularism and the advent of a fair and equal society in the eyes of the law.

Women and young people are the only real engine that drives our societies forward. No voice will represent them better than theirs. Women, young people! those who defend your rights, NGOs or activists, are only soldiers of an army of which you women and young people are the only real generals. The fight for your rights can only be won if you show the way and lead this army with courage and solidarity. Fight for your rights and don’t let anyone hinder them or slow down your momentum, because women’s rights are human rights!

COVID19 has undoubtedly had a negative impact on the general population. However, women are the hardest hit by this pandemic and the way it is being handled by states.

The health crisis has led to an increase in the level of domestic violence and sexual abuse. What is still dramatic is the maintenance of the culpable silence of the witnesses and the fear of the victims to denounce the appalling perpetrators!

Added to this is the economic drought they suffer because they work mainly in the informal sector and have only very low incomes. They very often cannot respect the COVID19 barrier measures and survive economically!

The State must put in place measures and act against the gender inequalities allegedly maintained on grounds of COVID19.

It is imperative that the State allocate the necessary resources to combat violence against women as part of the measures taken to combat COVID19.

The State and its partners must offer and encourage economic and social support for women at all levels, whether they are formal or informal, whether they are housewives, employees or business owners!

Faced with a COVID19 crisis which is aggravating inequalities and gender-based violence, very often to the detriment of women, it is necessary to collect gender data to provide adequate responses to the crisis and build effective recovery plans.

The media are the main channels through which society is informed and educated. They help shape our perception of the model of society in which we live. The under-representation and under-representation of women in the media is frustrating and highly damaging to women and to the media itself. Indeed, a media that does not include women and men in their diversity is in violation of the principles of ethics, deontology and professionalism on which the field is based!

They must be the spearhead for a just society that respects human rights. The media must represent women and men equally and in all their diversity.

Our society will be better off when the rights of women are understood and respected by everyone. The emergence and harmonious and sustainable development of our society requires that men and women be treated fairly and equally.