Demonstration against femicides in Côte d’Ivoire: A cry of despair
The fight against gender-based violence is taking on a particular dimension in Côte d’Ivoire, as civil society mobilizes to denounce femicides. On Saturday, December 14, a significant demonstration was held in Abidjan, bringing together activists committed to defending women’s rights. Under the Alassane Ouattara bridge, symbol of the crossing towards a safer future for women, voices were raised in a cry of despair and hope, demanding justice and dignity for the victims of these heinous crimes.
At the heart of this gathering, the president of the Ivorian League for Women’s Rights, Mégane Boho, stressed the urgency of naming and combating the scourge of femicide. Indeed, how can we hope to put an end to such insidious violence if we refuse to name it and denounce it with the necessary force? The demonstrations of solidarity and demands are all steps towards a fairer and more equitable society for Ivorian women.
The demand for updated statistics on femicides in Côte d’Ivoire is at the heart of the demands of feminist associations. Knowing the reality of this violence allows us to better combat it, prevent it and protect the victims. Each figure is a poignant reflection of a broken life, of an unfinished fight for equality and dignity. As Thierry, a passer-by moved by the demonstration, so rightly puts it, it is essential that the authorities and the justice system fully commit to the fight against violence against women.
In Côte d’Ivoire, as in many countries, gender-based violence too often remains invisible and unpunished. It is time to make the fight against femicide a national priority, by strengthening prevention, protection and repression policies. Every woman has the right to live free from fear and violence, every voice that is raised is a step closer to the fairer and more humane society that we aspire to build.
The demonstration of December 14 in Abidjan resonates like a cry of alarm and hope. It is urgent to transform anger into action, pain into solidarity, so that every woman can finally live in peace and security. Femicides are not inevitable, but an unbearable injustice that calls for unwavering mobilization of the whole of society. Together, men and women, committed to a fairer and more serene future, we can and must put an end to this unacceptable violence.