The 'Coordination of the Unions of Catholic Women's Associations of Senegal' celebrated IWD

Women from the Diocesan Union of Kaolack at their day of reflection

Marie Angèle Diatta Paraiso - Senegal

Community Manager and ambassador WWO

To mark the celebration of International Women's Day on 8 March 2025, the women of the Coordination des Unions des Associations Féminines Catholiques du Sénégal (CUDAFCS) organised round tables in their various dioceses. As 2025 is the Year of Hope, these Catholic churchwomen focused on common issues, in particular the well-being of women.

CUDAFCS is a movement that unites women from seven dioceses in Senegal. Its primary goal is to create synergy of action among Catholic women and to promote their education and training. Therefore, it is only natural for them to choose to reflect on women's rights on International Women's Day. For 8 March 2025, their discussions focused on themes of major concern to their various groups. In this context, the Diocesan Union of Dakar chose the theme: ‘Catholic women, bearers of hope in the Church and society.’ Meanwhile, the Diocesan Union of Kaolack focused on the theme: ‘Marriage, a three-way step between the couple and Christ.’ The Diocesan Union of Ziguinchor, on the other hand, centered their debate around the topic: ‘Hope against all hope.’

Activities of the Diocesan Union of Ziguinchor

The conference-debate organised by the Diocesan Union of Ziguinchor was led by Abbé Alain Gilbert Diédhiou, Spiritual Director of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Brin. At the end of the presentations, the women of Ziguinchor grouped themselves by age categories: those over 60, those between 40 and 55 years old, and the young women under 40, to fill in the questionnaire on their concerns and aspirations. Once the responses were in, the panelists returned to the plenary session to share the results of their discussions. Many questions were raised during the debate, some of which highlighted the active role that women can play in resolving the problems they face. Although they acknowledge that they are sometimes the cause, whether willingly or unwillingly, of their troubles. As for the younger women, they expressed their reticence in the face of a certain conservatism on the part of their elders. They consider that the latter's behaviour is out of step with the evolution of society, and that it hinders the commitment of new generations.

Aside from the critical observations, the women of the Diocese of Ziguinchor praised the significant progress made in the schooling of girls. They called for girls to remain in school and for them to receive support in the professional training cycle.

Concerned about the personal hygiene of young girls, the Diocesan Union of Ziguinchor visited Djignabo High School on the eve of March 8, 2025, to offer a set of sanitary pads to these female students. Their gesture was welcomed by the headmaster and the school's gender unit, as it promotes the fight against school absenteeism among girls.

Members of CUDAFCS organised their festivities for International Women's Rights Day 2025 under the banner of the UN theme: ‘for ALL women and girls: rights, equality and empowerment’. And the conclusions of their meetings have been submitted to their secretariat for the production of a final document. All that remains is to hope that this group of Catholic women will deepen their reflections on the development of Senegalese women, and indeed that of the world as a whole, while putting into practice some of the resolutions adopted during their work.