Ei-iE

The Gender Equality Committee of EI affiliate Syndicat national de l’enseignement primaire public de Côte d’Ivoire (SNEPPCI) held an International Women's Day commemoration ceremony on 7 March.

The ceremony involved a women’s march, speeches, a conference, and a lunch and dance.

The women’s march saw 350 women from Abidjan and its suburbs parade through the streets.

Involvement and importance of women

Two speeches - by SNEPPCI Gender Committee Chair Nicaise N'Guessan Bi and SNEPPCI National General Secretary Paul Gnelou - hailed women’s rank-and-file action and their engagement with SNEPPCI’s long-term future. The speakers also stressed the importance of women in society and work alongside men.

The day’s keynote speech by Annick Yablai N'Goran, barrister and member of the Association of Women Lawyers of Côte d'Ivoire (AFJCI), informed the gathering about the rights and duties of working women. She also outlined the changes stemming from the new national laws on marriage.

In thanking Yablai N'Goran for her brilliant speech, Gnelou called on the women attendees to put the information and advice received to good use.

EI: Praise for colleagues

“Our Côte d'Ivoire colleagues are to be congratulated on their actions to promote gender equality on the occasion of International Women's Day on 8 March,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. “Women’s role in education, trade unions, and society, along with access to quality education for all, boys and girls alike, will be central to the discussions at EI’s Second World Women’s Conference to be held from 7-9 April in Dublin, Ireland.”