Introduction

Although Senegal is considered to be a ‘State governed by the rule of law’, it is experiencing difficulties in resolving inequalities between men and women. Since independence, women have always been relegated to the background of democratic values such as freedom of expression, equal opportunity, equal access to civil and military employment and equal access to basic needs. As a result, women continue to suffer the horrors of political and legal discrimination and the lack of debate on the need for their social emancipation. The fight against gender inequality legalised by the Senegalese legislator in a so-called constitutional state remains mute.

Discrimination against Women in All Areas

In Senegal, women still suffer social or societal discrimination in terms of culture, legalisation, the family code, labour law and the patriarchal social system, not to mention the political and administrative decision-making bodies where men still wield power. Despite years of struggle to ban female genital mutilation, the adoption of the law on absolute parity between men and women in elective and semi-elective bodies in May 2010, the criminalisation of rape, the integration of women into the military and paramilitary services, equal pay, the creation of a gender directorate in all ministries, etc., women are not considered. According to some activists, they are not out of the woods yet, because the law has ceased to take the lead, to protect citizens against all forms of injustice and to punish violations of the law. Better still, the lack of technical and financial partners for women’s movements is a very strategic aspect that enables women to draw up roadmaps to face up to political decision-makers, to lobby for the adoption of laws to facilitate women’s access to education, to improve women’s health and reproductive capacity, access to land, and so on. 

The State’s Diplomatic Disadvantage 

The internationalisation of the fight for emancipation by women’s movements, through their participation in international conferences and the preparatory work for conventions, demonstrations and memorandums, has enabled the State of Senegal to understand that legal discrimination against women is a problem for the state, because this state of affairs did not work in its favour diplomatically. Indeed, very concerned about its diplomatic image within the international community, the State of Senegal has endeavoured to associate its public policies with the demands of women arising from the conventions it has ratified. 

Social Networks: The Main Weapons of War 

A defence in the fight against discrimination against women, information and communication technologies, which should enable women to bring the debate on violence against women into the ‘public arena’ by allowing all women to express their opinions, have become a means of attacking women.

Men’s Support for Women’s Rights 

The Men in Support of Women organisation was set up by men to support women in their quest for emancipation and freedom. The organisation hosted a workshop to raise awareness of the issue. According to the men, women can now count on the support of men in their fight for their rights. ‘Hommes pour les droits des femmes et des filles’ (Hom Dedff) was set up with this in mind, and aims to meet this challenge through awareness-raising campaigns. Women and girls suffer a great deal of discrimination. It’s important for men to get involved in the fight by raising awareness of women’s and girls’ rights among men like themselves. This workshop is part of that effort. There are also forum theatres.

Conclusion 

Women’s struggles against violence against women are intensifying in Senegal. After the strong mobilisation of associations, men’s associations are taking centre stage to express their dissatisfaction with this scourge. They are calling on the new government to take measures to crack down on violence, with a prevention policy involving action against stereotypes of women.