Women’s Struggle Day in Togo: November 16 – A Day to Celebrate the Strength and Resilience of Togolese Women

Women play a crucial role in society, yet their contributions often go unrecognized and undervalued. In Togo, a small country in West Africa, women have been fighting for recognition and equality for many years. And on November 16th, Togolese women are celebrated and honored for their strength and resilience on Women’s Struggle Day.

Women’s Struggle Day in Togo is also known as ‘La Journée de la Femme Togolaise’ in French.

This day was first celebrated in 1970, after women’s groups in Togo came together to demand equal rights and opportunities for women.

Since then, Women’s Struggle Day has been observed every year to raise awareness about women’s rights and their contribution to society.

On this day, women gather to march and speak out about the issues they face, including gender-based violence, discrimination, and lack of access to education and economic opportunities.

The theme for this year’s Women’s Struggle Day is ‘Women’s Empowerment: A Key to Sustainable Development’.

This highlights the importance of empowering women to achieve sustainable development for themselves and their communities.

One of the main struggles for Togolese women is access to education.

According to a 2019 UN report, only 48% of women in Togo are literate compared to 73% of men.

This disparity can be attributed to cultural norms, poverty, and early marriage, which often prevent girls from receiving an education.

However, there have been efforts to improve access to education for girls in Togo.

In 2018, the government launched the ‘Education for All’ program, which aimed to reduce gender disparities in education and increase female enrollment in primary and secondary schools.

Another issue that Togolese women face is domestic violence.

According to a 2018 survey, 27% of women in Togo have experienced physical violence from their partners.

On Women’s Struggle Day, activists and organizations come together to raise awareness about domestic violence and advocate for laws and policies to protect women.

In 2018, Togo passed the Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Act, which criminalizes domestic violence and provides support for survivors.

This is a significant step towards protecting women’s rights in Togo.

Apart from these issues, women in Togo also face economic challenges.

In 2019, the World Bank reported that only 14% of women in Togo were employed, compared to 29% of men.

This can be attributed to traditional gender roles, lack of access to credit and land, and limited opportunities for women to start their own businesses.

On Women’s Struggle Day, there are discussions and workshops on how to promote women’s economic empowerment and support their economic independence.

Efforts have been made to increase access to credit and training for women entrepreneurs in Togo, but more still needs to be done to bridge the gender gap in the workforce.

Overall, Women’s Struggle Day in Togo serves as a reminder of the challenges that women face and the progress that still needs to be made towards gender equality.

Through this day, women’s voices are amplified, and their contributions are recognized and celebrated.

It is a day to honor the strength, resilience, and determination of Togolese women, and to continue the fight for gender equality and women’s rights.

So on November 16th, let us celebrate Women’s Struggle Day in Togo and stand in solidarity with Togolese women in their pursuit of equality and empowerment.

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