Celebrating Women’s Rights and launching the Mois de la Francophonie: an honour and a commitment for the Alliance Française La Haye!

More than a hundred participants turned out to celebrate International Women’s Rights Day and to kick off the Mois de la Francophonie, in an atmosphere that was both festive and committed. It was an unforgettable event, under the banner of art, sharing and equality.

1. oPENING EXHIBITION “Couleurs Francophones”

The evening began with the opening of the “Couleurs Francophones” exhibition, showcasing contemporary Romanian painting. In the presence of H.E. Mr Nicolae Comanescu, the Romanian Ambassador to the Netherlands, the exhibition offered a fascinating insight into the world of Romanian art. Organised by the Soleil de l’Est association, in partnership with the Romanian Embassy, the exhibition brought together 26 works by 12 French-speaking Romanian artists, including Ion Atanasiu-Delamare, Nicolae Blei and Mirela Iordache, inspired by their artistic residencies in France.

This exhibition is a cultural bridge between France and Romania, celebrating the diversity of the French-speaking world through art.

2. Round table on women’s rights in the French-speaking world

The evening continued with a round-table discussion on the issue of women’s rights in the French-speaking world, featuring a number of prestigious speakers, all experts in their fields:

• Costin Ioana, lawyer at the European Space Agency (ESA);
• Bi Zah NENE, first counsellor at the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire;
• Amal Hamidallah, lawyer and activist involved in monitoring and evaluating the impact of humanitarian, legal and human rights actions;
• Dorothy Seguy, founder and CEO of TheNextWomen.

Our speakers shared their analyses of the advances and persistent challenges in the field of gender equality.

In the French-speaking world, significant progress has been made, but many challenges remain. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, 24% of girls are still not in school, and 55% of women of working age participate in the labour market, compared with 76% of men. Nevertheless, initiatives such as the La Francophonie avec Elles Fund have supported 80,000 women through 286 projects in 30 countries.

The outlook is ambitious and includes:
🎯 Accelerating access to education for girls,
🎯 Multiplying initiatives for the economic empowerment of women,
🎯 Strengthening international advocacy for the integration of women in decision-making processes,
🎯 Supporting the digital and ecological transition to guarantee a role for women in the sectors of the future.

3. Visibility and Impact of the Exhibition

The opening and the round table were a real opportunity for sharing and reflection, but also for shedding crucial light on the challenges linked to women’s rights. The ‘Couleurs Francophones’ exhibition can be seen at the Alliance Française de La Haye throughout March, a place where culture and societal issues meet to open up discussions on the future of the French-speaking world and women’s rights.

For those who were unable to attend, we have recorded the entire discussion, which you can find on our YouTube channel.

Many thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this event, in particular our speakers, the Romanian Embassy and the Soleil de l’Est association. Thanks to you, this event was a memorable opportunity to reflect, exchange ideas and work together for a more egalitarian world.

See you soon for our next event at the Alliance Française de La Haye!