As a Volunteer Advisor in Communications with the IBCR team in Senegal, I was assigned to Dakar for a second term with our partner, the Association des Juristes Sénégalaises (AJS). 

As part of the activities organized by AJD throughout 2024 to celebrate its 50th anniversary (1974-2024), I actively participated in the organization of several events, including the sub-regional symposium that took place from October 22 to 24, 2024. The theme of the symposium was “Perspectives on the Evolution of Women’s Rights: Achievements and Future Prospects”. Over three days, the event brought together jurists, human rights associations, civil society actors, academics, policymakers, and experts from diverse backgrounds to evaluate the progress made, identify ongoing challenges, and outline strategies for improving the effectiveness of women’s and children’s rights. 

One of the key sessions focused on the sub-theme “Children’s Rights in the Context of Security and Environmental Challenges”. Various issues were addressed during this session, including the protection of children’s rights in the digital era, the impact of security crises on their rights, and the challenge of providing education amid security and environmental threats. Discussions also covered the mechanisms available to protect children from rights violations. 

The goal of this gathering was to contribute to improving the legal framework for women’s and children’s rights at the national, regional and sub-regional levels. Participants shared experiences on protecting these rights and made recommendations to strengthen them. A significant outcome of the symposium was the adoption of the “Declaration of African women jurists for the Respect of Women’s and Children’s Rights”. 

AJS is committed to ensuring that this declaration leads to tangible impacts and that all decentralized authorities and development stakeholders incorporate its principles into their resilience efforts to address the many challenges related to the status and effectiveness of women’s and children’s rights. 

- Ndeye Madjiguéne SARR BAKHOUM, Legal Expert in Communications, Coordinator of the Pikine Legal Aid Clinic, and Communications Officer at AJS.  

My involvement in this project consisted in designing the visual identity of the event, creating all the communication tools, and participating, as a planning advisor, in all stages of the symposium’s organization. This experience also allowed me to bring together and put into practice several aspects of communication, while supporting capacity-building efforts for AJS teams through concrete actions. 

Overall, it was a great opportunity to strengthen our partnership with our partner AJS, build trust, and respond effectively to their needs! 

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Voluntary cooperation program funded by Global Affairs Canada.