How Women’s Economic Empowerment Accelerates Access to Justice in Urban Areas : A Look Back at COMMAN-YA’s Agora Pop-Up & Talk

A Space for Meaningful Dialogue on International Women’s Day

To mark International Women’s Day, we at COMMAN-YA organized a unique event called “Agora Pop-Up & Talk,” held over two days filled with meaningful encounters and reflections: Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7. This initiative was part of a broader effort to highlight the challenges of women’s economic empowerment and its direct impact on their access to justice in urban areas.

The first day of the event featured a thematic discussion bringing together dedicated women working in social development and the promotion of women’s rights. Centered on the theme “How Women’s Economic Empowerment Accelerates Access to Justice in Urban Areas,” we created a space for dialogue among experts, development actors, and the public.

The meeting took place in an atmosphere that was at once professional, warm, and deeply committed, where each contribution helped deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to women’s economic empowerment in African cities.

Women’s Economic Empowerment : A Powerful Driver of Equality and Justice

Women’s economic empowerment is now an essential pillar of sustainable development and social justice. In urban areas, where economic and social inequalities can be particularly acute, access to financial resources, entrepreneurial opportunities, and professional networks becomes a key factor in strengthening women’s ability to defend their rights.

When women have their own income, income-generating activities, or structured businesses, they gain not only financial independence but also a greater ability to assert their rights before judicial and administrative institutions.

We thus emphasized during the discussion that economic independence enables women to reduce their vulnerability to injustices, particularly in situations such as workplace disputes

• economic or domestic violence

• conflicts related to property or inheritance

• discrimination in access to economic opportunities

In these often complex urban contexts, financial autonomy becomes a powerful tool for legal empowerment.

An inspiring roundtable discussion with dedicated panelists

To enrich this collective discussion, we were honored to welcome two panelists committed to promoting women’s rights and empowerment.

The first panelist, Ms. GOHI Lou Bien-Aimée, who holds a Ph.D. in communication and serves as a volunteer support advisor at Carrefour International, offered a complementary perspective by emphasizing the importance of development and international cooperation programs in empowering women in urban areas.

She noted that training, mentoring, and support initiatives for women’s economic activities directly contribute to reducing the structural barriers that limit women’s access to justice.

The second speaker, Ms. Madoussou TOURÉ, president of the NGO SMED-CI, shared her experience in supporting women entrepreneurs and advocating for women’s economic rights. Her remarks highlighted the fundamental role of civil society organizations in supporting women on their path to economic independence and in helping them understand their rights.

In particular, she emphasized that access to entrepreneurial training, financing, and professional networks enables women to strengthen their position in society and to engage with institutions with greater confidence and legitimacy.

Dynamic Moderation to Foster Dialogue

The discussion was brilliantly moderated by Hosanne YATCHOU, who skillfully guided the conversation with insight and sensitivity. Through her structured and interactive moderation, she facilitated an in-depth exploration of the connections between economic independence, decision-making power, and access to justice for women living in urban areas.

Her approach fostered an open dialogue between the panelists and the audience, allowing for a discussion of the concrete realities faced by many women.

The discussions centered on several key themes. This interaction brought to light personal accounts and experiences that illustrate the reality of the challenges faced.

A discussion rich in emotion and shared experiences, this gathering went beyond analyses and strategic perspectives to become a deeply human and emotionally charged moment.

Many participants shared their personal journeys, challenges, and successes. These testimonies served as a reminder that economic empowerment is not merely a matter of income, but also a process of personal and social transformation. These discussions reinforced the collective conviction that economic independence is one of the essential foundations of social justice and equal opportunity.