Africa-Press – Cape verde. The creation of the Cape Verdean Women’s Organization (OMCV) has brought “significant gains” in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, education, and economic empowerment of women in the country over these 45 years, declared the organization’s president today.
Eloisa Gonçalves, in statements to Inforpress, within the framework of the OMCV’s 45th anniversary celebrations, gave “a positive assessment” of the organization’s journey, despite the challenges and constraints faced.
These, she said, are related to the organization’s sustainability, due to its “heavily dependent on external funding,” as well as limitations in terms of human resources, including staff and volunteers.
Despite the gains, she highlighted the OMCV’s main contributions over these years, such as the creation of a vast network of kindergartens, especially in peripheral areas, which allowed many women to enter the labor market, as well as their participation in literacy programs and awareness campaigns on sexual and reproductive health.
The official also highlighted the organization’s impact on increasing the number of women in schools and strengthening economic empowerment, particularly through microcredit initiatives.
The president of the OMCV also emphasized the organization’s role in promoting gender equality and defending legal instruments, such as the law on gender-based violence and the parity law.
However, she considered that difficulties persist in implementing the parity law due to the weak female representation in political and decision-making positions.
Eloisa Gonçalves warned that Cape Verdean women continue to face several challenges, saying that “the face of poverty remains female” and that the majority of victims of gender-based violence are women.
She also indicated the prevalence of single-parent families headed by women.
For her, these situations have significant impacts on families and the country’s development, therefore she argued that a society that excludes half of its population from the development process “is failing”.
In this sense, she called for a united effort between men and women, civil society, government, and public and private institutions to build a more just and egalitarian society.
As part of the OMCV’s 45th anniversary celebrations, several activities are planned nationwide, including workshops, discussion groups, meetings with rural women, and visits to incarcerated women.
Liliane Leal, a beneficiary of the organization, stated that the support received through an OMCV credit line allowed her to acquire equipment to work in the construction industry, installing ceilings.
A single mother of two, Liliane Leal said that the support she received about a year ago transformed her life, allowing her to start a professional activity. On that occasion, she left a message of encouragement for women not to give up on their dreams, even in the face of difficulties.
The Cape Verdean Women’s Organization was created 45 years ago by women who participated in the struggle for independence, with the aim of promoting the full participation of women in the country’s development, and has since distinguished itself in promoting women’s rights and gender equality in Cape Verde.
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