Brussels, 06/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 5 April, Ndoye Mame Penda and the Senegalese Federation of “Femmes Transformatrices de Poisson” (“Women fish processors”) received the 2016 Global Progressive Achiever Award in Brussels for their contribution to the emancipation of Senegalese women and to the implementation of modern sustainable processing techniques.
The award is given by the Global Progressive Forum to leading figures who achieve tangible results to promote worldwide progress and people's well-being. It was presented by Global Progressive Forum secretary-general Doriano Dragoni during the European Parliament S&D Group's African Week (5-11 April) - a week punctuated by political and cultural events focusing on EU-Africa relations and the future directions of this strategic partnership, which is to be renewed in order to adapt it to new challenges.
Fish processing is a sector which is 90% in the hands of women and is recognised as having very strong potential in Senegal. The women in Senegal play a fundamental role in processing excess fish, which would otherwise be thrown away. The women are organised in a group and have replaced traditional wood ovens with modern fish processing equipment, designed to reduce the negative impact on the environment and workers' health. New processing techniques enable them to take advantage of an activity that generates a stable income.
“This award is an important recognition for all Senegalese women who fight for their independence and for their capacity to respond to their challenges and needs”, Ndoye Mame Penda stated.
Marie Arena MEP (S&D, Belgium) noted that “despite the adoption of numerous international conventions and protocols that reaffirm gender equality, discrimination and prejudices hinder the emancipation of African women. They hold less than 1% of the continent's land and receive only 1% of the amount of funds allocated to agriculture whereas they are the source of 70% of food production”. In Arena's view, “Mrs Penda and the Federation of women fish processors perfectly illustrate the potential that women represent to play a central role in African economies”. Zita Gurmai, head of the European Socialist Women, underlined that with the universal sustainable development goals now in place, there is a need “to keep working on the implementation of law, programmes, funding and actions that help women improve their lives, be it economically, politically or socially”.
The importance of making African women autonomous and of developing Africa's strategies of emancipation and empowerment in international frameworks was moreover underlined at the Africa in the Heart of a Globalised World conference organised by the S&D Group at the European Parliament on Wednesday 6 April. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)