First get the recognition

'In Senegal there is a tremendous growth of women s organisations and associations in community neighbourhoods. Women are organising themselves to alleviate poverty, since it affects them more than it does men. Illiteracy, lack of training and education, isolation, and ignorance about their rights in particular all contribute towards women s poverty.' Safiétou is the president of the Siggil Jigeen network of 16 associations active in promoting and defending women s rights in Senegal. 'I was born in 1964', she continues. 'I come from a backward background; my father is an imam and my mother a housewife. I studied until advanced level at school, and went on to teacher training school. I have always been revolted by the exploitation of women by men. When I became aware of my own situation, I realised that women do not know their rights. That s why I m in the struggle now. One quarter of our members are women farmers, and they benefit from 80% of our activities. We focus on advocacy work for legislation on gender equality, and the surveys we conduct in this field are targeted at decision makers and opinion leaders. What s important here, and this is our major goal, is that the woman s right to work and participate in decisions is recognised, and that this recognition brings women in from out of the shadows.''In Senegal there is a tremendous growth of women s organisations and associations in community neighbourhoods. Women are organising themselves to alleviate poverty, since it affects them more than it does men. Illiteracy, lack of training and..