From April 22 to 28, a delegation of seven representatives from feminist organizations, partners of the “Feminists in Action” initiative, will be in Paris to meet with French political leaders. This delegation will continue the work of activists who were present in January 2023. Remember, they toured the capital to emphasize the importance of supporting grassroots feminist organizations.

Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, the activists will share their experiences and express their expectations to French decision-makers. They aim to contribute to discussions on implementing French feminist diplomacy, especially in a global context of backlash against women’s and gender minority rights.
MEET THE FEMINISTS IN ACTION DELEGATION!
Seven activists from Africa and Latin America will be traveling to Paris as part of the Feminists in Action delegation:
BENIN
Benedicta Aloakinnou is a Beninese feminist activist, lawyer, and president of the Young Amazons for Development Foundation. She also founded the first women’s civic participation platform in Benin, www.Leadelles.com.
BURKINA FASO
Zita Désirée Belem is the president and co-founder of Action for a Better World (AMM), an association promoting dignity and equal opportunities for women with disabilities.
CHAD
Catherine Djimet is a trained teacher and human rights activist. She founded and coordinates the Center for the Integration of Girls Dropping Out of School, an NGO that supports victims of gender-based violence and promotes women’s education and economic empowerment.
MOROCCO
Najat Ikhich founded the YTTO Foundation, which provides shelter and rehabilitation for women victims of violence and fights school dropouts through initiatives like the “social caravans for women’s equality.”
ECUADOR
Constanza Jauregui Tama is a human rights defender and founder of the feminist NGO Las Hijas de Pandora. Since 2020, they have provided free psychological and legal support to over 5,000 survivors of sexual violence in Ecuador.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Gratias Kibanja Lukoo is a trained lawyer and coordinator of Women in Action for Human Dignity. She promotes gender equality through human rights defender clubs in schools and appears in Congolese media.
MADAGASCAR
Yolande Via is a founding member and national coordinator of the Federation for the Promotion of Women and Children (FPFE), which supports women and children victims of gender-based violence.
KEY MESSAGES FROM THE DELEGATION
With their expertise and on-the-ground experiences, these activists are valuable allies for feminist diplomacy. They will provide strategic insights to political leaders and advocate for the collective struggles they are engaged in. Their main messages are:
- Ensuring the safety of activists against new threats (activist burnout, cyberviolence, etc.)
- Amplifying activists’ voices in decision-making and negotiation spaces
- Securing sustainable funding for field actions and projects that meet critical needs
Follow us on social media to stay updated on this week and learn more about the delegation’s work!