Kandia Camara, President of the Senate of Côte d’Ivoire, made a powerful case for women’s leadership in peacebuilding and governance during her address at the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva.
Hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in partnership with the Swiss Parliament, the high-level summit brought together female parliamentary leaders from across the globe to promote inclusive dialogue and explore strategies to strengthen women’s roles in political leadership.
During her intervention, Madam Camara highlighted the significant strides made by Ivorian women in governance and their critical contributions to national reconciliation and development.
“Women are not only victims in times of conflict, they are also key actors in building peace and sustaining it,” she stated.
Camara, who has long been a vocal advocate for gender equity in West Africa, emphasized that Côte d’Ivoire has been steadily reinforcing women’s representation in key political institutions. “Our commitment is not just symbolic. It is structural, embedded in our national policies and enshrined in law,” she added.
She was accompanied by fellow Ivorian senators Ahiba Boguié and Asseké Yaba Adèle, as well as Touré Ousmane Samassi, the Secretary General of the Senate.
The Geneva summit provided a platform for delegates to exchange experiences and discuss pressing global challenges through the lens of gender parity. Camara used the opportunity to encourage fellow legislators to maintain political will and institutional support for the empowerment of women at all levels.
Her remarks were received with warmth and applause, underscoring the growing recognition of Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts in championing female leadership on the continent.
The summit concluded with renewed calls for international cooperation to close the gender gap in political representation and to integrate women’s voices more meaningfully into peace and security frameworks worldwide.
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