International Women’s Day: Calling for Full Participation in Peacebuilding
March 8 marks International Women’s Day, and over time, March has become a key month for raising awareness of the struggle for gender equality around the world. In this context, four women mediators from the African Women Mediators for Peace Coalition, who live in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo —a region deeply scarred by conflict—, share their messages, hoping that the world will finally listen.
Emilie Chinembe
Lawyer at the South Kivu Bar, mediator, gender consultant
“On this International Women’s Day, I raise my voice from eastern DRC, where thousands of women continue to face violence, forced displacement, and armed occupation. As a human rights defender and activist committed to women’s rights, I pay tribute to the extraordinary courage and resilience of the women in our region, who despite fear and uncertainty continue to defend their dignity, their families, and their communities. March 8, 2026, is not just a commemoration, but an urgent call to action: for the effective protection of women in conflict zones, for justice for the violence they suffer, and for their full participation in peace and decision-making processes. Women in eastern DRC are not just victims of war; they are essential actors for peace, and their rights cannot wait any longer.”
Caddy Adzuba
Honorary doctorate, lawyer, journalist, and advocate for women’s and girls’ rights
“On International Women’s Day, I celebrate the courage, determination, and resilience of women who, every day, carry hope, build peace, and demand respect for human dignity. I also pay tribute to those women in war zones who, instead of seeking their own protection, take care of the community, become the solution for everyone and forget themselves, and to those women who forget how tired they are from building bridges so that communities can live together. In this month of March dedicated to women’s rights, I reaffirm my commitment to supporting and raising awareness among men to understand that it is always with women and never without men.”
Emmanuella Vasikya
Mediator and humanitarian worker in eastern DRC
“In this month dedicated to women’s rights, I would like to reiterate that women and girls in eastern DRC deserve to live in dignity, security, and justice. In a context marked by conflict, violence, and a lack of real access to justice, it is urgent that women’s voices be heard and their rights protected. As a female mediator and humanitarian worker, I call for a collective commitment to guarantee the protection, participation, and empowerment of women and girls. Women’s rights are not a privilege; they are a requirement for peace and sustainable development.”
Georgette Biebie Songo
Professor of Toxicology at UNIKIN, mediator, and gender trainer.
“On this day, March 8, 2026, we want to honor the strength, courage, dignity, perseverance, and resilience of African women, who for generations have carried our families, our cultures, and our struggles for justice and true independence for their communities. For the CFAMP (Coalition of African Women Mediators for Peace), the promotion of women’s and girls’ rights is a requirement, an essential issue of equity and justice for the sovereignty and harmonious development of the African people. When African women stand up with confidence, relying on respect for their rights, it is a strong Africa that moves forward for the benefit of all its people. “