Mali: Commitment to change

In Mali, there has been an alarming increase in violence and (sexual) harassment against women, with many victims being under 18. In general, systemic inequality in the workplace is a big issue. Korotoumou Koné, Chair of the Joint Women's Committee of the UNTM and CSTM unions, explains that with support from CNV Internationaal, the women's committee developed a campaign and presented concrete proposals to the government through the Minister of Labour, who received them positively.  

The joint UNTM-CSTM women's collective has been fighting gender-based violence since 2021. In 2024, they organized a successful Orange the World campaign to reach the Minister of Labour, who then paved the way for an official hearing. During this meeting, the collective presented their data and recommendations, emphasizing the need for safe workplaces. The Minister acknowledged the need for safe workplaces and initiated a collaboration with the women's collective to approve capacity-building sessions on laws protecting women from gender-based violence.  

“The minister received us and we had prepared our case well”, says Koromoutou. “The result was a concrete commitment to support training to raise awareness among women and to establish focal points on violence and harassment in companies.”

CNV Internationaal has supported the UNTM-CSTM women's collective through leadership programmes, helping them to establish their position. CNV also assisted in drafting the proposal and organizing preparatory workshops, strengthening the collective's skills, and enabling them to take organized action.  

The programme will continue into 2025. The women's committee has built the capacity to gather resources and support from their organization and other groups. They will therefore be able to ensure the Minister of Labour's commitments are met and that Malian female workers are increasingly protected against gender-based violence.  

"This commitment from the Minister has deeply moved me. I felt heard as a woman and a union member. The Minister did not receive us merely out of courtesy; he took notes, asked questions, and promised to support us.”