RFLD Dakar: A New Hub for West African Women's Rights Activism

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) held a regional meeting at its Dakar office on 16 June 2026. This gathering focused on protecting Women Human Rights Defenders in West Africa. The Dakar office is RFLD’s fourth regional base, adding to locations in Porto Novo, Accra, and Banjul. Setting up in Senegal shows a clear choice: regional efforts must connect with local realities. Protecting women defenders in West Africa needs a strong presence where the work happens.

On 16 June 2026, RFLD organized a high-level meeting on protecting Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in West Africa. The event, named Solidarity, Protection and Lineage of Resistance, took place in the RFLD Dakar Office hall. This office is located on the 5th and 6th floors of Résidence “AW 06”, Cité Keur Gorgui, in Dakar.

Around thirty representatives attended the meeting. Their involvement helps shape how women defenders are protected across West Africa. Women Human Rights Defenders from various countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, joined alongside key Senegalese feminist groups.

The Dakar office is strategically located in a central area of Dakar, near the Senegalese government, diplomatic missions, and UN regional offices. This location is practical, not just symbolic. It puts RFLD's West African work close to the relevant institutional actors.

From this office, the Dakar team manages RFLD’s work with Senegalese feminist groups, the ECOWAS framework, and other regional bodies. The 16 June meeting marked the start of this operational setup. Women human rights defenders from the region were present, along with representatives from major Senegalese feminist organizations.

Two main donors for RFLD’s work in West Africa, GIZ and Sida, attended the meeting as partners. Diplomatic missions in Senegal also took part, alongside senior officials from the Senegalese government. Mr Naji Moulay Lahsen from CIDH Sahel and North Africa joined the discussion, along with experienced journalists focused on human rights. The meeting showed what a regional hub should do: create a space where key players can connect and discuss important issues directly.

The gathering included a diverse group of participants who influence the protection of women defenders in West Africa. Hon. Prof. Remy Ngoy Lumbu, ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, was also there, bringing important continental insight. Mr Naji Moulay Lahsen added a cross-regional perspective, linking the Sahel to North Africa's human rights context.

Senior experts from various fields also contributed. Mme Hannah Forster, former Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, and Pr. Mabassa Fall, a jurist, shared their knowledge. M. Sadikh Niass, a prominent Senegalese human rights leader, was present too.

Bilateral diplomatic missions in Senegal also participated in the meeting. GIZ and Sida were represented, with Mme Katja Roeckel, Country Director of GIZ Senegal, in attendance. H.E. Catharina Cappelin, the Swedish Ambassador to Senegal, was also there, along with Mme Khady Touré from the Embassy of Sweden. High-ranking officials from the Senegalese government also took part.

Senior representatives from Senegalese feminist civil society organizations were present. Journalists covering human rights issues were there too, adding a media perspective to the protection efforts. RFLD was represented at a high level by M. John Gbenagnon, Regional Strategy and Development Director, while M. Bathor Seck, RFLD Country Representative for Senegal, led the discussions.

RFLD is an African feminist organization run by African women. Its structure is built from the hard work of African feminists. The partnership between RFLD and European donors is about support, not control. This relationship respects RFLD’s independence in decision-making.

RFLD has developed important structures, including the four offices in Porto Novo, Accra, Banjul, and Dakar. They have 670 member organizations in over 35 African countries. The WAFFF Fund and the Africa Portfolio Grant support grassroots feminist groups directly. The DƆNÙESÈ Data Center provides essential policy tools for African civil society. RFLD can also respond quickly to threats against women human rights defenders. They produce reports like the State of African Francophone Feminist Movements to inform and analyze issues.

European donor support helps RFLD work on a larger scale and improve the protection environment for women defenders. The presence of GIZ and Sida at the Dakar meeting showed this ongoing partnership. Their support is crucial for making this work effective.

At the Dakar consultation, GIZ and Sida were represented. GIZ was there through Mme Katja Roeckel, while Sweden was represented by H.E. Catharina Cappelin and Mme Khady Touré. Their ongoing support has built a strong partnership with RFLD.

RFLD, the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement, is a pan-African afrofeminist organization with offices in Porto Novo, Accra, Banjul, and Dakar. They hold ACHPR Observer Status N°553 and are part of the Working Group of the ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

RFLD also co-chairs the SEA-T Programme Advisory Council, which guides the Society. Equality. Africa, the Transformation (SEA-T) programme. This body ensures that SEA-T aligns with the goals of afro feminist civil society. The Dakar meeting was part of RFLD’s BRAVE programme, which focuses on bodily autonomy, the Maputo Protocol, sexual and reproductive health, and protecting women human rights defenders.

Meetings like this one have lasting effects. They give women defenders a voice when they are often silenced. They highlight the issues that affect protection in the region. They build relationships that lead to mutual support during crises. They bring institutional actors and grassroots defenders together, creating accountability that lasts beyond the meeting.

These events strengthen the continental discussion by grounding it in local experiences. They connect local efforts to continental support. Most importantly, they show defenders that they are not alone, that their work is valued, and that their struggle is recognized by those in power.

The closing words of the meeting captured the spirit of the event: Celle qui arrive est liée à celles qui sont venues avant. Nous avançons en nous souvenantd’elles. She who arrives is bound to those who came before. We move forward by remembering them.