Association des Femmes Ivoiriennes

The Association des Femmes Ivoiriennes (AFI) or Association of Ivorian Women is a women's organization in the Ivory Coast, the women's wing of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI).^[1]

History

The AFI was created in 1963 by Ivory Coast's First Lady, Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny, to replace the Feminine Committee, a previously active women's wing of the PDCI.^[2] Houphouët-Boigny was honorary president. Jeanne Gervais was the first vice president, and later the longrunning AFI president. Gladys Anoma was secretary general.^[1] In 1976 the AFI successfully pressed for Gervais to be appointed government minister for women.^[3] After maintaining a parallel existence with the party for several years, the AFI was formally affiliated with the PDCI in 1977.^[2]

The AFI has been criticized for subordinating the women's movement to PDCI party politics, restricting its activities to those regarded as appropriate for women while leaving 'real' politics to male party leaders. It has supported orphanages, held conferences on marriage and divorce, and sent representatives to international conferences.^[2] Others defend its role in promoting women's legal and economic rights.^[1]

One of the association's presidents was Martine Djibo.^[4]

References

1. Cyril K. Daddieh (2016). "Association des Femmes Ivoriennes". Historical Dictionary of Cote d'Ivoire (The Ivory Coast). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-8108-7389-6.
2. Kathleen Sheldon (2016). "Association des Femmes Ivoiriennes (AFI) / Association of Ivorian Women". Historical Dictionary of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-4422-6293-5.
3. Santosh C. Saha (1999). "Association of Ivorian Women (AFI)". Dictionary of Human Rights Advocacy Organizations in Africa. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-313-30945-8.
4. Beganssou, Prince (2022-11-01). "Décès de Martine Djibo, la première femme député de la ville de Bouaké" [Death of Martine Djibo, the first female deputy of the city of Bouaké]. Afrik Soir (in French). Retrieved 2022-11-03.