The NGO Women Go for Peace (WGP) works to promote peace, social cohesion, and women’s participation in elections and decision-making in Gabon. Following the events of August 30, 2023, and the overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabon entered a two-year transition period aimed at restoring constitutional order. During this time, civil society mobilized to convey citizens’ priorities to transitional authorities, contributing to the adoption of a new Constitution in November 2024 and paving the way for national elections.
Civil society organizations played a crucial role in the electoral process by establishing national observer groups and encouraging citizen participation to restore and strengthen democratic institutions. Supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the European Union, and International IDEA, WGP led monitoring units focused on preventing electoral violence, ensuring free, transparent, and peaceful presidential and local elections. These initiatives included documenting gender-based violence and making recommendations to political parties and authorities to protect women’s rights during the election period.
WGP’s work is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 16 on peace and justice, SDG 17 on partnerships, and UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250 on women, youth, and peace. Through civic education, training workshops, awareness campaigns, and advocacy, WGP emphasizes that democracy cannot be fully realized without the active and safe participation of women and girls. Their approach combines prevention, support, documentation, and advocacy against violence targeting women and girls, especially during elections.
Despite legal frameworks such as Law No. 9/2016, which mandates quotas for women and youth in politics, challenges remain. Socio-cultural constraints often discourage women from seeking leadership positions or reporting violence, while weak enforcement of laws and the absence of specialized mechanisms limit progress toward equality. WGP advocates for capacity building for the judiciary, institutionalized monitoring mechanisms, integration of gender perspectives into policies and elections, long-term support for civil society, and community education to dismantle stereotypes that hinder women’s participation.
Democratic actors in Gabon, including political parties, civil society organizations, and media, are increasingly integrating gender issues into their activities. Women’s networks are strengthening collective advocacy, and WGP continues to support these initiatives, building confidence among women and girls and reinforcing that equality is a right, not a privilege.
