THE Sophie Kanza Circle / Association of Women University Professors in DRC (CSK/AFEMPROF) organized a conference-debate this Monday, April 11, 2022 on the theme: “Women’s Leadership in the Context of Climate Change.”

A colorful ceremony, the commemoration of the end of the activities of the month dedicated to Women's Rights at the University of Kinshasa took place in an unprecedented atmosphere! Preceded by a procession of women professors supervised by the female police officers of the Unikin university guard, this closing ceremony was enhanced by the presence of several authorities including the Rector of Unikin and the Budget Administrator, the Minister to the President of the Republic, the Dircaba of the President of the Republic, the Minister of Gender, Family and Children, the President of the Association of Women Professors, the Representative of the Representative of UN Women, the honorable senators,…

At the opening of the ceremony, the Rector of UNIKIN, Professor Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, explained the importance and the role that women in general and women professors in particular must play within the University of Kinshasa. He declared that honoring the women of this alma mater is to attract blessings: women are life, women are justice, women are the most precious thing we have!

 The President of the Sophie Kanza Circle, there Professor Berthe Zinga Ilunga thanked the head of Unikin for her involvement in organizing this day and the official launch of the organization she oversees. She advocates a feminist vision of leadership. She thanked the Head of State for the elevation of female professors to various decision-making positions.

• Nana Manuanina Kihimba: Minister Delegate to the President of the Republic.
• Nicole Ntumba Bwatshia: Deputy Chief of Staff to the Head of State responsible for political, legal and diplomatic matters.
• Marie Nyange Ndambo: Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Congo (BCC).
• Anastasie Masanga Maponda: Rector UPN.
• Yvonne Nduagani Masika: Administrator of the Unikin Budget.
• Gertrude Ekofo Ekombe: General Manager ISP Gombe.
• Sister Florence Mbiya Mwadi: DG ISAM.
• Claudine Tshimanga Mbuyi Kaseka: Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Development at UCC.
• Nadège Gombe Kabamba: Deputy Chief of Staff to the Rector of Unikin.
• Babongisila Kuzingana : Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, etc.

The Minister of Gender, Family and Children, Mrs. Gisèle Ndaya Luseba, declared in his speech that leadership constitutes, in the DRC, a fundamental right for women. Speaking on the national theme of March 2022, “Promoting the empowerment of women and girls and gender equality in the context of combating climate change and reducing disasters », Ms. Gisèle Ndaya supported her remarks by basing her remarks on the Constitution of the DRC of February 18, 2006, in its articles 12, 14, and 15. Indeed, article 12 stipulates that all Congolese are equal before the law and have the right to equal protection of the laws, hence discrimination against women cannot be tolerated. She also regretted the fact that the majority of the female population is still illiterate and remains without professional supervision while it represents 51% of the Congolese population. As for climate change, the DRC having ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Minister castigates the fact that women, who are considered the primary users of the Congolese forest, are always sidelined in policies and programs to combat climate change. In the "empowerment" section, pillar 14 of the government's action program promotes the education and training of women, organizes and encourages apprenticeship training for women, as well as support for entrepreneurship and the political participation of women.

Other speakers spoke during the day, including the Honourable Professor Prince Kaumba Lufunda Samajiku who exhibited on "The question of the politicization of anatomy and sexual difference., THE Dr. Rosnert Ludovic Allisoutin , UN Women Representative who developed the theme on “Agricultural development in the DRC and the added value of empowering women and girls", there Professor Nadège Ngombe which dwelled on “Medicinal plants, empowerment and resilience in times of covid 19”, there Professor Marie-Claire Yandju who developed the theme “From research to the promotion of scientific and technological innovations in the agri-food sector for the development of female entrepreneurship.”

UN Women needs the results of this kind of scientific reflection to act on the basis of knowledge for political decision-making. It encourages fruitful collaboration between politicians and scientists.

                                                                                                                                                         Rectorate Press.