Kinshasa, February 26th, 2026 (CPA). – Strengthening the political engagement of women and youth for the emergence of new grassroots leadership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was the focus of discussions on Thursday during a workshop dedicated to sharing experiences on awareness-raising materials in Kinshasa. “We have strengthened the political engagement of women and young people because, although progress is gradual, it is essential to build on every achievement,” said Grace Lula Hamba, Executive Director of the Permanent Consultation Framework of the Congolese Woman (CAFCO).
She specified that this initiative, supported by Open Society Africa, enabled the implementation of several activities, including civic education, election observation and technical support for female candidates. Ms. Lula, however, deplored the persistence of major obstacles such as gender stereotypes, socio-cultural pressures and lack of financial resources, which discourage many women even before entering the political race. The CAFCO Executive Director urged political parties to provide women with genuine decision-making spaces beyond women’s leagues. For his part, legal expert Maître Pacifique Nkuzi emphasized the need for women to know and defend their rights in order to assert themselves fully in decision-making spheres. Participants, including Clotilde Lumbala, a student at the University of Information and Communication Sciences (UNISIC), welcomed the initiative. She pledged to extend awareness efforts among young people through social media platforms.