Vicentia Boco

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It is together that we will fight this fight. We have to teach our men to respect us.

— Vicentia Boco (2020)

Despite her experiences as a minister, Boco continued to share a positive relationship with Boni, serving as his advisor again during the 2011 presidential election. In 2009, Boni appointed Boco as president of the newly established Institut national pour la promotion de la femme (INPF). [3] [7]

Boco led the INFP in preparing reports and studies into the experiences of Beninese women, which were subsequently used as guidance by the Ministry of Planning and Foresight. [2] Boco publicly advocated for keeping girls in education, stating that this would lead to them advancing successfully in Beninese society. [6]

While initially supportive of Boni's presidential pledge of having 30% of members of the National Assembly as being women, she also called on him to ensure women were offered leadership roles on every level, including regional and local politics, as well as decentralised decision-making bodies. [6] In 2016, Patrice Talon succeeded Boni as president of Benin; while Boco remained in her role within the INPF, she later reported feeling that Talon's government was not as interested in promoting women's rights as the previous cabinet. [7]

Boco was critical of the diminished role of women in government following the 2019 election, wherein only eight women were elected. [8] [9] She felt subsequent amendments to the Beninese constitution, which promised to reserve 24 seats in the National Assembly for women, were unsatisfactory, pointing out that this only accounted for 22% of seats in the chamber; she also voiced concern that parties would no longer field female candidates for the remaining 85 seats as a result, further hampering increasing women's presence in politics. [5]

Outside of leadership, Boco also called for greater support for victims of domestic abuse, stating that prison sentences for perpetrators did not help their partners and children, with her feeling a more holistic approach was needed. [5]

In 2021, the government, led by Talon, took over the INPF, renaming it the Institut national de la femme. Boco did not continue in her role. [5]

Subsequent events

In 2021, Boco was selected to organise the funeral of former First Lady Rosine Vieyra Soglo, in recognition of her work around the emancipation of women. [10] [11]

In 2022, Boco criticsed the twenty-year prison sentence given to opposition politician Reckya Madougou, warning the government against using her sentencing as a deterrent against dissent. [5]

Honours

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Déclaration «Sous l'Arbre à Palabres» du Professeur Vicentia Boco, présidente du l'INPF au siège de l'événement précis: «Je suis contre les acteurs politiques qui manipulent les femmes»". L'événement Précis (in French). 12 February 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Interview du Professeur Vicentia Boco". SFR e-Bulletin (in French). 12 October 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tsau, Jean-Pierre (22 July 2019). "Vicentia Boco". JFR (in French). Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Attanasso, Marie-Odile (2013). Femmes et pouvoir politique au Bénin des origines dahoméennes à nos jours (in French). Cotonou: FES. ISBN   9789991914114.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Agossa, Assise (15 March 2022). "Législatives 2023: Vicentia Boco invite les partis au respect du quota 24% de représentativité des femmes". L'événement Précis (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Gandonou, Médard (29 April 2009). "Entretien avec Vicentia Boco: «C'est dommage que les questions de développment passent en second plan»". L'événement Précis (in French). Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Institut de la femme au Bénin: «On n'est pas parti de rien» assure Vicentia Boco". La Nouvelle Tribune . 13 August 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Gbedo, Janvier (10 December 2019). "Nouvelle Constitution et représentation des femmes: Vicentia Boco, «c'est un occasion ratée»". Matin Libre (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Zohoun, Judicaël (11 May 2019). "Vicentia Boco déplore le faible taux de représentativité des femmes". 24 heures au Bénin (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Tchalla, Alban (29 August 2021). "Vicentia Boco à propos des polémiques autour des obsèques de Rosine Soglo: «Il n'a pas été retenu un quelconque tissu à porter par les amis et connaissances»". L'événement Précis (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Amassiko, Prince (23 August 2021). "Rosine Soglo: Vicentia Boco, présidente du comité d'organisation de ses funérailles". La Nouvelle Tribune (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Kossouho, Laurent D. (18 October 2019). "Journées Françaises de Radiologie: Vincentia Boco élue membre d'honneur de la Société Française de Radiologie". L'événement Précis (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
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Vicentia Boco
Minister of Higher Education and Research
In office
2007–2008