The Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, has called for a more courageous and reimagined approach to women empowerment.

She was speaking at the opening of the organisation's two-day conference in Kigali, held under the theme "30 Years after the Beijing Conference: The Contribution of Women in the Francophone World.”

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The gathering is bringing together representatives from member states of the OIF to examine progress, remaining gaps, and the strategic importance of women’s leadership in governance, culture, diplomacy, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.

According to OIF, the "Kigali call" is expected to reaffirm central priorities for advancing women’s rights across the Francophone world.

At the opening of the conference on Wednesday, November 19, leaders stressed that empowering women is "no longer a goal” but "an urgent necessity,” noting that 30 years after the landmark Beijing Conference, gender equality remains an unfinished business.

Mushikiwabo tied this year’s theme directly to the Kigali Call, urging members to take a more courageous, reimagined approach to women’s empowerment.

"I must make a confession here. Each time I advocate for the cause of women, I am astonished by our lack of clarity,” she said.

"Do we not know perfectly well—beyond speeches—that the world cannot function without fully and fairly taking into account half of its population,” she told delegates.

Mushikiwabo called for drawing "a new map of the Francophone space—more honest, more uninhibited” in order to recognise the transformative power of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and family wellbeing.

She highlighted continued OIF priorities—girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment—and urged member states to strengthen support to the "La Francophonie avec Elles” Fund to expand women’s autonomy and community impact.

"The Kigali Call which we will adopt at the closure of our activities, will outline an ambitious, innovative, and balanced Francophone vision around this major challenge,” she said, referring to gender equality.

She also encouraged states to join the OIF in launching a new initiative focused on training and integrating girls and women into emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

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Despite notable advances, OIF data shows that no member state has yet achieved full gender parity. Current challenges include: