The Comité Régional de Solidarité des Femmes pour la Paix en Casamance/Usoforal (Regional Committee for Solidarity of Women for Peace in Casamance, CRSFPC or Usoforal) was created in 1999.
Led by women, Usoforal means 'let's unite' in Diola, which translates into Usoforal's vision for a peaceful, prosperous and open Casamance. Usoforal also works to support female ownership in Senegalese development work.
Usoforal has invested in training and awareness-raising for women, particular those from rural areas, in order to support female leadership in building peace in Casamance.
Usoforal has established local peace committees to arbitrate in conflicts, promote reconciliation and support local negotiation capacity. It aims to ensure that female leaders and these committees play a key role in conflict resolution in their communities.
Usoforal has inspired other women's organisations and developed activities in partnership with other movements. This has led to key national-level evenets, such as a vigil for peace in January 2011, which brought together more than 5,000 women.
In February 2011, Usoforal participated in the World Social Forum in Dakar, basing its conference work on UNSC 1325.
Usoforal was a co-founder of Plateforme des Femmes pour la Paix en Casamance, which brings together more than 170 women's groups. The Plateforme lobbies at national level to support the inclusion of women at the centre of peacebuilding effors.
Usoforal works in the rural communities of Enamapore and others most affected by the conflict in Casamance, including Niassia, Adéane and Oulampane.
Usoforal founder Seynabou Male received the World Women's Summit Foundation prize in 2013, recognising her work as a peace and women's rights advocate.
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