ECOWAS and SWEDD+ Nations Unite to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Harassment in West Africa ECOWAS and SWEDD+ Nations Forge United Front Against Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Harassment Dakar, Senegal – October 6, 2025 In a powerful demonstration of regional solidarity, West African nations are escalating their fight against gender-based violence and sexual harassment through coordinated legal reforms and capacity-building initiatives. The recent high-level workshop in Senegal marks a pivotal moment in transforming advocacy into concrete action across the region. From Dialogue to Action: Regional Workshop Sets New Agenda The coastal town of Saly Portudal became the epicenter of regional change-making from September 22-26, 2025, as legal experts, health professionals, and social specialists from eight West African nations converged under the compelling theme “From Advocacy to Action.” This wasn’t just another conference—it represented a fundamental shift in how the region approaches one of its most persistent human rights challenges. Organized by the ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Human Development and Social Affairs through the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, the workshop brought together representatives from Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal, and Chad. The collaboration extended to key partners including the West African Health Organisation and United Nations Population Fund, with crucial financial backing from the World Bank. The Stark Reality: Why This Initiative Matters Now The urgency of this regional effort becomes clear when examining the statistics that paint a troubling picture of women’s safety in West and Central Africa. Consider this: one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime. In this particular region, millions of girls remain vulnerable to harmful traditional practices including early marriage and female genital mutilation—practices that irrevocably damage their health, education, and future prospects. What makes this situation particularly frustrating for advocates and policymakers? Many countries already have laws and strategies theoretically designed to combat these issues. The problem lies in implementation. Laws exist on paper but often fail to translate into meaningful protection for women and girls in their daily lives. This gap between legislation and lived reality formed the central focus of the Senegal discussions. SWEDD+ Project: Building on a Foundation of Change The Sub-Saharan Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Project (SWEDD+) represents more than just another development initiative—it’s become a cornerstone of regional efforts to prioritize women’s rights. Since its initial launch in 2015 and subsequent expansion to SWEDD+, the project has established itself as a vital mechanism for placing gender equality at the heart of development priorities. Dr. Aminata Touré, a regional gender advisor who participated in the workshop, explained the project’s significance: “SWEDD+ recognizes that you cannot achieve meaningful development while half your population lives in fear of violence. By strengthening legislative frameworks and ensuring they’re properly implemented, we’re not just protecting women—we’re unlocking the region’s full potential.” Identifying Gaps, Building Bridges: The Workshop’s Concrete Outcomes Beyond the declarations and official statements, what tangible progress emerged from this gathering? Participants engaged in frank assessments of national legal frameworks, identifying specific gaps that leave women vulnerable. The discussions moved beyond generalities to address particular challenges including child marriage, female genital mutilation, the alarming rise of femicide, and the emerging threat of digital violence. Perhaps most importantly, delegates developed a joint roadmap for improving prevention mechanisms, management systems, and response protocols for gender-based violence. This roadmap focuses on establishing legal frameworks centered on survivors’ needs, ensuring better protection and more effective access to justice. The Human Cost: Stories Behind the Statistics While the workshop dealt with policies and legal texts, participants consistently returned to the human stories that make this work so urgent. Consider Mariam, a 16-year-old from northern Benin who was pulled from school for an arranged marriage, or Fatoumata, a market trader in Dakar who faces daily sexual harassment but has no confidence in reporting mechanisms. These aren’t isolated cases—they represent systemic failures that the regional collaboration seeks to address. As one legal expert from Cameroon noted during the proceedings, “We’re not just harmonizing laws; we’re rebuilding trust between women and the systems meant to protect them.” Regional Cooperation: The Key to Meaningful Change Why does this regional approach matter? Gender-based violence doesn’t respect national borders, and ineffective responses in one country can undermine progress in neighboring states. By harmonizing laws and sharing best practices, ECOWAS and SWEDD+ countries create a unified front that strengthens individual national efforts. The collaboration also enables smaller nations with limited resources to benefit from the experiences and technical capacities of their regional partners. As a delegate from Gambia explained, “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Learning from Senegal’s legal reforms or Benin’s community engagement strategies accelerates our own progress exponentially.” Looking Forward: From Workshop to Widespread Impact The true test of the Senegal workshop’s success will come in the months and years ahead as participants return to their respective countries to implement the agreed-upon action plans. The roadmap developed during the sessions provides a clear framework, but the difficult work of transforming legal texts into everyday protection remains. Critical next steps include strengthening judicial capacity to handle gender-based violence cases, improving coordination between health services and legal systems, and addressing the cultural norms that perpetuate violence against women. The regional nature of this initiative creates built-in accountability mechanisms, with countries regularly reporting progress to their regional partners. A Regional Vision: West Africa Free from Violence What would success look like for this ambitious regional effort? The ultimate goal remains clear: an inclusive, equitable West Africa where women and girls can live free from the threat of violence. While this vision may seem distant given current challenges, the coordinated action emerging from the Senegal workshop represents significant progress toward making it a reality. As the workshop concluded, participants emphasized that this isn’t just about preventing violence—it’s about creating societies where women can fully participate in social, economic, and political life. The economic implications are substantial: studies consistently show that reducing gender-based violence correlates with increased female labor force participation and economic growth. The road ahead remains long, but the collaboration between ECOWAS and SWEDD+ countries signals a regional determination to travel it together. By harmonizing laws, sharing resources, and learning from both successes and failures, West Africa positions itself as a leader in the global fight against gender-based violence—transforming advocacy into action, one legal reform at a time.
2025-10-06