ECOWAS Empowers Ivorian Stakeholders to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Harassment
Regional Initiative Strengthens Capacity for GBV Prevention and Response
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire | July 18, 2025 – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a critical capacity-building initiative to strengthen Ivorian institutions’ response to gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment. The three-day national training workshop, organized by the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development (CCDG) in partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Women, Family and Children, took place from June 26-28, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders from judicial, health, and social sectors.
Holistic Approach to Addressing Systemic Violence
This initiative forms part of ECOWAS’s implementation of its 2021 regional strategy to eliminate violence against women and girls across West Africa. The intensive workshop focused on developing a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to GBV prevention, detection, and victim support services.
“The alarming statistics we face today represent countless voices demanding justice, redress, and protection,” declared Moussa Diarassouba, Chief of Staff representing the Minister for Women, during the opening ceremony. “Inaction is simply not an option anymore. We must mobilize all sectors – from judiciary to healthcare to social services – to break this cycle of violence.”
Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Sustainable Solutions
The training emphasized specialized roles for different professionals:
- Judicial actors were urged to ensure accessible justice systems and combat impunity
- Healthcare providers received training on comprehensive medical and psychological care protocols
- Social workers focused on long-term rehabilitation and economic reintegration strategies
Ambassador Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, commended the country’s leadership in GBV response while highlighting pandemic-related challenges: “The COVID-19 crisis has intensified various forms of violence against women and girls. These complex challenges demand our collective commitment to achieve zero tolerance for GBV and sexual harassment.”
Building Professional Competencies for Early Intervention
Ms. Sandra Oulaté-Fattoh, Director of the CCDG, stressed the importance of professional training: “Effective intervention requires the ability to recognize subtle indicators of GBV, even when victims cannot verbalize their trauma. Our training covers all violence manifestations – physical, sexual, psychological, economic – within their cultural contexts.”
Alarming Regional Statistics Demand Action
Recent data reveals disturbing trends across West Africa:
- Over 10% of women in ECOWAS countries experience physical, sexual, or emotional violence
- GBV cases surged by up to 50% in some nations during pandemic lockdowns
- Côte d’Ivoire recorded 9,607 GBV cases in 2024 alone (affecting 7,950 women and 3,290 children)
This ECOWAS-led initiative represents a significant step toward implementing the region’s comprehensive strategy against gender violence. By equipping frontline responders with specialized skills and fostering inter-agency collaboration, the program aims to transform systemic responses to GBV across West Africa.
Source: ECOWAS Official Website