A regional training workshop on legal reforms for the prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV) brings together SWEDD and SWEDD+ countries, ECOWAS, UNFPA, WAHO, and the World Bank. The objective is to accelerate the harmonization of legal and policy frameworks to better protect the rights of women and girls in West and Central Africa.

Indeed, the figures remain alarming. Nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence. In the region, 37% of girls are married before the age of 18, and female genital mutilation still affects 17 countries, including two with the highest rates in the world. These figures are deemed "unacceptable" by organizations, which emphasize the urgent need for action.

"The situation remains worrying. Nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence. One in five was married before the age of 18, with the highest rates in West and Central Africa, where child marriage is 41%, putting them at risk of early pregnancy, dropping out of school, and more. More than 144 million women and girls on this continent have undergone female genital mutilation. These figures remind us of the urgent need to act. This is not just a rights crisis, it is a true human capital crisis," said World Bank representative Eleonora Cavagnero.

UNFPA Regional Director Dr. Sennen Hounton warned of a setback for women's rights in some countries. "These dramatic figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen our legal frameworks, mobilize our partners, and maintain a strong commitment to combating all forms of gender-based violence. Laws are not enough. Their implementation will depend on mobilizing communities and transforming social norms," he said.

For her part, ECOWAS Commissioner Professor Fatou Sow Sarr called for "anticipating new challenges related to social networks," saying that despite investments, indicators remain worrying, particularly with regard to female genital mutilation.