Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a major public health and human rights concern in Senegal. Data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS 2017) reveals that 8% of women aged 15 to 49 report having experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. Even more concerning, in 62% of cases, the perpetrator is the husband or intimate partner.

These figures highlight a reality that is often silenced: the danger does not only come from public spaces. For many victims, it lies within the home itself. This observation raises questions about power dynamics within couples and the social norms that tend to normalize certain forms of domestic violence.

According to Abdoulaye Ndione, a psychologist at the Directorate of Adolescent Health, the impact of this violence goes far beyond the act itself. "When a woman suffers repeated sexual violence within a marital relationship, it leads to profound psychological scars, damages her self-esteem, and compromises her ability to plan for the future," he explains.

The health consequences are numerous: anxiety and depressive disorders, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, physical injuries, and social isolation. Across sub-Saharan Africa, gender-based violence is among the leading causes of maternal mortality, with an estimated ratio of 500 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation. Lockdown measures exposed many women to increased proximity with their abusers. According to the Association of Senegalese Women Jurists (AJS), the proportion of female victims rose from 43.8% before the health crisis to 56.2% during the pandemic.

Faced with this reality, experts are calling for strengthened prevention, protection, and support systems. Breaking the silence, dismantling the social norms that legitimize this violence, and guaranteeing effective access to medical care and psychological support remain priorities for reversing this trend.