ECOWAS and SWEDD+ Countries Unite to Combat Gender-Based Violence in Senegal

By Joylinda Laryea/ 12 October 2025

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reinforced its commitment to ending gender-based violence (GBV) across the region with a high-level capacity-building workshop held in Saly Portudal, Senegal.

Organised by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), the regional meeting took place from 22 to 26 September 2025 and brought together experts from eight countries involved in the SWEDD+ initiative: Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal and Chad. The event was supported by the World Bank, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).

Participants explored strategies to harmonise legislation and policies to better protect women and girls from harmful practices such as early marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), femicide and emerging forms of digital violence. A joint roadmap was also developed to enhance prevention measures, ensure survivor protection and improve access to justice across participating countries.

Launched in 2015, the SWEDD+ (Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend) project has become a pivotal force in advancing gender equality and positioning women’s rights at the core of sustainable development efforts in West and Central Africa.

ECOWAS officials reaffirmed that regional collaboration remains essential to creating safer, more inclusive societies where women and girls can thrive free from violence and discrimination.