West African women leaders declare violence against women a legislative emergency, demand urgent action
West African women leaders issued a declaration calling for violence against women and girls (VAWG) to be treated as a legislative emergency, warning that persistent abuse continues to undermine democracy, development and human rights across the sub-region. This occurred in Accra under the auspices of the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) during the West Africa Female Parliamentarians Peer Review Conference on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. Participants adopted the Accra Declaration on Ending VAWG, committing to spearheading legislative and policy reforms.
The declaration comes amid concerns over rising cases of gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, political harassment of women, and weak implementation of laws across the ECOWAS region. Leaders acknowledged that while many West African countries have enacted progressive laws, implementation remains weak due to inadequate enforcement, insufficient funding, and deeply entrenched social norms. These shortcomings have prevented many women and girls from enjoying guaranteed protection. Participants called for stronger parliamentary oversight, increased budgetary allocations for survivor support services, and greater harmonisation of laws across the ECOWAS region.
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West African women leaders, including parliamentarians and civil society figures, have convened to address the escalating issue of violence against
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