The Women in Politics Forum, WIPF, is leading a regional and intergenerational movement against Violence Against Women and Girls in the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS, shaping the future of women’s rights advocacy across our region.
President of WIPF, Bar. Ebere Ifendu, made this known in her opening remark at the Women’s Rights Review Conference held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, recently.
She noted that, “ending violence against women and girls was not just a women’s issue, it is a human rights, development, and democracy issue.”
Ifendu acknowledged that progress has been made in putting in place policies to address VAWG across West Africa, noting that, “Despite these gains, the persistence of violence, weak enforcement of laws, and the lack of harmonised regional approaches continue to put millions of women and girls at risk.”
She disclosed that the conference, made possible as part of the ACT project funded by UN Women and the European Union, has representation from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Togo and Sierra Leone, has the potential to shape laws, influence institutions, and transform lives.
She said the conference was both an opportunity for reflection and a call to action to shape the future of women’s rights advocacy across the region.
The forum’s president stressed that: “The findings from our recently concluded research titled: ‘Understanding The Impact of Violence Against Women and Girls on National Development’, will serve as our compass in this meeting, helping us identify what is working, what is missing, and where urgent action is needed.
“We will review policies, share best practices, and co-develop a regional advocacy strategy that places women’s rights firmly at the center of decision-making.
“This strategy will not remain on paper, it will be designed to influence both national parliaments and the ECOWAS Parliament, with clear priorities, unified messages, and practical actions that we, as a collective movement, can take forward.
“Just as importantly, this conference is a platform for coalition building, bringing together established women’s rights leaders and young feminists to forge an intergenerational movement that speaks with one strong voice across West Africa.”
Giving a goodwill message on behalf of the President of Sierra Leone and ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, appreciated the organisers for hosting the conference in Sierra Leone; noting that: “As a country, we have acceded to a number of global, regional and sub-regional frameworks with commitment to establish and strengthen legislative, policy and institutional frameworks that will ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment in social, economic, political and cultural spheres.
“True to such commitments and in line with prescriptions in global and regional frameworks, we have over the years adopted legislations, policies and strategies that seek to ensure adequate protection of women and girls from sexual gender-based violence; and advance women’s rights especially in political and economic spheres.
“The passage of 3 gender responsive legislations in 2007: Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act, Domestic Violence Act and Devolution of Estate Act represent a major breakthrough in national efforts to strengthen women’s human rights regime.
“The three legislations respectively address issues around customary marriages and divorce; domestic violence which was hitherto consider as a private/ family affair; and denial of inheritance rights which women and girls were largely subjected to.
“Approximately five years following the passage of the three gender responsive legislations, the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 was passed. The Act consolidates all existing legal provisions that relate to sexual violence and define clear penalties for perpetrators.
“In 2019, the Sexual Offences Act was amended following the declaration of a national emergency on rape and sexual penetration of minors. The amendment was necessitated by the growing public outcry that the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 does not provide adequate punishment for perpetrators especially of sexual penetration of minors.
“Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019 subsequently provides maximum penalty of life imprisonment for perpetrators of rape and sexual penetration of minors.
“In addition to the aforementioned SGBV related legislations, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act was passed in 2024. The Act prohibits marriages of all types for persons under eighteen (children).”
She, however, decried the fact that: “Notwithstanding our efforts to address violence against women and girls as evident in the aforementioned initiatives, our efforts are dwarfed by the reported high incidences of violence against women and especially girls.”
Speaking further the minister stated: “Our struggles to prevent and respond to violence against and women and girls is not helped by the fact our society is predominantly patriarchal with socio-cultural norms and practices that define gender relations and provide the basis for discrimination and violence against women and girls.
“Another major challenge is the limited capacity to enforce and implement existing legislative frameworks and initiatives that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.
“Although we have made considerable progress in strengthening the institutional infrastructure to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, there is evidently limited capacity to effectively prevent and respond especially in remote hard to reach communities.
“The limited capacity provides an unfortunate opportunity for interference and compromise of cases of violence against women and girls.”
On her part, Representing UN Women Sierra Leone, Baindu Massaquoi, noted that violence against women was a barrier to development, peace, and justice.
While commended Sierra Leone for the legal milestones made in VAWG, she expressed optimism that: “Together, we can create a West Africa and even a world where every woman and girl lives free from fear, violence, and inequality.”
The development partners stressed that enforcement remained the biggest hurdle in the elimination of VAWG.
In his keynote address the Vice Chairman of the International Democrate Union (IDU), Ghana, Peter Mac Manu, also commended Sierra Leone for setting an example in the region with the GEWE Act.
He said: “VAWG remains a significant challenge across West Africa, with profound effects on individuals, families, and communities. There has been an increased urgency to address VAWG in recent years, just as research and advocacy efforts have highlighted its impact on national development outcomes.”
The keynote speaker further stressed that laws alone were not enough without proper enforcement, and urged ECOWAS countries to unite in a strong sub-regional coalition against gender-based violence.
On her part, Development Consultant and immediate past Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, urged delegates to strengthen solidarity across borders. “The tribe of women is humanity,” she said.
Highpoint of the conference, which featured paper presentations, panel discussions, among others, was the ratification of preliminary report as well as a joint advocacy strategy and action plan targeting national governments and leadership of ECOWAS.
