Parliaments must prioritise gender-responsive budgets to fight violence against women and girls – Kenyan advocate

“If gender equality is a priority, it must be reflected in public spending,” she told delegates, arguing that laws and national action plans on gender-based violence are unlikely to succeed unless governments allocate resources for implementation.

She stressed the need for continuous monitoring, stronger parliamentary oversight and sustained public engagement to ensure that gender-responsive policies and budgets produce tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls across West Africa.

Female parliamentarians and gender policy advocates from across West Africa have been urged to use gender-responsive budgeting as a practical tool for combating violence against women and girls.