West African women leaders declare violence against women a legislative emergency, demand urgent action

Present and former female parliamentarians, ministers responsible for gender, former ministers of state, civil society leaders and regional stakeholders from across West Africa have 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.

Meeting 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, the participants adopted what they described as the Accra Declaration on Ending VAWG, committing themselves to spearheading sweeping legislative and policy reforms aimed at protecting women and girls.

Beyond the declaration itself, the conference adopted a comprehensive action plan requiring national governments to fast-track survivor-centred legislation, operationalise support funds for victims, institutionalise gender-responsive budgeting and encourage strategic engagement with male legislators as allies in the fight against gender-based violence.