ECOWAS Ramps Up Training To Tackle Gender-Based Violence In Côte d’Ivoire
In a determined move to curb gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment, ECOWAS has launched a three-day intensive national training workshop in Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at empowering key stakeholders with the tools to protect the most vulnerable in society.
The workshop held in Abidjan and organised by the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development (CCDG) in partnership with the Ivorian Ministry of Women, Family and Children gathered legal, health and social work professionals to strengthen their capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to GBV.
Moussa Diarassouba, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Women, called for urgent collective action:
“These overwhelming figures are voices crying out for justice. Inaction is no longer an option.”
He urged judges, medics, and social workers to play their part—ensuring justice, delivering trauma-informed care, and supporting survivors’ reintegration.
Ambassador Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, commended national efforts but warned of rising challenges, especially following the pandemic:
“The fight against GBV demands an all-hands-on-deck approach if we are to achieve zero tolerance.”
Statistics from 2024 paint a stark picture: Côte d’Ivoire recorded over 9,600 GBV cases, with women and children accounting for the majority. The COVID-19 era saw incidents surge by up to 50% in parts of the region.
Sandra Oulaté-Fattoh, Director of the CCDG, emphasised the critical role of frontliners:
“Professionals must be equipped to recognise violence—even in silence. This training offers them the tools to act, support, and protect.”
As ECOWAS pushes forward with its 2021 regional strategy to eliminate violence against women and girls, this workshop stands as a reminder that safeguarding human dignity begins with action rooted in knowledge, compassion, and community collaboration.
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