Violence against women remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide - and across Western and Central Africa, it continues to undermine the health, dignity and future of millions of women and girls.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟴–𝟭𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗗+ 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗹 - 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Building on the momentum of the SWEDD+ programme (a $365M World Bank - funded initiative), this Forum brings together First Ladies, governments, regional institutions and partners to:
✔️ Strengthen laws and protection systems for women and girls
✔️ Expand access to essential services for GBV prevention and to support survivors of GBV
✔️ Tackle harmful social norms at community level

With support from ECOWAS, CEEC and UNFPA, this initiative reflects a shared commitment to move from advocacy to impact—and to ensure zero tolerance for GBV becomes a reality.

A defining step toward safer, more empowered futures for women and girls across the region.