Call to update ECOWAS gender policy to address current challenges
At an event marking ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, legal expert Priscilla Ankut urged member states to revise the 2005 ECOWAS gender policy. She called for stronger justice reforms, improved accountability, and greater investment in women’s economic empowerment. Speakers also highlighted gaps in access to justice and the need for broader public education on rights.
A call for a review of the 2005 ECOWAS gender policy was made at a conference held to mark the organisation’s 50th anniversary. The Deputy Team Lead for the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme, Priscilla Ankut, said the policy no longer reflects current realities. She urged member states to update it and adopt measures that support gender-responsive justice systems.
Ankut’s remarks were delivered at an event organised by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation West Africa. She encouraged governments to use existing ECOWAS gender instruments to develop national legal aid systems and strengthen gender desks in justice institutions. She also called for gender-sensitive training for judicial officers. According to her, women’s economic empowerment and legal literacy are essential because financial autonomy helps women pursue justice and challenge discriminatory practices.
She noted that ECOWAS has created a strong normative base for advancing women’s rights and gender equality, but stressed that the impact of these frameworks depends on practical implementation. She said member states must turn commitments into action so that women and girls can access justice, participate fully, and live free from discrimination and violence. Achieving this would require political will, adequate resources, and cooperation among governments, civil society, and regional bodies.
Angela Odah, the Programme Manager at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation West Africa, also emphasised the need to increase access to justice for women and girls. She said people must understand their rights to be able to defend them. Public education on legal standards and accountability mechanisms is therefore necessary. Odah added that women continue to face challenges linked to patriarchal norms across the region. She called for continued efforts to educate communities about the importance of supporting girls’ education and ensuring equal opportunities for boys and girls.
Speakers at the event agreed that gender equality in West Africa requires sustained action, public awareness, and stronger legal and institutional support.
