Tackling gender-based violence, the African success story

The 2015 World’s Women Report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs reported several forms of gender-based violence across the continent.

Gender-based violence goes beyond physical assault. It covers intimidation at work or school, forced abortion, sexual harassment, marital rape, forced marriage, denial of societal or political participation, female genital cutting, and forced prostitution.

Following a national survey in 2010 that revealed that 50 per cent of Tunisian women have experienced violence in their lifetime, the government later in July 2017 announced its first national law to combat violence against women. The law covers all forms of gender-based violence including economic, sexual, political, and psychological.

In the last decade, Liberia has made progress with its legislation protecting women. Towards this aim, Liberia passed a domestic violence law in August 2017.

In September 2021, Gabon adopted new laws to protect women against gender-based violence, particularly to promote women’s financial inclusion.

Rwanda has also set up desks at police stations with trained women to attend to victims of gender-based violence and if there’s a need to proceed to court, they see to it. Rwanda records the highest rate of women participation in politics globally with 49 per cent. Female children now have the right to inherit their parents’ property, a right only males had. 

65 per cent of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have criminalized domestic violence. Countries like South Africa have also tightened laws on gender-based violence and sexual offences. The law gives full effect to the rights of women in South Africa.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Seven countries including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda have criminalized FGM, passed national laws to its effect, and allocated budgets for Implementing programmes to end FGM.

Burkina Faso has passed a law prohibiting female genital cutting and to make it effective, the government has embarked on public education and integrated the topic into the school curriculum. It has also made available an open telephone help desk for women at risk.

Child Marriage

Countries including Malawi, DRC, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Gambia, Madagascar, and Namibia have set 18 as the minimum age of marriage while Kenya and Rwanda have set the legal age of marriage at 21.

Harmful gender norms, alcohol use, increased poverty, partner violence, and fear amongst others are what contribute to the height of gender-based violence cases. While the passing of the law matters, its implementation will go a long way in reducing the number of gender-based cases across Africa.