By Seun Ibiyemi
First Ladies from SWEDD+ countries are set to gather in Banjul, The Gambia, from April 8 to 10, 2026, for a high-level forum aimed at advancing zero tolerance for gender-based violence (GBV) across West and Central Africa.
The forum, co-organised by the Economic Community of West African States, the West African Health Organisation, and the Government of The Gambia, will bring together key stakeholders to strengthen regional coordination and accelerate efforts to protect women and girls.
Development partners, including the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund, are also supporting the initiative, which is expected to deliver concrete outcomes aimed at addressing the persistent challenge of GBV in the region.
Central to the forum’s agenda is the role of the West African Health Organisation in strengthening health systems to better support survivors, improve access to essential services, and promote a coordinated regional response.
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Key expected outcomes of the meeting include the development of a Regional Roadmap on GBV, the launch of a First Ladies Alliance, and the adoption of a Joint Declaration to drive sustained action across participating countries.
The gathering is seen as a decisive step towards building safer, more inclusive, and violence-free societies for women and girls in West and Central Africa.
