Experts gathered at the UN summit on women’s rights in Dakar, Senegal, have called for immediate action to combat harmful practices and violence against women in West and Central Africa.
The UN Women regional program coordinator for West and Central Africa, Angela Muruli, highlighted alarming statistics at the summit.
She noted that violence against women, including early marriages, discrimination, and online abuse, remains widespread across the region.
“In West Africa, 40% of women face violence, while in Central Africa, the number rises to 69%.
Additionally, 39% of girls are married before the age of 18,” Muruli revealed during her address on the summit’s opening day.
She also emphasized that 35% of female social media users in the region have been victims of online violence.
Muruli urged stakeholders, including activists and journalists, to familiarize themselves with the legal frameworks surrounding women’s rights to help hold both public officials and perpetrators accountable.
