West Africa women’s rights legal scorecard 2026: 15 countries, seven questions
RFLD reviewed the laws of the 15 ECOWAS states on violence, marital rape, FGM, child marriage, abortion and quotas. The country table and five findings.
Last updated · October 30, 2026
“Partly” means the law exists with exceptions or applies only in part of the country. “Not recorded” means RFLD’s legal profile records no explicit provision. Source: RFLD legal profiles, October 2026.
West Africa women’s rights legal scorecard 2026. RFLD reviewed the laws of the 15 member states of ECOWAS on seven questions that decide whether a woman can be protected and can seek justice. Three countries have no dedicated law on violence against women. Three still allow girls to marry below 18. Four have no statute banning female genital mutilation. Only three explicitly make marital rape a crime.
Last checked: October 2026. Every entry comes from RFLD’s country profiles of women’s rights laws, which give the law number and the source for each line. Click a country to see the full profile. “Not specified” means the profile records no explicit provision; “Not recorded” means the topic is not yet covered in the profile.
The country table
| Country | Maputo Protocol ratified | Law on violence against women | Marital rape a crime | FGM banned by law | Minimum marriage age, girls | Legal grounds for abortion | Quota or parity law | Women in parliament (latest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | 2005 | Yes (Law 2011-26) | Yes | Yes (2003) | 18 | On request to 12 weeks (2021) | 24 reserved seats (2019) | 25.7% |
| Burkina Faso | 2006 | Yes (Law 061-2015) | Not specified | Yes (Penal Code 2018) | Child marriage punished (Penal Code) | Life, health, fetal; rape or incest to 14 weeks | 30% of candidates | 19.0% (appointed) |
| Cabo Verde | 2005 | Yes (Law 84/VII/2011) | Yes | No specific law | 18, minors with parental consent | On request to 12 weeks (1986) | 40% of candidates (2019) | 47.2% |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 2011 | Yes (Law 2021-894) | Not explicit | Yes (1998) | 18 (Law 2019-570) | Life; rape | 30% of candidates (2019) | 14.9% |
| The Gambia | 2005 | Yes (2013) | No (spouses excluded) | Yes (2015) | 18, no exception | Not recorded | None | 8.6% |
| Ghana | 2007 | Yes (2007) | Not specified | Yes (2007) | 18, no exception | Not recorded | Affirmative Action Act 2024 (30% towards 50%) | 14.5% |
| Guinea | 2012 | No dedicated law | No | Yes (Penal Code 2016) | 18, presidential exceptions | Not recorded | Seat allocation (Constitution 2025) | 40.8% |
| Guinea-Bissau | 2008 | Yes (Law 6/2014) | Not specified | Yes (Law 14/2011) | 18 (2010); 16 with consent | Not recorded | 36% of candidates (2018) | No data (transition) |
| Liberia | 2007 | Yes (2019) | No | No statute (2018 order lapsed) | 18; 16 with consent | Not recorded | None | 11.0% |
| Mali | 2005 | No dedicated law | No specific law | No specific law | 16 | Not recorded | 30% (Law 2015-052), suspended in transition | 30.1% (appointed) |
| Niger | Not ratified | No dedicated law | No (draft Penal Code pending) | Yes (2003) | 15 | Life, health, fetal | 25% of elected seats; bodies dissolved | 19.6% (appointed) |
| Nigeria | 2004 | VAPP Act 2015 (FCT and adopting states) | Not specified | VAPP Act, where domesticated | 18 (Child’s Rights Act, not adopted in all states) | Life only | None (bills rejected 2022) | 4.2% |
| Senegal | 2004 | Penal Code offence only (1999) | Not specified | Yes (1999) | 16 | No exception | Parity on lists (2010) | 41.2% |
| Sierra Leone | 2015 | Yes (2007) | Not specified | No law | 18, no exception (2024) | Life only (1861 law) | 30% (2022 Act) | 28.2% |
| Togo | 2005 | See profile | Yes (2015) | Yes (1998, 2015) | 18 (2007) | Life, health, rape, incest, fetal | See profile | 21.6% |
Guinea-Bissau: no data during the transition. Source: RFLD legal profiles, 2025–2026 figures.
Five findings
1. Three states still have no dedicated law on violence against women
Guinea, Mali and Niger rely on general Penal Code provisions. In Mali a draft bill has been under discussion for years. In Niger a draft revision of the Penal Code covering rape, FGM and sexual harassment was still pending in 2024. Senegal punishes assault on a spouse through a 1999 Penal Code amendment but has no comprehensive law. In Nigeria, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 applies directly only in the Federal Capital Territory, and each state must adopt it.
2. Marital rape is explicitly a crime in only three countries
Benin (Law 2011-26), Cabo Verde (Law 84/VII/2011) and Togo (Penal Code 2015) name it. The Gambia’s Sexual Offences Act of 2013 excludes married couples. Guinea does not set it out as a distinct offence, and the CEDAW Committee found in 2015 that Liberia had not criminalised it.
3. Girls can still marry below 18 in Mali, Niger and Senegal
The minimum age for girls is 16 in Mali and Senegal and 15 in Niger, below the age of 18 set by Article 6 of the Maputo Protocol. In 2018 the African Court found that Mali’s age of marriage violated the Protocol (see Decisions and enforcement). Cabo Verde, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia set 18 but keep exceptions. The profiles record that 76% of women in Niger, 49% in Mali and 47% in Guinea were married before 18.
4. Four countries have no statute banning FGM
Mali, Liberia and Sierra Leone have no law, although prevalence in Mali is about 90%. Liberia’s 2018 executive order lapsed after one year. Cabo Verde has no specific offence. Where laws exist, prosecutions are rare: The Gambia had one prosecution by 2022 with prevalence of about 73%, and Guinea’s ban coexists with prevalence of 95%.
5. Quotas work where they are enforced
Cabo Verde (47.2%), Senegal (41.2%) and Guinea (40.8%) have the highest shares of women in parliament, and all three have parity or allocation rules. Nigeria, The Gambia and Liberia have no quota and the lowest shares: 4.2%, 8.6% and 11.0%. In Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau, transitions have suspended elected bodies, so quota laws do not apply.
Laws on sexual violence adopted since 2020
Eight of the 15 countries adopted or protected a law on sexual violence or a related protection between 2020 and 2026. RFLD and its member organisations contributed to the advocacy in all 15 countries. The full list, with reference numbers, is in our register of laws and policies we helped change.
| Year | Country | Law and reference number | What it changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Burkina Faso | Code des personnes et de la famille, adopted on 1 September 2025 | Sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys and makes the consent of both parties the basis of marriage. |
| 2024 | Sierra Leone | Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024 | Prohibits marriage of anyone under 18, regardless of parental consent, with minimum prison terms of 15 years. |
| 2024 | Benin | Décret n° 2024-1275 du 23 octobre 2024 portant réglementation de l’aide juridique | Organises legal aid, a condition for survivors to reach the courts. |
| 2024 | The Gambia | Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, sections 32A and 32B (ban upheld in July 2024) | The National Assembly upheld the ban on female genital mutilation after a repeal bill. |
| 2023 | Sierra Leone | Employment Act, 2023 (with the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019, sections 3 and 37) | Covers sexual harassment in employment. |
| 2022 | Sierra Leone | Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, 2022 | Sets measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and stronger support services for survivors, and a 30% quota for women in public office. |
| 2022 | Sierra Leone | Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2022 | Creates a national task force against trafficking and a trust fund for victims. |
| 2022 | Guinea | Loi L/2022/12/CNT du 23 septembre 2022 portant aide juridictionnelle | Organises legal aid for people who cannot pay for justice. |
| 2021 | Benin | Loi n° 2021-11 du 20 décembre 2021 portant dispositions spéciales de répression des infractions commises à raison du sexe des personnes et de protection de la femme | Defines rape (5 to 10 years, life where the victim is under 13), sexual harassment, FGM and forced or early marriage (10 to 20 years). |
| 2021 | Benin | Loi n° 2021-12 du 20 décembre 2021 modifiant la loi n° 2003-04 sur la santé sexuelle et la reproduction | Widens legal access to safe abortion, including after rape or incest and on request up to 12 weeks in cases of distress. |
| 2021 | Côte d’Ivoire | Loi n° 2021-894 du 21 décembre 2021 relative aux mesures de protection des victimes de violences domestiques, de viol et de violences sexuelles autres que domestiques | Sets protection measures for survivors of domestic violence, rape and other sexual violence. |
| 2021 | Liberia | Revised Act to Ban Trafficking in Persons within the Republic of Liberia, 2021 | Criminalises trafficking in persons with minimum sentences of 20 years. |
| 2020 | Senegal | Loi n° 2020-05 du 10 janvier 2020 criminalisant le viol et la pédophilie | Makes rape and paedophilia crimes tried as felonies; before, rape was a crime only when it caused death. |
What RFLD asks
- Niger: ratify the Maputo Protocol, the only ECOWAS state that has not.
- Mali, Niger, Senegal: set 18 as the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys, without exception.
- Guinea, Mali, Niger: adopt a dedicated law on violence against women that names marital rape.
- Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone: adopt a statute prohibiting FGM, with funding for enforcement.
- Nigeria: complete state-level adoption of the VAPP Act and the Child’s Rights Act.
- Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone: allow abortion at least in cases of rape, incest and risk to the woman’s health, as Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol requires.
How to use this scorecard
Members can quote the table in alternative reports to the African Commission, in CEDAW and UPR submissions (see the calendar) and in meetings with parliamentarians. The scorecard will be updated for the Maputo Barometer on 11 July 2027. It builds on RFLD’s 2023 report Legislative Framework for Girls’ and Women’s Rights in West Africa.
Corrections are welcome at programs@rflgd.org. Each correction must cite the official text.
How we built the scorecard
We asked the same seven questions of each of the 15 ECOWAS member states. A country scores only where an adopted and published legal text exists; bills, draft codes and policy statements are not counted. Texts were checked against official journals and national legal portals, documents shared by RFLD members, and RFLD’s 2023 report on West Africa’s legislative framework. The situation is recorded as of October 2026.
Where a text is ambiguous, we describe the gap in words rather than award a point.
From law to practice
A good law changes little without implementing decrees, a budget, trained police and judges, specialised units and reliable data. When you use the scorecard, pair each legal finding with questions about enforcement: Is there a budget line? Are cases recorded and prosecuted? Can survivors reach a court and legal aid?
See how laws work in practice in our country fact sheets and in decisions and enforcement.
Key dates for advocates
Moments in the coming months when the scorecard can support advocacy:
- 25 November – 10 December 2026: 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence (RFLD campaign).
- 1 December 2026: GivingTuesday (support RFLD).
- March 2027: 71st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71), New York.
- 11 July 2027: anniversary of the Maputo Protocol and next update of the Maputo Barometer.
- All year: CEDAW and UPR reviews of African states (see the calendar) and sessions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
For journalists and researchers
You may quote and reproduce the scorecard with attribution to the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD) and a link to this page. For interviews, data requests or country experts, write to communications.info@rflgd.org. Logos, the organisational profile and spokespeople are in our press kit.
- Please cite the date you consulted the page: our data is updated as laws change.
- Do not identify survivors, participants or defenders without their informed consent.
- For figures across all 55 African countries, use our laws in 55 countries profiles and the Data Center.
Glossary
- ECOWAS
- Economic Community of West African States, the 15-member regional bloc covered by our West Africa tools.
- Maputo Protocol
- Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, adopted on 11 July 2003.
- CEDAW
- UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; its Committee reviews states periodically.
- UPR
- Universal Periodic Review, the UN Human Rights Council peer review of every state’s human rights record.
- ACHPR
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, based in Banjul, which receives state and alternative reports.
- Marital rape
- Non-consensual sex within marriage; the scorecard checks whether the law names it as a crime.
- FGM
- Female genital mutilation; we check for a statute that prohibits it.
- VAPP Act
- Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, which states must adopt locally.
Help us keep the scorecard current
- Send a correction or a new text: write to programs@rflgd.org with a link to or copy of the official text.
- Become a member: women-led organisations can join the network and use the scorecard in their own advocacy.
- Learn: take a free certified course at the RFLD Academy.
- Support: give to RFLD so we can keep this data open and free.
Frequently asked questions
Which West African countries have no law on violence against women?
Guinea, Mali and Niger have no dedicated law and rely on general Penal Code provisions. Senegal has a Penal Code offence for spousal assault (1999) but no comprehensive law.
Where is marital rape a crime in West Africa?
Benin, Cabo Verde and Togo explicitly make marital rape a crime. The Gambia’s Sexual Offences Act of 2013 excludes married couples.
Which countries allow girls to marry before 18?
The minimum age for girls is 15 in Niger and 16 in Mali and Senegal. Cabo Verde, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia set 18 but keep exceptions.
Which ECOWAS state has not ratified the Maputo Protocol?
Niger signed it in 2004 but has not ratified it.
Where does the data come from?
From RFLD’s legal profiles of all 55 African Union member states, which cite the official text or source for every entry. Last checked October 2026.
Cite and share
How to cite: RFLD (2026). West Africa women’s rights legal scorecard 2026: 15 countries, seven questions. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement. https://rflgd.org/west-africa-legal-scorecard-2026/ (accessed [date]).
Free to quote and share with attribution. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
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