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West Africa Legislative Platform on Women & Girls — RFLD · Comparative legal analysis across 15 countries
RFLD. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement
West Africa Legislative Platform
Comparative legal reference · West Africa

The legal frameworks
for women & girls.

A comparative reference on the legal frameworks for women's and girls' rights across 15 West African countries — anchored in the Maputo Protocol, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Maintained by RFLD's continental policy team.

Coverage 15 countries · 9 legal domains each
Continental anchor Maputo Protocol · ACDEG · ACHPR
Maintained by RFLD continental policy team
Last comprehensive review Q4 2025 · ongoing updates
How to use this platform
A working reference, not a marketing page.

This platform exists to make the legal frameworks across West Africa comparable, citable, and actionable for the people whose work depends on them. NGOs use it to design programmes responsive to specific national legal contexts. Donors use it to identify the gaps where targeted funding has the most impact. Parliamentarians use it as a regional benchmarking reference. Journalists, researchers, and litigators use it as a starting point for deeper national analysis.

The platform is honest about its limits. Where information is incomplete, contested, or out of date, that is flagged on the relevant section. Where countries are operating under suspended constitutions or transitional regimes — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger as of April 2026 — the analysis is qualified explicitly rather than presented as if normal democratic processes were in operation.

What the platform analyses

Nine legal domains.

Each country profile is analysed across the same nine legal domains, mapped to the relevant provisions of the Maputo Protocol and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Comparable structure across countries is what makes the platform useful for cross-national programme design and continental advocacy.

Domain 01 · Maputo Art. 3 & 4

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Criminalisation, survivor protection, and institutional response to physical, sexual, and psychological violence.

Domain 02 · Maputo Art. 14

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

SRHR legal framework — bodily autonomy, contraception, safe abortion, maternal health.

Domain 03 · Maputo Art. 13

Sexual Harassment

Workplace, educational, and public-space harassment legislation and institutional reporting frameworks.

Domain 04 · Maputo Art. 23

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Specific legal protections for women and girls with disabilities, including UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities domestication.

Domain 05 · Maputo Art. 19 & 21

Land Rights for Women

Statutory and customary land tenure rights, inheritance, and the gap between legal recognition and customary practice.

Domain 06 · Maputo Art. 9 · ACDEG Art. 8

Political Participation

Constitutional and electoral provisions on women's political participation — quotas, parity laws, institutional representation.

Domain 07 · Maputo Art. 5

Female Genital Mutilation

FGM legislation, criminalisation, and the gap between statutory prohibition and continued practice.

Domain 08 · Maputo Art. 26

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Ratification status, domestication of the Maputo Protocol, ACDEG, ACHPR, CEDAW, and Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Domain 09 · Maputo Art. 26

Institutional Mechanisms

Ministries, commissions, and accountability structures responsible for implementing women's-rights legislation in practice.

Country profiles · 15 West African countries

National legal frameworks.

Each country profile presents the national legal framework across the nine domains. Where the country is currently operating under a suspended constitution or transitional regime, that political context is flagged at the top of the profile. Where claims require verification or specific provisions have been updated since this analysis was conducted, those are flagged inline.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Loi N° 2011-26 du 9 janvier 2011 on the prevention and repression of violence against women is the foundational GBV legislation. Implementing decrees have been issued for the National Institute for Women (INF). Loi N° 2021-12 du 20 décembre 2021 introduced strengthened provisions on gender-based offences including sexual harassment and FGM.

Status Legal framework is in place. Implementation is uneven — survivor access to justice, medical certificate costs, and judicial training remain the principal gaps.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

Loi N° 2021-12 du 20 décembre 2021 modified the law on sexual and reproductive health, expanding the legal grounds for voluntary termination of pregnancy. Benin became one of the first countries in the region to liberalise abortion access through legislation.

Update needed Constitutional and judicial interpretations of the 2021 reform have been contested since enactment. RFLD's continental policy team to verify current implementation status before next platform refresh.

Sexual Harassment

Loi N° 2006-19 represses sexual harassment. Loi N° 2021-12 carries additional provisions on gender-based offences. Workplace harassment is also addressed through the Labour Code.

Status Cultural and social barriers to reporting remain the principal limitation, particularly in rural and informal-economy contexts.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Loi N° 2017-06 du 29 septembre 2017 protects and promotes the rights of persons with disabilities. The National Institute for Women (INF) coordinates implementation across ministries.

Land Rights for Women

Loi N° 2013-01 du 14 août 2013 on the Land and Domain Code stipulates that all Beninese citizens can access land without discrimination based on sex. Implementation operates through Land Management Commissions established by decree.

Status Customary practices continue to constrain women's land ownership in many regions despite statutory non-discrimination.

Political Participation

Electoral Code Law 2019-43 reserves twenty-four seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly. Anchored in Maputo Protocol Article 9 and ACDEG Article 8.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Loi N° 2003-03 represses the practice of FGM. The 2021 omnibus law on gender-based offences strengthens these provisions.

Status Legal framework is in place; enforcement remains weak. Cross-border practice (with Togo, Nigeria) complicates national enforcement.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Benin has ratified CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. International treaties are automatically incorporated into the national legal system per the Constitution.

Institutional Mechanisms

Coordination through the Ministry of Social Affairs, the National Institute for Women (INF), local elected officials, parliamentarians, and traditional and religious leaders.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Maputo Protocol Hub cross-link · Updates pending: 2021 SRHR law judicial interpretation
Constitutional context Burkina Faso has been governed by a military-led transitional regime since the September 2022 coup. The 1991 Constitution remains formally in effect under a Transition Charter; democratic processes including parliamentary representation are suspended. The legal frameworks below were enacted under prior democratic governments and remain on the statute books, but their political and institutional context has materially changed.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Loi N° 061-2015/CNT du 6 septembre 2015 on the prevention, repression, and redress of violence against women and girls. A toll-free hotline (80 00 12 87) operates for survivor reporting of physical, sexual, and cultural violence.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Loi N° 049-2005/AN on reproductive health establishes the right to make free and informed reproductive-health decisions. The Penal Code permits abortion in specific circumstances including rape, incest, foetal abnormality, and risk to maternal life.

Sexual Harassment

Loi N° 010/2016 du 5 septembre 2016 addresses workplace harassment. Article 533-9 of the Penal Code defines and condemns sexual harassment. Psychosocial, health, and legal support frameworks for GBV survivors operate through the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, and Family.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Loi N° 012-2010/AN du 1er avril 2010 on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. Implementing decrees address vocational training and employment.

Land Rights for Women

Loi N° 034-2009/AN on the Rural Land Regime promotes gender equality in land access. Customary practices continue to constrain implementation in most rural areas.

Political Participation

Loi N° 010-2009/AN du 16 avril 2009 set a 30% quota for women on candidate lists. Quota provisions remain on the statute books; their operational status under the transitional regime is not determined.

Context note The transitional regime has indicated parliamentary elections are deferred. The applicability of the 2009 quota law to any future restored electoral process is to be confirmed at constitutional restoration.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Loi N° 043/96/ADP modified the Penal Code to prohibit and punish FGM. The revised Penal Code of 2018 strengthened penalties for perpetrators.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Burkina Faso has ratified CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and ACDEG. International treaties are automatically incorporated into the national legal system.

Context note Burkina Faso's continued ECOWAS membership status is in transition. The country withdrew from ECOWAS along with Mali and Niger; treaty obligations under non-ECOWAS instruments (CEDAW, Maputo Protocol, ACDEG) remain in force.
Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Constitutional context: military transition since September 2022

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The 2007 Penal Code reform criminalised sexual offences and domestic violence with strengthened penalties. Lei N° 84/VII/11 on gender-based violence is the principal framework legislation. Successive national plans against GBV have operated since 2009.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

The Ministry of Health operates youth-friendly health centres and a national reproductive health programme covering cancer screening and antenatal monitoring. Cabo Verde hosts the first milk bank in West Africa.

Sexual Harassment

Anti-harassment provisions operate through the Penal Code and Labour Code. Decreto-Lei N° 10/2007 sets the national health system fee schedule with provisions for free or subsidised services.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Decreto-Lei N° 37/2016 establishes the Ministry of Family and Social Inclusion, with explicit responsibility for gender equality and disability rights. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified.

Land Rights for Women

Cape Verdean legislation guarantees women equal rights to access employment, land, credit, and inheritance. Women may open bank accounts without spousal authorisation. A micro-credit law prioritises women entrepreneurs.

Political Participation

The Parity Law of 2016 ensures balanced gender representation on electoral lists. Parties exceeding 25% women elected receive additional public subsidies.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Verification No specific FGM legislation has been identified for Cabo Verde. The practice is not historically documented in the lusophone islands. The general GBV legal framework is the relevant reference.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Cabo Verde has ratified the Maputo Protocol, CEDAW, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Beijing Platform for Action implementation has been actively pursued.

Institutional Mechanisms

Ministry of Family and Social Inclusion, the National Health Policy framework, and the 2008 Labour Code provide the operational architecture for women's-rights implementation.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Lusophone West Africa

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The Penal Code of 2015 punishes sexual harassment and domestic violence. The 2019 Penal Code revision strengthened penalties. Loi N° 98-757 du 23 décembre 1998 prohibits and punishes FGM.

Status Cost of medical certificates for survivors remains a documented barrier to access to justice.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Côte d'Ivoire ratified the Maputo Protocol in 2011. The Penal Code recognises medical abortion in narrow circumstances. Laws on contraceptive access and FGM prohibition are in force.

Gap Comprehensive SRHR legislation aligned with the Maputo Protocol's full Article 14 provisions has not been adopted.

Sexual Harassment

Loi N° 98-756 du 23 décembre 1998 modified the Penal Code to repress sexual harassment. The 2019 Penal Code revision increased penalties for violence and harassment.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Loi N° 98-594 du 10 novembre 1998 on the orientation of persons with disabilities. Article 6 of the 2016 Constitution guarantees protection of women with disabilities. 2021 ministerial decrees established Technical Commissions on vocational guidance and reclassification.

Land Rights for Women

The 2013 Civil Code framework establishes joint management of matrimonial property. Article 5 of Loi N° 98-750 on the rural land domain prohibits gender-based exclusion from land ownership.

Political Participation

Loi N° 2019-870 du 14 octobre 2019 imposes a minimum 30% quota for women on electoral lists. Parties achieving 50% women candidates receive additional public funding. Anchored in Maputo Protocol Article 9 and ACDEG Article 8.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Loi N° 98-757 du 23 décembre 1998 prohibits and punishes FGM. Article 5 of the 2016 Constitution explicitly prohibits the practice.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Côte d'Ivoire has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Maputo Protocol (2011), CEDAW, and ACDEG.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The 2015 prohibition of FGM and child marriage was a landmark continental development. A specialised unit operates within the Ministry of Justice. The Domestic Violence Bill was introduced in 2020 with continuing legislative consideration.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Adolescent health is a stated policy priority. Abortion is legally restricted to circumstances where the mother's health or life is in danger. The Children's Act of 2005 prohibits marriage and engagement for anyone under 18.

Sexual Harassment

Specialised tribunals handle gender-based violence. The transitional justice process has established survivor accountability frameworks. The Women's Act of 2010 calls on political parties to enact gender equality measures.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

The Disability Act was passed in July 2021. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified in 2015.

Land Rights for Women

Documented data indicates fewer than one-fifth of women own land despite women constituting approximately 75% of the agricultural workforce. The Customary Land Act and Land Commission Act recognise widows' land rights and require local land committees to be at least 30% women.

Political Participation

The Women's Act of 2010 calls on political parties, government, and the private sector to adopt gender equality measures. No statutory quota law has been enacted.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The Women's Amendment Act of 2015 prohibits FGM with penalties up to three years' imprisonment, life imprisonment if the practice results in death.

2024 update In July 2024, Gambian parliamentarians voted to maintain the FGM ban after a serious repeal attempt threatened to overturn the 2015 prohibition. The continental and international solidarity that supported the maintenance of the ban is documented in RFLD's Ending FGM Campaign.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

The Gambia has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and ACDEG.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Updated July 2024 with FGM repeal vote

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Sexual offences, including rape and harassment, are prosecuted under the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 as amended. The Domestic Violence Act of 2007 (Act 732) provides for protection orders and penalties for family violence.

Status Reporting rates remain low. Social stigma and trust in the justice system are documented barriers.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

The Ghana AIDS Commission Act provides the legal framework for HIV-related services. The Ghana Health Service operates under the National Reproductive Health Policy with provisions for family planning access.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual offences are punishable by imprisonment up to 25 years. Anti-sexual-harassment policies operate at major universities including KNUST.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

The Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006 (Act 715) provides for protection and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities, including physical accessibility requirements and public-service integration.

Land Rights for Women

Land tenure operates through both customary and statutory systems. The Constitution of 1992 guarantees equal property rights. The Land Act of 2020 (Act 1036) consolidates existing legislation and improves land administration.

Political Participation

The Affirmative Action Bill has been the subject of sustained parliamentary debate. The Gender Equality and Equity Policy of 2016 provides the policy framework.

Update needed Status of the Affirmative Action Bill at the 8th Parliament (2025-) requires verification before next platform refresh.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The Domestic Violence Act of 2007 covers harmful traditional practices including FGM, complementing earlier provisions of the Criminal Offences Act.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Ghana has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and ACDEG. Article 17(3) of the 1992 Constitution prohibits discrimination based on sex.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Updates pending: Affirmative Action Bill status
Constitutional context Guinea has been governed by a military-led transitional regime since the September 2021 coup. The 2020 Constitution was suspended; a Transition Charter governs the current institutional framework. The legal frameworks below were enacted under prior governments and remain on the statute books, but their political and institutional context has materially changed.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The Penal Code of 2016 (Loi N° L/2016/059/AN du 26 octobre 2016) criminalises discrimination, including the intentional transmission of HIV. The Strategic Plan for Maternal and Child Health (SRMNIA) provides the operational framework. International and regional instruments have been ratified.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Loi N° L/2000/010/AN on reproductive health guarantees the right to reproductive health for all. Voluntary termination of pregnancy is authorised in specific circumstances. Youth-friendly health facilities have been established.

Sexual Harassment

The Penal Code defines and criminalises discrimination, including in employment.

Editorial note The previous version of this profile contained a paragraph on same-sex relations that conflated unrelated legal questions. That paragraph has been removed pending separate, properly-scoped analysis of LGBTQ+ legal status as a distinct domain.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Loi N° 004/AN/98 du 26 mars 1998 establishes the legal framework for persons with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified.

Land Rights for Women

The 1992 Land and Domain Code framework lacks clarity on women's inheritance rights. Customary practice typically recognises women's right of use for subsistence purposes only.

Gap Statutory clarification of women's inheritance rights has been identified as a continental policy priority through the ACDEG Hub framework.

Political Participation

Loi N° L/2017/039/AN du 24 février 2017 imposed a 30% quota for women on electoral lists; this provision was subsequently ruled unconstitutional. Gender units operate within ministries.

Context note Quota law operational status under the transitional regime is undetermined. Re-enactment under any restored constitutional order is to be tracked.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

FGM is criminalised under the Penal Code. Women's empowerment centres provide training on gender-based violence including FGM. Implementation in rural regions remains uneven.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

The Labour Code of 10 January 2014 enshrines non-discrimination in employment. Several international gender-equality conventions have been ratified.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Constitutional context: military transition since September 2021

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The 2011 law against FGM is the principal continental legal framework against harmful practices. Awareness campaigns operate through civil society and government partnership.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Lei N° 5/2007 on the prevention, treatment, and control of HIV/AIDS provides for free treatment access. Reproductive-health services for women and adolescents have been progressively expanded.

Sexual Harassment

Article 136 of the Penal Code addresses prostitution. Civil-society women's organising has been a primary route to protective frameworks.

Gap Comprehensive sexual-harassment legislation with clear workplace protections has not been adopted.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

A National Disability Policy has been adopted. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified. The Constitution provides general rights of recourse against discrimination.

Land Rights for Women

Women's land tenure security is recognised as a major policy priority. Land control significantly shapes women's economic livelihoods in the agricultural economy.

Gap Comprehensive statutory framework explicitly granting women equal rights to inherit and own land remains a policy priority.

Political Participation

Guinea-Bissau adopted a parity law requiring 50% representation of women on electoral lists. This places the country among continental leaders on legislative gender parity.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The 2011 law criminalises FGM with penalties up to five years' imprisonment. The country pursues a human-rights-based strategy combined with health-information dissemination.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Guinea-Bissau ratified CEDAW in 1985 without reservations. The country has progressively aligned national legislation with international gender-equality instruments.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Lusophone West Africa

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The 2005 Rape Act and the 2017 Domestic Violence Act are the principal legislative frameworks. A specialised criminal court handles rape cases.

Status Low reporting rates and impunity remain documented gaps. Survivor protection from retaliation is a stated continuing priority.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

The HIV Act requires sex- and gender-responsive HIV services. Liberia's abortion legislation dates from 1861 and permits abortion only to save maternal life. The proposed Safe Motherhood Bill aims to modernise this framework.

Update needed Status of the Safe Motherhood Bill at the 55th Legislature requires verification.

Sexual Harassment

The Rape Act includes provisions criminalising early and forced marriages. The Constitutional Review Conference established the legal marriage age at 18.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

The National Commission on Disabilities Act and the Decent Work Act provide the principal legal protections. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified.

Land Rights for Women

Land reform processes have included women's-rights provisions. The Inheritance Act and the Land Commission framework recognise women's property rights.

Status Customary law authority remains significant in many regions; statutory rights are challenged by traditional governance structures.

Political Participation

Liberia has twice elected a female president (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 2006-2018) and currently has women in cabinet positions.

Gap No statutory quota law has been enacted; political representation gains are dependent on individual political processes rather than structural legal protection.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

A presidential decree in 2018 banned FGM for one year. The Children's Act of 2011 prohibits FGM. A three-year moratorium was announced in 2022.

2025 update needed The 2022 three-year moratorium has expired. Status of permanent FGM legislation at the 55th Legislature requires verification before next platform refresh.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Liberia has ratified CEDAW. The 1986 Constitution does not explicitly address all forms of gender-based violence; harmonisation work continues.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Updates pending: Safe Motherhood Bill, FGM moratorium status
Constitutional context Mali has been governed by a military-led transitional regime since the August 2020 coup. A new constitution was adopted by referendum in 2023 under transitional authority. The legal frameworks below were enacted under prior democratic governments and remain on the statute books, but their political and institutional context has materially changed. ECOWAS membership has been formally withdrawn.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Loi N° 01-079 du 20 août 2001 on the Penal Code represses GBV. Comprehensive draft legislation has faced sustained public controversy and resistance from religious-organisation lobbying.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Loi N° 02-044 du 24 juin 2002 on reproductive health is the principal SRHR framework. The 2006 HIV/AIDS Law requires parental consent for minors' HIV testing.

Gap Adolescent confidentiality provisions for HIV and SRHR services remain restricted.

Sexual Harassment

The Penal Code provides for sexual-integrity protections including for minors under 15 (statutory rape, irrespective of consent). Practical enforcement is documented as inconsistent.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Loi N° 2018-027 du 12 juin 2018 establishes the rights framework for persons with disabilities, including women-specific income-generating support and technical aid programmes.

Land Rights for Women

Loi N° 2017-001 du 11 avril 2017 on agricultural land establishes statutory protections for women's land rights. Customary law often denies women ownership of land they cultivate.

Political Participation

Loi N° 2015-052 du 18 décembre 2015 instituted a 30% quota for women in nominated and elected positions. Women parliamentarians rose from 9% (2009) to 27% (2016).

Context note The quota law remains formally on the statute books. Its operational status under the transitional regime, and applicability to any future restored electoral process, is undetermined.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Significant gap Mali has no national legislation specifically criminalising FGM. Multiple draft laws have been proposed but none has been adopted, due to opposition from religious leaders. Maputo Protocol Article 5 ratification has not been domesticated.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Mali has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, CEDAW, and the Maputo Protocol. The country's gender policy operates on seven guiding principles.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Constitutional context: military transition since August 2020 · ECOWAS withdrawal
Constitutional context Niger has been governed by a military-led transitional regime since the July 2023 coup. The 2010 Constitution was suspended; a Transition Charter governs the current institutional framework. The legal frameworks below were enacted under prior democratic governments and remain on the statute books, but their political and institutional context has materially changed. ECOWAS membership has been formally withdrawn.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The 2010 Constitution (currently suspended) enshrined equality and non-discrimination. The Penal Code punishes specific forms of violence including FGM and rape. The Civil Code's provisions on the husband as head of household remain unrevised, creating internal legal tensions with constitutional and treaty commitments.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Niger has ratified the Beijing Platform for Action and CEDAW. The free-healthcare policy for children under five and pregnant women operates as the principal SRHR delivery framework.

Sexual Harassment

Loi N° 2003-25 du 13 juin 2003 modified the Penal Code to criminalise sexual harassment and other gender-based violence.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Ordonnance N° 93-012 establishes the social-protection framework for persons with disabilities. A National Disability Policy provides the implementation framework.

Political Participation

Loi N° 2000-008 instituted a quota system for women in elected positions, raised from 10% to 15%. Implementation of higher-level appointment quotas (25%) was inconsistent under the prior democratic regime.

Context note Quota law operational status under the transitional regime is undetermined.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Loi N° 2003-25 du 13 juin 2003 criminalises FGM with imprisonment and fines.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Niger has ratified CEDAW with reservations on certain articles. National policy has progressively pursued harmonisation, though the constitutional rupture has paused this work.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Constitutional context: military transition since July 2023 · ECOWAS withdrawal

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 (VAPP Act) protects women from gender-based violence and provides survivor support. Adoption is at the level of individual states; nationwide adoption remains a continuing advocacy priority.

Status As of Q4 2025, the VAPP Act has been domesticated by approximately two-thirds of Nigerian states. Northern-state adoption remains uneven.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

The Child Rights Act of 2003 defines children as persons under 18 and prohibits child marriage. Nationwide domestication remains contested in some states.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual-harassment legislation operates through the VAPP Act and individual state legislation.

Status Article 353 of the Penal Code in some states maintains discriminatory penalty structures. Reform of these provisions has been a sustained advocacy priority.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018 provides the federal-level framework. State-level domestication is uneven.

Land Rights for Women

The Land Use Act of 1978 places land authority with state governors. Customary law and Islamic law regimes operate alongside statutory law in Northern states, creating significant pluralism in women's land-rights protection.

Political Participation

The National Gender Policy includes a 35% quota target for appointed and elected positions. Implementation has been uneven across states and federal levels.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The VAPP Act of 2015 prohibits FGM at the federal level. State-level domestication and enforcement continue to determine practical impact.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Nigeria has ratified CEDAW. CEDAW domestication legislation has not been adopted by the National Assembly; the 2007 attempt did not pass.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Federal/state pluralism complicates analysis

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The National Assembly unanimously passed legislation criminalising rape and pedophilia in 2019. Loi N° 99-05 du 29 janvier 1999 revised the Penal Code to strengthen sanctions for violence against vulnerable persons including pregnant women, women with disabilities, and children.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Loi N° 2005-18 du 5 août 2005 on reproductive health. Loi N° 99-05 and Loi N° 2015-15 protect pregnant and breastfeeding women in the workplace with maternity protections.

Sexual Harassment

Loi N° 2020-05 du 10 janvier 2020 modified the Penal Code to criminalise rape and pedophilia and strengthen sexual-harassment penalties. Minimum sentences are stipulated even where mitigating circumstances are recognised.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

Loi N° 2009-30 du 2 décembre 2009 authorised ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Loi N° 99-05 represses violence against vulnerable persons including women with disabilities.

Land Rights for Women

The Constitution guarantees equal access to land. The Family Code (1972) establishes equal access. The National Gender Equality Strategy promotes women's rural economic empowerment.

Political Participation

Loi N° 2010-11 du 28 mai 2010 instituted absolute parity between men and women in elected and partially-elected positions — among the strongest parity provisions on the continent. Anchored in Maputo Protocol Article 9 and ACDEG Article 8.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Article 29 bis of the revised Penal Code criminalises FGM with criminal sanctions. The Constitution prohibits violence against women and girls and harmful traditional practices including FGM.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Senegal has ratified all major continental and international gender-equality instruments. The 2001 Constitution reaffirms gender equality. The Observatory for Women's Rights operates as the institutional accountability mechanism.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Continental leader on parity legislation

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Sierra Leone operates a free GBV hotline (116). Penalties for sexual offences have been strengthened from 5–15 years to a range up to life imprisonment for the most serious cases. The legal framework has progressively expanded since the 1991 Constitution.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

Abortion legislation dates from 1861 and permits abortion only to save maternal life. The proposed Safe Motherhood Bill aims to modernise this framework. A national strategy for adolescent pregnancy reduction operates.

Update needed Status of the Safe Motherhood Bill at the current Parliament requires verification before next platform refresh.

Sexual Harassment

The Sexual Offences Act of 2012 as amended provides up to 15 years' imprisonment for those who use position or power to sexually harass.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

The 1991 Constitution provides general equality protections, with the documented exception of customary-law domains. A constitutional review commission has recommended this exception be removed.

Gap Comprehensive disability-rights legislation specifically addressing women has not been adopted.

Land Rights for Women

New legislation on customary land and the land commission recognises widows' land rights and requires land committees to be at least 30% women — a significant advance for women's economic security.

Political Participation

A new statutory quota law imposes a 30% requirement for women in public office, addressing historical underrepresentation.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 and addresses some harmful-practice provisions. The Women's Act of 2015 addresses certain aspects of harmful practices.

Status as of 2024 Sierra Leone passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024, which addresses early/forced marriage but does not fully criminalise FGM for adults. A specific, comprehensive FGM-criminalisation law remains a continuing advocacy priority.
Verification The previous version of this profile referenced "reservations on Article 5 of the Maputo Protocol" for Sierra Leone. AU depositary records do not confirm such reservations. RFLD continental policy team to verify and update.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Sierra Leone has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, CEDAW, and the Maputo Protocol. Implementation harmonisation is uneven across domains.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025 · Updated for 2024 Prohibition of Child Marriage Act · Updates pending: Safe Motherhood Bill, Maputo Protocol reservations verification

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The Penal Code of 2015 punishes sexual harassment and domestic violence as separate offences. The Code of Persons and the Family of 2012, as revised in 2014, includes additional women's-rights protections. National GBV strategy operates through coordinated ministry frameworks.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

The Reproductive Health Law of 2007 provides the SRHR framework. Maternal and infant mortality reduction campaigns operate; cost reductions for selected health services have been implemented. The Ministry for the Promotion of Women and Gender coordinates implementation.

Sexual Harassment

Loi N° 2022-020 protects students from sexual violence. The 2015 Penal Code provides imprisonment and fines for sexual harassment. Loi N° 2021-012 on the Labour Code protects women from workplace sexual harassment.

Women & Girls with Disabilities

The Social Protection Law for Persons with Disabilities prohibits discrimination and guarantees equal protection. The Constitution provides political-participation rights for persons with disabilities including running for office.

Land Rights for Women

The Land and Domain Code of 2018 guarantees equal access to land for women and men. A land reform policy promotes equitable access for agricultural workers.

Political Participation

Loi N° 2012-002 as amended on gender parity on electoral lists has produced a generally increasing trajectory of women in parliament and government. A woman has served as President of the National Assembly.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Loi N° 98-016 prohibits all forms of FGM and provides for sanctions.

Gap Article 6 of the law exempts parents and family members of perpetrators or accomplices from prosecution — a significant legal loophole identified for reform.

Harmonisation with Continental Treaties

Togo has progressively aligned national legislation with international gender-equality instruments. The Constitution, Civil Code, and Labour Code provide the principal harmonisation frameworks.

Profile last reviewed · Q4 2025
From law to practice

Where the gap actually lives.

Across the 15 countries analysed, the principal gap is rarely the absence of legislation. The gap is between the legal framework on paper and the lived experience of women and girls in their communities, workplaces, and engagement with the state. Three forces close that gap.

01 · Justice system

Trained law enforcement and judiciary

Police, prosecutors, and judges who treat gender-based offences with rigour, who avoid secondary traumatisation of survivors, and who apply the law consistently — particularly in rural and customary-law contexts.

02 · Communities

Cultural and religious leadership

Traditional and religious authorities engaged as partners in change rather than obstacles. Where customary norms close the space, statutory law alone does not open it. Community engagement is the bridge.

03 · Civil society

Sustained civil-society advocacy

The 670 organisations in RFLD's continental network — feminist collectives, women-led grassroots groups, journalists, parliamentary monitors — who hold states accountable to their own laws and treaty commitments.

Engage with this work

Get in touch.

For legal analysis collaboration, country-profile updates, programme partnership, or media enquiries — please reach the appropriate channel below.

Continental anchor
Maputo Protocol Hub
rflgd.org/maputo-protocol
Programme enquiries
Programmes team
programs@rflgd.org
Strategic partnerships
John Gbenagnon · Director of Strategy & Development
gbenagnon.john@rflgd.org
Country profile updates
Continental policy team
admin@rflgd.org
RFLD.
Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement
West Africa Legislative Platform · 15 countries · 9 legal domains · Cotonou · Accra · Dakar · Banjul