Côte d’Ivoire crowned African gender equality champion sparks controversy

Côte d’Ivoire celebrates its status as the best-performing African country in fighting discrimination against women, according to the latest report by the OECD. Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé highlighted the country’s score improvement, citing laws, economic empowerment, and advances against gender-based violence. However, recent cases of femicides raise concerns among activists, urging for more stringent enforcement of laws and judicial reforms. While Côte d’Ivoire has made legislative progress in women’s rights, cultural stereotypes and violence persist, requiring enhanced awareness campaigns and enforcement measures. The country aims to eradicate all forms of discrimination and violence against women by 2030, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Despite its high score, Côte d’Ivoire faces challenges in translating legal frameworks into tangible improvements for women’s safety and equality.

The Ministry for Women acknowledged that “the persistence of cultural stereotypes” is hampering progress. To address this, they are rolling out awareness campaigns, collaborating with influencers to reach young people through social media, and working with community leaders to positively influence perceptions of women’s roles.

While the OECD supports Côte d’Ivoire’s strategy, it also urges the country to step up its efforts to curb GBV and promote reproductive autonomy. In addition, law enforcement needs to be improved, according to the organization. This is a prerequisite if Côte d’Ivoire hopes to achieve its ambitious goal of ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women by 2030, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

In recent years, the adoption of several laws has enabled Côte d’Ivoire’s legal framework to evolve. The 2019 reform of the family code set the legal age of marriage at 18 for both men and women. The law grants mothers the same parental authority as fathers and allows wives to be included in their husband’s inheritance. In the same year, a law establishing a minimum 30% quota for women in elected assemblies was passed. In 2021, a law on domestic violence and rape provided more protection measures for victims of gender-based violence. Since 2016, the creation of gender-specific complaint desks in police stations aims to encourage women to come forward.