ECOWAS GENDER CENTER BUILDS THE CAPACITIES OF POLICE AND GENDARMERIE OFFICERS, GBV FOCAL POINTS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

ECOWAS GENDER CENTER BUILDS THE CAPACITIES OF POLICE AND GENDARMERIE OFFICERS, GBV FOCAL POINTS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

The ECOWAS Center for Gender Development (EGDC), the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and the Akwaba Mousso Association co-organized, on September 16–17, 2026, in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, a capacity building workshop for Judicial Police Officers (OPJ) from the Police and Gendarmerie, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) focal points in the justice sector, and other frontline actors involved in the prevention and response to GBV. The objective of the workshop was to strengthen their practical skills in order to improve the prevention of GBV, the identification of victims, and the holistic care of survivors in terms of support, referral, and access to appropriate and coordinated care services.

Beyond individual capacity building, this meeting was part of a broader effort to consolidate a multisectoral response to GBV, based on improved collaboration among the security, justice, health, and social protection sectors. This approach is essential to ensuring more effective, coherent, and survivor centered care