Senegal

Violence against women and girls, limited access to civic registration and entrenched discriminatory attitudes represent major barriers to participation of women, girls and youth to community life in Senegal.

Studies have shown that 70% of women have been victim of physical and/or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime (UN Women). Sexist stereotypes against women and girls are still prevalent and conveyed in the media and public life.

The multifaceted forms of violence suffered by women and girls prevent them from freely expressing their point of view and participate in decision-making in the private and public spheres.

Statistics also reveal that more than ¼ of births is not registered in Senegal, which constitutes an obstacle to girls’ and boys’ school attendance and a major barrier to their right to education.

Despite existing laws and efforts made by the State — with the help of civil society organizations and other partners — to address these problems, strategies deployed to solve these issues have not produced significant result.   

Advancing Equality through Human Rights Education in Senegal

The ultimate goal of the Advancing Equality project is to increase the empowerment of women and girls to advance gender equality. In Senegal, reaching this goal implies creating a safer educational environments, supporting active participation of girls, contributing to their long-term empowerment and leading to the adoption of more favourable and egalitarian social norms.

The situation today

In Senegal, many efforts are being made to protect people’s basic human rights. Yet inequalities exist, especially for women and girls :

• 24% of children are subjected to severe physical punishment
• 31% of Senegalese girls are married before age 18
• 37% of women are less educated than men

Our approach

The Project adopts a participatory approach to advance gender equality that includes:

Knowledge and capacity-building

• Training on human rights and gender equality
• Community initiatives and forums

Collaboration

• Awareness-raising campaigns
• Support to networks and coalitions

Engagement with decision-makers

• Training on human rights and gender equality
• Community initiatives and forums
• Carrying out joint actions

Program leaflet

Equitas works in Senegal with the Rencontre africaine pour la défense de droits de l’Homme (RADDHO), Réseau Equitas Sénégal pour l’éducation aux droits humains (RESEDHU) and the Comité de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes (CLVF) – and with government and civil society organizations.

Our work in Senegal is part of the Advancing Equality through Human Rights Education project, funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).