Banjul, The Gambia, September 1-2, 2026  The SWEDD+ Regional Legal Platform convened a two-day regional technical workshop in Banjul, bringing together SWEDD and SWEDD+ National Legal Platforms, regional institutions, legal practitioners, researchers, and development partners to strengthen legal and institutional responses to gender-based violence (GBV) and improve access to justice for women and girls across West and Central Africa.

Co-hosted with The Gambia National Legal Platform, and organized in collaboration with UNFPA and ECOWAS, the workshop provided a regional space for countries to move from identifying gaps in laws to addressing the institutional and implementation barriers that prevent women and girls from realizing their rights in practice. Participants examined the intersections among GBV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, harmful practices, access to justice, and broader development outcomes.

A central focus was the SWEDD+ Regional GBV Legal Scorecard, which National Legal Platforms are using to assess not only whether legal protections exist, but also whether the institutions, services, implementation arrangements, and accountability mechanisms needed to make those protections effective are in place. The workshop combined technical evidence with country experience and peer learning to identify common reform priorities and strengthen regional monitoring of progress.  

The regional exchange also showcased experiences from SWEDD/SWEDD+ countries on legal aid, community-based legal empowerment, engagement with justice institutions, and collaboration with parliamentarians, religious and community leaders and other actors. Discussions emphasized a common challenge across the region: adopting a law is only the starting point; the critical test is whether women and girls can access the protection, services and remedies that the law promises.

The workshop also marked the launch of new SWEDD+ analytical work on strengthening access to justice for women and girls, drawing together lessons from SWEDD/SWEDD+ implementation and regional and global evidence. The work complements the Regional GBV Legal Scorecard and will support governments, Legal Platforms and regional institutions in moving from legal reform toward effective implementation.

The Banjul workshop forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the SWEDD/SWEDD+ Regional Legal Community of Practice and deepen collaboration among National Legal Platforms, UNFPA, ECOWAS and other regional partners. Follow-up will focus on refining the Regional GBV Legal Scorecard, strengthening peer learning, and translating country evidence into shared regional priorities for legal and institutional reform.