Sénégal: Validates National VBG Plan, Marks Decisive Turning Point

• Senegal officially validated its second National Action Plan for the Eradication of Gender-Based Violence (PAN-VBG) on September 11, 2026, in Dakar.
• The new strategic framework aims to strengthen prevention, enhance victim support, and improve the effectiveness of legal and institutional mechanisms.
• It builds on previous achievements like national and regional support centers and a dedicated green line for victims.
• The plan addresses emerging forms of violence, including economic violence, care-related abuse, and cyber-harassment, through five key pillars.
• Minister Marie Angélique Mame Selbé Diouf emphasized human dignity, proactive prevention, and the state's role as the primary guarantor against all forms of violence.

No violence should be trivialized. No victim should feel abandoned, and no form of impunity can be tolerated.

Senegal has taken a significant step forward in its ongoing efforts to combat gender-based violence (VBG). On Friday, September 11, 2026, in Dakar, a diverse assembly convened for the official validation of the nation's second National Action Plan for the Eradication of Gender-Based Violence and the Promotion of Human Rights (PAN-VBG). This pivotal gathering brought together representatives from the state, civil society organizations, technical and financial partners, as well as influential religious and customary authorities, underscoring a broad societal commitment to the cause.

The event was presided over by Marie Angélique Mame Selbé Diouf, the Minister of Family, Social Action, and Solidarity. According to an official communiqué from the Ministry, this validation marks a "decisive turning point" in Senegal's fight against VBG. The newly adopted strategic framework is designed to enhance existing mechanisms for prevention, improve the comprehensive care and support provided to victims, and bolster the overall effectiveness of legal and institutional responses across the country.

At its core, the second PAN-VBG is deeply integrated into the national "Sénégal 2050" vision, specifically aligning with its objectives to strengthen human capital and foster social equity. The Ministry's communiqué articulates a clear aspiration: to construct a Senegal where all individuals, irrespective of gender, can live free from any form of violence, within an environment characterized by robust protection, fairness, mutual respect, and inherent dignity.

In her address, Minister Diouf placed human dignity at the forefront of public action, emphasizing that the struggle against gender-based violence extends far beyond mere statistics. She powerfully invoked "human stories," speaking of "the face of a woman, the gaze of a girl, the pain of a family," to underscore the profound personal impact of such violence. The Minister affirmed that safeguarding women and girls is not merely a governmental task but a collective duty and an absolute priority for the Senegalese state.

The new plan builds strategically upon the foundational achievements of its predecessor, the first PAN-VBG. Notable advancements from the initial phase include the establishment of a national support center located in Dakar, the creation of several regional centers to extend outreach, and the implementation of a dedicated green line. This hotline provides victims and those facing violent situations with free and anonymous access to essential recourse and assistance. Furthermore, the first plan successfully instituted a multisectoral collaboration protocol, significantly improving coordination among various stakeholders involved in victim support.

The second PAN-VBG aims to expand on these successes through five key pillars. These include intensified prevention efforts via community awareness and education, the provision of comprehensive and benevolent support for survivors, a strengthened legal framework coupled with improved access to justice, the consolidation of relevant institutions and their governance, and the implementation of monitoring systems based on verifiable evidence. Crucially, this updated framework also broadens its scope to address emerging forms of violence, such as economic violence, abuses related to care, and the growing challenge of cyber-harassment.

Minister Diouf underscored the critical importance of proactive intervention, stating that if greater resources were available, her preference would be to prioritize upstream preventive action across all societal strata, rather than solely focusing on increasing the number of victim reception facilities. This emphasis highlights a strategic shift towards addressing the root causes of violence before it occurs. She firmly declared that "The State is the primary guarantor for everyone against all forms of violence," reinforcing the government's fundamental responsibility in this domain.

The Minister also stressed the necessity of moving beyond mere declarations of intent, advocating for sustained consistency, enhanced synergy, and, most importantly, concrete actions. She asserted that "No violence should be trivialized. No victim should feel abandoned, and no form of impunity can be tolerated," articulating a zero-tolerance stance. This commitment includes continued collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and other key actors involved in providing care and support to victims, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to VBG.

Source: Reporting from Dakar on official proceedings.