Maimouna Astou Yade: Urges Revision of Sénégal Code Famille Provisions

• Maimouna Astou Yade advocated in Kaffrine for revising discriminatory provisions in the Code de la Famille Sénégal.
• This advocacy is a precursor to the National Citizen Assemblies on Women's and Girls' Rights scheduled for November.
• The "Luy Jot Jot Na" collective reported 18 lives lost in familial settings in 2025, urging Family Code reform.
• Feminist organizations have recorded 25 femicides since January 2026 and demand its recognition as an autonomous offense in the Penal Code.
• JGEN Women Global Entrepreneurship (J-Gen Sénégal) plans to support a gender-based violence reception center to expand its model.

The proposed revisions to the Code de la Famille, specifically targeting its dispositions discriminatoires Code Famille, are therefore seen as a vital component in a broader strategy to dismantle these systemic issues and enhance protections for vulnerable individuals.

Maimouna Astou Yade, who serves as the executive director for JGEN Women Global Entrepreneurship (J-Gen Sénégal), recently championed the revision of what she described as discriminatory provisions within the Code de la Famille Sénégal. Her advocacy took place during an information session in Kaffrine, attended by various departmental stakeholders, including Abdoulaye Wilane, President of the Departmental Council of Kaffrine; Diarry Gadio, Regional Supervisor of the pre-Assises; and Ndeye Sylla, Regional Director of Family. This crucial meeting serves as a preparatory step for the upcoming National Citizen Assemblies on Women's and Girls' Rights, slated for November.

The call for reform by Maimouna Astou Yade comes amidst a troubling backdrop of persistent deadly violence targeting women in Senegal. The collective "Luy Jot Jot Na" reported a grim statistic of eighteen lives lost in conjugal or familial contexts during 2025 alone, underscoring the urgent need for legislative changes. These organizations are vocally demanding a comprehensive réforme Code de la Famille Sénégal to address the systemic issues contributing to such violence.

The push to amend the Code de la Famille Sénégal is directly linked to widespread concerns about the safety and rights of women and girls. Beyond the family code, there is a strong demand from feminist organizations for the recognition of femicide as an autonomous offense within the Code pénal. Since January 2026, these groups have documented 25 cases of femicide across Senegal, highlighting a critical gap in the current legal framework. They argue that explicit recognition of femicide would significantly bolster prevention efforts and public awareness campaigns.

This sentiment echoes earlier warnings from December 2025, when the FRAPP organization alerted the public to "more than 15 women assassinated since the beginning of the year." FRAPP contended that these incidents were not isolated occurrences but rather symptoms of a deeper, structural problem exacerbated by an inadequate social, legal, and political environment. The proposed revisions to the Code de la Famille, specifically targeting its dispositions discriminatoires Code Famille, are therefore seen as a vital component in a broader strategy to dismantle these systemic issues and enhance protections for vulnerable individuals.

The advocacy led by Maimouna Astou Yade in Kaffrine is part of a larger, coordinated effort to advance women's rights across the nation. The information meeting itself was a component of the preparatory activities for the Assises nationales droits femmes Sénégal, which were initiated in 2025. A steering committee comprising over 60 civil society organizations guides these national assemblies, demonstrating a wide-ranging commitment to addressing gender-based inequalities.

Furthermore, the delegation involved in the Kaffrine meeting also dedicated time to understanding the operations of the unique reception center designed to support victims of gender-based violence. J-Gen Sénégal has expressed its intention to provide assistance to this center, with the goal of facilitating the replication of its successful model in other departments throughout the country. This initiative underscores a holistic approach to tackling gender-based violence, combining legislative reform with practical support for victims and broader societal engagement.

Lawyers practicing family law or criminal law in Senegal should monitor the progress of the proposed reforms to the Family Code and the potential recognition of femicide as an autonomous offense in the Penal Code, as these changes could significantly impact legal practice and client advice regarding women's and girls' rights and protections.

Source: Original reporting via local news sources.