Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, President of the ECOWAS Court, delivered the pledge during the 2026 International Women’s Day event hosted by the Court’s Women’s Forum in Abuja on Monday.
Held annually on March 8, the celebration adopted the sub-theme: “Break the Silence, End Gender-Based Violence Now.”
“As we honour our women and their vital contributions to the Court’s successes, we reaffirm our shared resolve to deliver justice, strengthen the rule of law, eliminate violence and discrimination, and build a future where every woman and girl in the ECOWAS region can flourish in safety and dignity.
We commit to sustained action through our judgments, outreach initiatives, and partnerships with member states and stakeholders, transforming the protection of women’s and girls’ rights from an ideal into an everyday reality across the region.”
“At the ECOWAS Court of Justice, we recognise that safeguarding the rights of women and girls across the ECOWAS region is essential to advancing justice, upholding human dignity, promoting inclusive development, and strengthening our community,” he stated.
He noted that the event’s sub-theme aligns closely with the Court’s mission and its longstanding efforts to promote the rule of law and protect fundamental rights throughout West Africa.
The Court’s President highlighted that this year’s global theme “Rights, Justice, Action For All Women and Girls” serves as a powerful reminder that women are both active participants in the pursuit of justice and vital pillars of strength within the Court.
He emphasised that the Court’s significant achievements over the years reflect its firm commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls, ensuring justice is delivered equally to all without discrimination.
Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, represented by Mrs. Marie Saine, Acting Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, emphasized that safeguarding the rights of women and girls across the ECOWAS sub-region remains central to advancing justice.
“Through our jurisprudence, we have consistently upheld the fundamental rights of women and girls, confronted discrimination, and delivered remedies for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and inequality,” he stated.
“These landmark decisions have not only provided justice to individuals but have also established vital legal precedents that reinforce the dignity and protection of women and girls throughout the region.
They have further enriched regional human rights jurisprudence, influenced national policies, and spurred cultural and legal reforms.”
He stressed that justice must be truly accessible, urging decisive action to ensure every woman and girl in West Africa can live free from discrimination and all forms of gender-based violence, while fully contributing to society.
He described gender-based violence as not only a grave human rights violation but also a major obstacle to equality, justice, and sustainable development.
“Too often, survivors endure in silence due to stigma, fear, or inadequate support to pursue justice. Today, we declare that this silence must end and justice must become tangible action,” he added.
Justice Dupe Atoki, also speaking, emphasized that women’s and girls’ rights are not optional privileges granted on convenience, but fundamental human rights that demand respect, protection, and fulfillment.
She observed that, despite notable global progress, many women and girls continue to encounter barriers that restrict their opportunities, mute their voices, and exclude them from full societal participation.
She emphasized that the pursuit of justice underscores the critical role of laws, institutions, and courts in upholding equality and human dignity.
“Justice must be accessible, impartial, and attuned to the lived experiences of women and girls. We must ensure that discrimination and violence against them are never tolerated,” she declared.
In his keynote address, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, described the ECOWAS Court of Justice not merely as a judicial body, but as the conscience of the entire sub-regional community.
He urged all stakeholders to take collective action to ensure that violence against women in the ECOWAS sub-region is met not with indifference, but with the full force of the law.
Represented by Mrs. Ngozi Okorie, Director of the Women and Children’s Department at the National Human Rights Commission, Ojukwu challenged stakeholders to empower every woman and girl to recognize that “your voice is your power, and we are ready to listen.”
“Let us recommit to a future where every woman and girl lives free from violence, free to dream, free to lead, and free to thrive,” he said.
“Let us break the silence, demand justice, and act boldly because women’s rights are human rights, and the dignity of women is the dignity of us all,” Ojukwu declared.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Oluwatosin Nguher, President of the ECOWAS Court Women’s Forum, described the event as a powerful call to action for accelerating gender parity across all sectors of society.
She highlighted it as a celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments, while underscoring that gender-based violence remains one of the most widespread human rights challenges today.
According to Nguher, such violence erodes human dignity, weakens institutions, fractures communities, and severely restricts access to justice.
As a regional judicial body serving the entire ECOWAS sub-region, she stressed, the Court cannot remain indifferent: “Silence only perpetuates harm, while decisive action restores hope.”
“Let us move beyond mere recognition to real responsibility, beyond words to decisive action.
Let us shatter the silence wherever it persists, amplify silenced voices, and actively build a culture of respect, accountability, and justice.
“United in purpose, through awareness and deliberate effort, we can guarantee that women’s and girls’ rights are protected, justice is truly accessible, and opportunities are equitable for all across our region.”
