Cote d’Ivoire has been named the leading African country in the fight against discrimination against women, according to the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) 2023 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, this achievement has sparked controversy, with local feminist groups questioning whether these advancements extend beyond legal frameworks into actual social change.
The announcement was celebrated by Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, who highlighted the country’s significant improvement—from a score of 42.8 in 2019 to 17.3 in 2023, putting Cote d’Ivoire ahead of countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, and even Canada. Speaking at an event in Abidjan, Mambé expressed pride that Cote d’Ivoire had made it into the top 55 countries globally in the fight against gender discrimination.
The OECD report assesses countries on several categories, including family discrimination, access to financial resources, physical integrity, and civil liberties. The criteria include laws designed to ensure gender equality and protect women, the prevalence of gender-based violence, and public perceptions of women’s roles and rights.
Legal progress vs. social reality
According to the Ministry for Women, the improvement in rankings reflects several factors: economic empowerment through support funds, legal reforms, and recent strides in tackling gender-based violence (GBV) such as domestic violence and genital mutilation. ‘We link gender issues with economic and sustainable development challenges,’ said Euphrasie Kouassi Yao, gender advisor to the prime minister.
However, local feminist NGOs have voiced their concerns. Two days before the official announcement, the body of 19-year-old influencer Emmanuella Y., who had been dismembered, was found in Abidjan, with her boyfriend being the main suspect. ‘This is the fourth femicide we’ve recorded since the beginning of the month,’ Bénédicte Otokoré, deputy secretary general of the Ligue Ivoirienne des Droits de la Femme, told leading French daily, Le Monde.
Otokoré argues that while Cote d’Ivoire has enacted good laws, the enforcement is lacking. ‘Laws have been passed to protect women, but ignorance and lack of enforcement feed a sense of impunity,’ she said. Furthermore, femicides are not recognised by the Ministry for Women as a form of GBV, meaning there are no official statistics to track them. ‘This leads to an unrealistic assessment of the situation,’ she added.
In response to the rising femicides, the Ligue Ivoirienne des Droits de la Femme submitted a statement to authorities on 18 September, urging judicial reforms to officially recognise femicide. Feminist activist Nesmon de Laure, founder of the NGO Opinion Eclairée, echoed this sentiment, questioning whether laws alone could truly elevate Cote d’Ivoire’s gender equality ranking without changing societal norms.
Laws alone aren’t enough
In recent years, Cote d’Ivoire has passed several laws to enhance gender equality. The 2019 reform of the family code set the legal marriage age at 18 for both genders, granted mothers equal parental authority, and allowed wives to be included in inheritance rights. A 30 percent quota for women in elected assemblies was also established, and a 2021 law on domestic violence and rape provided additional protection measures for victims. Since 2016, gender-specific desks in police stations have aimed to encourage women to report abuses.
Ferela Soro, a lawyer and head of advocacy at the Organisation pour la Réflexion et l’Action Féministe (ORAF), praised these legal reforms but emphasised the need for more robust enforcement. ‘We need dissuasive penalties and stronger government action to combat sexist acts,’ she told Le Monde, citing the example of female genital mutilation, which has been banned since 1988 but still affects 37 percent of Ivorian women according to the OECD.
The Ministry for Women has acknowledged that cultural stereotypes continue to hinder progress. They have rolled out awareness campaigns in collaboration with influencers and community leaders to improve public perceptions of women’s roles and rights.
While the OECD has praised Cote d’Ivoire’s efforts, it has also stressed the need for improved law enforcement and further action to curb GBV and promote reproductive autonomy. The country hopes to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women by 2030, but experts say this will require a significant shift not only in legal provisions but also in societal attitudes.
