PRAIA — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Representation in Cabo Verde has renewed its commitment to advancing women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality with a colourful celebration of African Women’s Day.
The event, held on July 31, 2026, at the Atrium of Shopping Cidades–Sucupira in Praia, brought together stakeholders for an awareness campaign, reflection and cultural celebration honouring the contributions and achievements of African women.
The programme also formed part of activities marking International Women’s Day and Cabo Verdean Women’s Day, providing a platform to spotlight the vital role of women in the social, economic and cultural development of West Africa.
The initiative, contained in the ECOWAS Representation’s 2026 Annual Plan, underscored the regional organisation’s determination to strengthen efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment while tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
ECOWAS used the occasion to reaffirm that women’s advancement remains central to the region’s development and integration agenda, particularly under the ECOWAS Vision 2050, which places West African citizens at the heart of the regional integration process.
The celebration combined advocacy, reflection and cultural expression, highlighting the need for stronger collective action to create an environment where women and girls can participate fully and safely in society.
The Cabo Verde event further demonstrated ECOWAS’s drive to take its gender-equality agenda beyond policy commitments by engaging communities and promoting greater awareness of issues affecting women across the region.
As African Women’s Day continues to serve as a moment to recognise women’s resilience, leadership and contributions, the ECOWAS Representation’s initiative reinforced the message that empowering women is essential to building a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous West Africa.
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