Ouagadougou: The Alliance for Rights and Health (ADS) organized a discussion forum in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, focusing on the theme: 'Deconstructing Stereotypes and Strengthening Community Mobilization Around Issues Related to Gender-Based Violence in Burkina Faso.' This initiative aims to reorient strategies for combating gender-based violence (GBV).

According to Burkina Information Agency, the president of the ADS, Wend-Goundi Caroline Tapsoba, emphasized that the forum serves as a platform for discussing GBV issues with the goal of proposing recommendations to decision-makers for more concrete actions. She highlighted the resurgence of GBV in Burkina Faso amid the current security situation, noting that GBV affects anyone facing violence due to their vulnerability, not just women. She noted that while GBV could be psychological, sexual, or economic in nature, sexual violence remains the most common. Tapsoba encouraged victims to report all forms of violence to better manage its after-effects.

Wendzoodo Julie Rose Ouedraogo, a resource person for the ADS network and technical advisor to the Ministry of Justice, pointed out that prejudices fuel gender-based violence, affecting people with disabilities, the elderly, or anyone with vulnerabilities. She explained that the Penal Code addresses the repression of intentional injuries and psychological violence. However, she observed that statistics often fail to reflect the true extent of the issue, as many are reluctant to report abuse to authorities or specialized organizations. Ouedraogo stressed the importance of awareness campaigns, noting that while laws serve as deterrents, awareness initiatives can have a significant impact because some individuals commit acts unknowingly that constitute violence against specific social groups.

The Alliance for Rights and Health (ADS) network, established in 2013, is a West African civil society initiative dedicated to improving the status and health of women and girls in West Africa. It consists of 22 associations across six member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Burkina Faso provides support for GBV victims through a support center in Baskuy, accessible via a toll-free number: 80001287.