UN Women Regional Director Maxime Houinato says harmful practices still put millions of girls at risk across Africa, describing West and Central Africa as the global epicentre of child marriage.

Mr Houinato said this in a statement ahead of the Conference of African Traditional and Cultural Leaders on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) scheduled to hold in February in Lagos.

“Nearly 60 million women and girls in the region were married before 18, with Nigeria bearing the largest absolute numbers,” said Mr Houinato. “These figures, drawn from UNICEF’s databases, remind us that while progress is possible, it is not guaranteed.”

He highlighted positive trends, citing Kenya’s Demographic and Health Survey showing female genital mutilation(FGM) prevalence fell to about 15 per cent in 2022.

Mr Houinato described Nigeria’s National GBV Data Collation Tool as an important step toward standardised reporting.

He stated that when custodians of culture publicly denounce harmful practices—backed by evidence and community dialogue—norms shift, and laws gain legitimacy.

The West and Central Africa director said violence against women and girls remained widespread, underreported, and a major obstacle to achieving Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.

He cited recent UN and WHO findings confirming that intimate partner and sexual violence persisted at alarming levels across Africa.

“These findings underscore the need for strong, locally led prevention and accountability,” said Mr Houinato. “Sub-Saharan Africa records some of the world’s highest rates of intimate partner violence, with studies showing that over 40 per cent of women surveyed have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.”

He warned that the effects spanned generations, linking mothers’ experiences of violence to higher risks for children under five.

According to him, research across 37 African countries associates such violence with illness, undernutrition and even death among young children.

He welcomed the upcoming Lagos conference, saying it signalled recognition that cultural authority could protect women and girls.

According to him, evidence from the Spotlight Initiative shows locally led approaches reduce harmful practices and strengthen prevention.

“Traditional and religious leaders help convert state law into lived practice through declarations and community bylaws,” he said.

He urged leaders to publicly denounce child marriage, widowhood rites and FGM, backing words with enforceable bylaws.

Mr Houinato also called for survivor-centred justice, a ban on forced reconciliation and proper case documentation in customary systems.

He called on leaders to push for stronger laws, adequate funding and community engagement, noting that “culture is not a relic but a living promise to be renewed with each generation.

“If we act with urgency and unity, a life free from violence can become every African woman’s and girl’s lived reality.”

(NAN)