Gender-based violence reporting trends in Togo and Cameroon

Reports from Togo and Cameroon highlight significant challenges regarding gender-based violence (GBV) and the barriers preventing victims from seeking legal recourse.

In Togo, UNICEF data indicates that reported GBV cases rose from 11,110 in 2016 to 22,107 in 2024. During a regional meeting in Lomé organized by WiLDAF-Togo, experts identified several reasons for the lack of formal complaints, including social stigma, traditional customs, poverty, administrative delays, and the geographic distance to courts. The meeting was part of the DEZON project, supported by German cooperation through GIZ.

In Cameroon, the Ministry of Women's Promotion and the Family recorded 4,883 cases of GBV during the first half of 2026. The Far North region reported the highest number with 1,828 cases, followed by the South-West and North-West regions. Observers note that these figures likely underrepresent the true scale of the issue due to under-reporting driven by fear of retaliation, family pressure, and mistrust of the justice system. In conflict-affected areas, women and girls face increased risks of sexual violence, forced marriage, and kidnapping.