Gabon Adopts Reforms to Promote Gender Equality, Boost Financial Inclusion
In a significant move towards greater gender equality, Gabon has implemented a series of reforms to its civil and penal codes. These reforms aim to improve women’s rights in the home and at work, resulting in a substantial increase in Gabon’s score on the Women, Business and the Law 2022 index.
Breaking Down Barriers to Financial Inclusion
Before the reforms, only 30% of women in Gabon had a bank account, compared to 38% of men. However, with the new laws in place, financial inclusion for women has increased, allowing more women to access credit.
Key Changes:
- Women can now open a bank account without the permission of their husband.
- Decisions about household property and finances are now shared equally between the husband and wife.
- A husband can no longer ask a court to stop his wife from working outside the home in the interest of the family.
Advocacy and Awareness-Raising Efforts
The reforms were made possible through lobbying, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts by civil society organizations, including the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation. The World Bank’s country office in Gabon also supported these efforts by organizing several events to promote gender equality under the law.
Quote from Pepecy Ogouliguende:
“It was very difficult to pass these rights concerning the family, particularly the removal of the provision in the legal text that said that the man was the head of the family.”
Addressing Violence Against Women
The reforms also include new legislation designed to protect women from violence. This is a major issue in Gabon, with 90% of victims of sexual violence being women. The new law establishes many good practices, including providing criminal penalties for violent crimes committed against women and requiring protection orders for victims of violence to be delivered within two days after receipt of a complaint.
Quote from Julia Braunmiller:
“First, giving certain prerogatives to the husband under the civil code from 1972 does not reflect the fundamental contributions of women to the Gabonese economy today.”
Conclusion
The reforms in Gabon demonstrate a commitment to promoting gender equality and boosting financial inclusion. By relying on data and research, the country has made significant progress in improving women’s rights and addressing violence against women. This serves as an example for other countries looking to reform laws and give women better economic opportunities.
Recommendations:
- Governments should prioritize the implementation of reforms that promote gender equality and financial inclusion.
- Civil society organizations and international institutions can play a crucial role in supporting advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.
- Data-driven approaches can help identify barriers to gender equality and inform policy decisions.