Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire has experienced violent conflicts since 2002, leading to rampant human rights abuses and sexual violence committed by all parties.
In the early days, conflict-related sexual violence was used to punish and humiliate political enemies and became more widespread during an armed rebellion. This continued until the end of the electoral crisis in 2011.
Approximately 3,000 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence were registered and deemed eligible for reparation by the former reparations commission (CONARIV). Its mandate ended in July 2017, and the majority of survivors have received little to no redress.
While there are already services available to survivors (healthcare, and employment assistance) many victims are unaware of nor benefit from these services for various reasons, including challenges related to communication and accessibility.
Project Partners
Association des Femmes Juristes de Côte d’Ivoire (AFJCI)
Confédération des Organisations des Victimes de la Crise Ivoirienne (COVICI)
2021
WORK STARTED
60+
SURVIVORS ACCOMPANIED
In the absence of dedicated external funding and government commitment to reparation, GSF pilots a unique bottom-up approach that mobilises local resources to unblock access to state services. With our partner, the Confédération des Organisations des Victimes de la Crise Ivoirienne (COVICI), the project matches survivors to services including psychosocial and peer support, help in obtaining birth certificates, nationality and ID cards, registering survivors for welfare, and help with work placements.
The pilot aims to build a foundation for full reparation starting at the community level, by providing a base for survivors to advocate for expanded government support and acknowledgment.
In 2025, we also expanded our pilot from Man to Abidjan. In the latter, we work through a local community centre, which supports survivors of sexual violence and other vulnerable women. The centre delivers leadership, business, and financial management training to survivors, and hosts a collective savings scheme established by participants.
Across both locations, all survivors obtained national health insurance cards, enabling them to benefit from reduced healthcare costs and access to Côte d’Ivoire’s healthcare system. In Abidjan, 12 survivors enrolled in the national programme addressing gender-based violence, receiving initial psychosocial support and medical referrals. Six accessed immediate follow-up care.
The project is expanding in 2026 to reach more than 60 survivors.
In partnership with the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI), the Murad Code was widely disseminated through survivor-led advocacy videos and media activities.
We need autonomy for ourselves, for our children. We can’t spend our lives asking and asking for the next thing, praying someone will still be there to help next time.
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