Legislative reform is a critical pillar of efforts to end violence against women and girls, establishing enforceable protections, clarifying institutional responsibilities, and creating pathways to accountability for perpetrators. Spotlight Initiative works with governments, parliaments, civil society, and traditional institutions to support the development and strengthening of laws that protect women and girls.
In 2025, in Liberia, the Initiative provided technical and consultative groundwork that advanced the Women and Girls Protection Act of 2025, Liberia's most comprehensive legislative proposal to date addressing harmful practices. Inclusive engagements with lawmakers, traditional leaders, civil society, and communities helped build shared understanding and momentum for review and deliberation, reinforced by a national petition of more than 1,000 women and girls advocating for the bill's passage. In Zambia, the Initiative commenced the revision of the Gender Equity and Equality Act through close collaboration with the Gender Division, the Zambia Law Development Commission, and women's rights organizations, ensuring domestic law remains aligned with evolving international human rights standards. In Sierra Leone, a nationwide consultative process engaging over 700 participants informed the review of the Matrimonial Causes Act, laying the groundwork for stronger protections against economic and psychological violence and women's rights to marital property.
Strong legal frameworks, developed through inclusive processes and aligned with international standards, create the institutional foundation on which survivor protection and perpetrator accountability depend.
Legislative reform is a critical pillar of efforts to end violence against women and girls, establishing enforceable protections, clarifying institutional responsibilities, and creating pathways to accountability for perpetrators. Spotlight Initiative works with governments, parliaments, civil society, and traditional institutions to support the development and strengthening of laws that protect women and girls.
In 2025, in Liberia, the Initiative provided technical and consultative groundwork that advanced the Women and Girls Protection Act of 2025, Liberia's most comprehensive legislative proposal to date addressing harmful practices. Inclusive engagements with lawmakers, traditional leaders, civil society, and communities helped build shared understanding and momentum for review and deliberation, reinforced by a national petition of more than 1,000 women and girls advocating for the bill's passage. In Zambia, the Initiative commenced the revision of the Gender Equity and Equality Act through close collaboration with the Gender Division, the Zambia Law Development Commission, and women's rights organizations, ensuring domestic law remains aligned with evolving international human rights standards.