Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) Cotonou Declaration 2026 Adopted at Regional Human Rights Conference Porto‑Novo, Benin | 23 August 2026
https://itdnowa.org/2026/08/26/cotonou-declaration-2026/
The Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) has concluded its Regional Human Rights Conference and 10th Anniversary Celebration, held from 21–23 August 2026 in Porto‑Novo, Benin, under the theme “Faith, Dignity and Community Resilience.” Participants from eleven West African countries gathered to assess the realities facing LGBTQI+ persons, strengthen interfaith solidarity, and reaffirm the role of faith communities in advancing human dignity.
Country reports highlighted rising hostility, criminalization efforts, registration denials, and faith‑based discrimination across the region. Despite these challenges, the conference celebrated encouraging developments, including the Anglican Church of Ghana’s rejection of calls for criminalization, emerging civil society dialogue in Togo, and Benin’s open civic environment that continues to support inclusive organizing.
The conference concluded with the adoption of the Cotonou Declaration 2026, outlining ten priority commitments: expanding interfaith advocacy, promoting mental health and trauma‑informed care, advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, strengthening leadership and community empowerment, protecting civic space, mobilizing sustainable resources, engaging regional and international human rights mechanisms, promoting inclusion and justice, ensuring representation of trans, intersex, and disabled persons, and advancing language justice and mentorship.
“Faith must be a source of dignity, not discrimination. As IDNOWA marks ten years, we renew our commitment to building a West Africa where every person can live free from fear and exclusion,” said Davis Mac‑Iyalla, Executive Director of IDNOWA.
The Declaration was endorsed by IDNOWA and partner organizations including PORSH, EVAB, ACJESPN, ASAJ‑Bénin, GAIC, AGIR International, Key Watch Ghana/Intersex Movement of Ghana, Center for Youth Empowerment Health Advocacy Initiative (Nigeria), GNRC, GIN‑SOGIE, Orange Initiative (Nigeria), TFAM Global, FRRN, and Pan Africa ILGA.
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