Xool Ko ci sa Bopp (in Wolof), which means “Put Yourself in Her Shoes”, is a flagship project by Yeewi and partner Senegalese organizations dedicated to advancing the legalization of and access to safe abortion care in Senegal, in line with the Maputo Protocol, ratified by Senegal in 2004.
The Maputo Protocol is a continent-wide legal instrument adopted by the African Union to protect and promote women's sexual and reproductive health rights. Article 14, paragraph 2(c) affirms that States Parties must authorize abortion in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape, incest, or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. This is the very right that Xool Ko ci sa Bopp Pamoja champions and defends.
The word “Pamoja” means “Together” in Swahili, reflecting the project’s place within a broader initiative spanning several African nations, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Côte d’Ivoire. In Senegal, our campaign was adapted and named Xool Ko ci sa Bopp.
To achieve its mission, the project unites several key approaches:
Documentaries in Wolof and French, paired with film-debate sessions to raise awareness and shatter taboos.
Workshops for medical and law students, addressing abortion through the critical lenses of public health and human rights.
VCAT workshops for healthcare professionals (gynecologists, midwives), empowering them with the knowledge to apply the Maputo Protocol in clinical practice.
Digital campaign and grassroots mobilization, which have transformed Xool Ko ci sa Bopp Pamoja into a powerful movement, led by a coalition of feminist organizations in Senegal, to advance reproductive rights.
By the numbers: 200 students engaged, over 80,000 views for the digital campaign, and more than 50 healthcare professionals mobilized.
Xool Ko ci sa Bopp fights relentlessly to make safe, legal, and accessible abortion care a reality in Senegal, so that every woman can freely exercise full autonomy over her body and her health.
