Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network in partnership with African Union Commission, Women Gender and Youth Directorate (AUC WGYD), African Union International Centre for Girls' and Women's Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA), UN Women and International Women's Peace Group (IWPG), held a meeting on 10^th March 2025, on the sideline of the 69^th Session of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

The event under the themes: “ From Beijing to Reparative Justice»; and “Girls and Women's Empowerment in Africa through Education for Peace: a Pathway to Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Growth”,  was aimed to exchange views on the experiences and leadership of African women on pathways for advancing gender justice for African women and girls, and to facilitate a cross-regional dialogue on reparations and gender justice, focusing on the implementation of the African Union's 2025 theme: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations."

Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of Amb. Fatima Kyiari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union Mission to the UN, Mr. Salem Matug, Senior Political Officer, said “We have an obligation to ensure that the aspirations of the Africa Agenda 2063, are not confined to paper but translated to all our efforts to ensure we bridge the gaps in inequality for every woman, every girl & all our people.(…) the AU’s 2025 theme reminds us that reparations are not about the past alone—they are about repairing the present to reclaim the future”.

 “ Education is a fundamental human right and a critical tool and pathway to contributing towards sustainable development, peace efforts, and justice reflected within other key overarching frameworks and policies (…) such as, the AU theme of the year on “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”, (…) emphacising on Education being at the cornerstone of an equitable healing and repairing process of the long-lasting inequalities and historical repairs, while leveraging pan African solidarity...”

Ms. Melissa Ruvimbo Kubvoruno, GIMAC, Chairperson, Young Women’s Network on her part, highlighted that in line with the AU theme of the year, (...) reparations for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Conflict deserve more than Sympathy (...) and gender-responsive reparations process must include direct financial compensation for survivors, access to specialized healthcare and prosecution of perpetrators.

Other keynote speakers included: The representative of H. E. Rachel Ruto, First Lady of Kenya; Ms. Jeon Na-Hyeong, secretary General, IWPG, on behalf of Ms. Yoon Hyun Sook, Chairman IWPG; and the moderator, Mrs. Antoinette Mbrou, WILDAF/GIMAC.

Concluding the meeting, Ms. Victoria Maloka, on behalf of Ms. Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya , AUC Director of Women Gender and Youth, underscored the urgent need to efficiently implement all the gender related policies and instruments, noting that, these legal instruments serve as a foundation for ensuring the rights of women and girls, offering a clear and compelling mandate for the protection of vulnerable populations and the promotion of gender equality across the continent. She invited the participants to actively mobilise around the Call for Action, of the recently adopted African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG).

On her part, Mrs. Coumba Fall Venn, Executive Director, “Femmes Africa Solidarité” and Coordinator of GIMAC in her closing remarks stressed that “African women and girls are not just stakeholders in this agenda—they’re the backbone of our continent’s survival and progress (…) Let’s not merely discuss change—let’s enact it. The data is clear. The frameworks exist. The time is now. The marginalized cannot wait. Let’s act with the precision of policymakers and the fire of revolutionaries.” Calling on the AU Member States who have not yet done so, to ratify the AUC CEVAWG and the Maputo Protocol.

During the meeting, participants discussed among others, actionable pathways and policy frameworks for advancing gender equality for African women and girls post-2025, informed by the Beijing Declaration, the Maputo Protocol and the recent adopted CEVAWG. They underscored the need to amplify the voice of Africa Women’s CSOs on advocating for gender equality at all levels, emphasizing the critical role of peace in achieving gender justice in Africa.

Media contact:

1. Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division, Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission to the UN | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: yamboue@africa-uinon.org , Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)
2. Ms. Oumou Daou Koumoue, Communication Adviser, | Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission to the UN | E-mail: koumoueo@africa-union.org | Tel: +1 914 316 3726

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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