What: The African Union and United Nations will convene a high-level launch dialogue to launch the Joint study- Status of Women’s Rights in Refugee and Internal Displacement Settings in AFRICA: The Context of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Secretariat (APSA). The study provides a contextual analysis of the forced displacement of women and girls in Africa, maps out relevant legal and policy frameworks, and makes policy recommendations to the AU, Member States and relevant stakeholders to fast-track the implementation of women’s rights and for durable solution for refugees, IDPs and returnees in Africa.

When: 18th June 2021. 11 am EAT.

Where: Registration is now open for the launch event-

https://unwomen.zoom.us/j/98191277588?pwd=OHFyMTgyelZPeGU5b250Y3JTUVRUdz09

Who: Convened jointly by the African Union Commission Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth, and UN Agencies, the meeting will bring together Experts form Ministries responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs in all AU Member States; the Regional Economic Communities, AU organs and Specialized Agencies, civil society organizations, media, refugees, and development partners, among other stakeholders.

Background

Forced displacement – one of the major consequences of conflict, insecurity and disaster in Africa – leaves women and girls disproportionately vulnerable. Indeed, women and girls represented more than half of the 41 million people worldwide living in internal displacement at the end of 2018. They experience displacement differently from men and boys, facing specific challenges that must be better understood to provide them with the support they need.

Women and girl refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) face specific risks including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and other human rights violations. Displaced women and girls tend to be at greater risk of deprivation, insecurity, abuse, neglect and a general deterioration of their well-being. Often, their sex and age also impede them from making their voices heard or participating in decisions on matters that affect them. These risks exacerbate already present health, livelihood, education, and security concerns, as well as hindering their effective participation in peacebuilding and decision-making more broadly.

The study benefited from field visits to three key countries with sizeable and diverse populations of forcibly displaced persons, namely Central African Republic (CAR), Ethiopia, and Nigeria. As part of this study, gender-mainstreaming guidelines were developed to support and promote the integration of not only gender considerations within AGA and APSA but also to help both architectures become more reflective of the importance of the participation of displaced women and girls (IDPs and refugees) in decision-making, policy development, planning, programming, implementation and monitoring.
For further information please contact:
Doreen Apollos, Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | E-mail: ApollosD@africa-union,org | www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou| Head of Information Division | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 (0) 911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission, E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.africa I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube