MEDIA ADVISORY

CSW68: African Union Ministerial Consultation Meeting

INVITATION TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT:           The African Union Ministers in charge of Gender and Women’s’ Affairs will converge for a Consultation Meeting in the sidelines of the Sixty-Eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), which will take place from 11 to 22 March 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

                               WHEN:          The AU Ministerial Consultation Meeting will hold on 15 March 2024

                               TIME:                         15.00 – 17.00

                                WHERE:         African Union (AU) Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations (UN)

THEME:        

• Priority theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
• Review theme: Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (agreed conclusions of the CSW 63).

WHO:             It is jointly organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), through the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) and the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the UN.

WHY:             The WGYD of the AU Commission takes part in the annual Sessions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to ensure the integration of the Africa Common Position (CAP) on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in global decision-making processes. CSW is a strategic platform, and its annual themes complement the AU’s vision for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment as one of the critical success factors of Africa’s Agenda 2063. CSW also reinforces the goals of the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment to place women and girls at the centre of the development agenda.

Objectives: The objectives of the Ministerial Consultation Meeting are to present the Outcomes document of the Africa Consultation for CSW68 and agree on strategic advocacy to influence the CSW68 Agreed Conclusions.

Background:

The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the realities of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. It brings together key actors in the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) arena and has continued to be driven by women themselves, as part either of official government delegations, intergovernmental, non-governmental or as part of the global women ’s movement. 

The CSW meets annually over a two-week session and follows a focussed and thematic approach defined through a multi-year programme of work, with defined annual themes and a review theme. The principal outcome of the CSW is the Agreed Conclusions (AC) on the priority theme set for each year, which contains among others, an assessment of progress, as well as of gaps and challenges. In particular, the AC contains a set of concrete recommendations for action by Governments, intergovernmental bodies, civil society actors and other relevant stakeholders, to be implemented at the international, national, regional and local levels. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.

The African Union Commission (AUC) participates in the annual CSW Sessions in furtherance of Aspiration 7 of Agenda 2063 to influence and ensure the integration of the African Union (AU) position on GEWE in global platforms. A designated Head of the AU delegation to CSW delivers an official statement on behalf of the AUC Chairperson, highlighting progress made in implementing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa related to the theme of the year.  The AUC also convenes side events and back-to-back consultations on the margins of the CSW.

Attached is the Draft Program of the Event:

DRAFT PROGRAMME:

14.00 – 15.00            Arrival of Guests, Refreshment and Registration

15.00 -15.05              Welcome Remarks: H.E Amb. Fatima Mohammed, Permanent Observer Mission of the AU to the UN, New York, USA

15.05 – 15.10            Opening Remarks: Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, Director, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, African Union Commission (WGYD-AUC)

15.10 – 15.15            Statement: Amongi Betty Ongom, of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Republic of Uganda and STC Bureau Chairperson

15.15 – 15.30            Presentation of the CSW68 Africa Common Position (CAP): H.E. Dr. Mèdessè Véronique Tognifodé Mewanou, Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance of the Republic of Benin and STC Bureau Rapporteur

15.30-16.00               Updates on the negotiations, strategizing and reflection on Africa’s participation and contribution to the CSW68 by: - African Group Expert - AUC

16.00-16.30               Facilitated Discussions on strategic advocacy to influence the Agreed Conclusions of CSW68 using the CAP: STC Bureau Chairperson

16.30-16.45               Plenary Discussion (Q and A)

16.45 -17.00              Way Forward and Closing Remarks: STC Bureau Chairperson

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Jeanne Flora Kayitesi, Women / Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) / E-mail: kayitesiJF@africa-union.org  /African Union Commission.

For further media inquiries, please contact:

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)

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