Nobel Peace Laureate and Campaign co-chair, Leymah Gbowee, led an International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict delegation to the Gender is My Agenda conference in Addis Ababa last month.
There they joined 180 African women leaders in calling for the African Union (AU) to mark its “Year of Women’s Empowerment” with concrete commitments to end violence against women.
AU chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AU Special Rapporteur on Rights of Women in Africa, Soyata Maiga, and AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop, attended the conference, along with gender ministers, UN representatives, community organizations and activists. Together, they developed a list of key recommendations for the AU ahead of its 24th Summit from January 23-31.
The recommendations include developing national and regional action plans to end violence against women, providing rehabilitation and recovery programs for survivors of conflict, and increasing women’s participation in peace and policymaking processes.
The call to action also includes ending impunity for sexual violence crimes and providing resources for women’s groups caring for survivors of sexual violence.
LEARN MORE
Find out more about the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC).
Read the GIMAC recommendations to the AU.
See the results of the 24th AU Summit.
TAKE ACTION
Follow the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict on Facebook and Twitter, and visit the website to pledge your support.