Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 January 2016 – Women leaders from the different socio-economic and political sectors in Africa will begin meeting from 18 to 20 January 2016 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, within the framework of the 8th African Union Pre-Summit on 2016 year of human rights, with particular focus on the rights of women.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, is expected to deliver a speech at the official opening ceremony of the Gender Pre-Summit on Monday 18 January 2016, in the plenary (Mandela Hall) of the New AU Conference Center.

The objective of the Gender Pre-Summit is to bring together voices of key actors in the gender equality and women’s empowerment arena, to update and discuss critical developments in the field, assess the extent of implementation of commitments, especially the Declaration on 2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development Towards Africa’s Agenda 2063 as well as the Mid-Term Review of the African Women’s Decade, identify future priority areas of action including the implementation of the 2016 year of Human Rights with a focus on the Rights of Women, and call for greater acceleration in the effective implementation of commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The meeting will further raise awareness and develop a common strategy on the implementation of the 2016 theme of African Year of Human Rights, with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women. It will assess progress on women’s participation in politics, public office and the judiciary and identify challenges and barriers hindering their effective participation as well as develop strategies to accelerate women’s agency and leading role in politics, public office and the judiciary.

Participants at the meeting will identify how national regulations and policies, on one hand, and practice from financial institutions and investors, on the other, can work more closely in ways to improve the financial inclusion of women in the formal economy. They will exchange views on recent developments on migration, particularly recent trends, challenges and impact on women as well as discuss best ways to manage it by policy makers in Africa and countries of destination. The meeting will engage practitioners, policy- makers, activists, and a broad range of stakeholders to review the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda on the continent, learn from various experiences and challenges, and reflect critically on what is needed to accelerate implementation and monitoring at all levels as well as a way forward.

During the meeting, delegates will further share progress, challenges and opportunities for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The meeting will also stimulate dialogue between AU Member States, regional intergovernmental institutions, CSOs and development partners on the opportunities, gaps and solutions for enhancing women’s economic empowerment and ensuring that women are at the centre of sustainable development, peace, regional integration and economic growth in Africa.

The Gender Pre-Summit will provide an opportunity for different stakeholders to discuss the challenges hindering progress in achieving women’s land and property rights in Africa, as well as to identify and promote practical approaches to address these challenges with a view to gain commitment towards promoting good models, among others.

The outcomes document/ communiqué with concrete decisions will be presented to the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government, for consideration and adoption.

Worth noting that, the African Union (AU) Gender Pre-Summits are organized before each Summit of the AU to bring together the voices of key actors in the gender equality and women’s empowerment arena to update and discuss critical developments related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, with the aim of influencing and shaping the discussions and decisions of scheduled AU Summits. Building on the AU‟s obligations on gender equality and women’s empowerment outlined in its legal instruments, these preparatory meetings serve as an important vehicle to incorporate gender perspectives into the highest decision-making body of the AU, thus ensuring that gender and women’s concerns remain on the high priority list of the AU.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.

Media inquiries should be directed to:
Mrs Esther Azaa Tankou| Ag. Director of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 (0) 911361185 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org|

For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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