African Union Commission in partnership with UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, and Equality Now, within the framework of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme, held a three-day Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop from the 17th to 19th November 2022 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Over 30 regional and national stakeholders from the African Union Commission, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of ECOWAS, IGAD, SADC, and EAC, regional parliamentarians as well as representatives from national Ministries in charge of Gender and women’s affairs from Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Serra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The purpose of the regional training was to enhance the capacity of regional partners to better advocate and influence their member states on ratification, domestication, and implementation of international and regional human rights instruments on EVAWG. The Training also sought to foster cross-learning among regional partners and member states on best practices on the ratification, domestication, and implementation of international and regional human rights instruments on EVAWG and to develop an action plan that serves as a road map for the regional partners on how to strategically influence Member States to ratify, domesticate, implement and report on EVAWG. 

The Facilitator’s Training Manual that was being rolled out, was developed, and informed by the findings and recommendations from the Regional Evidence-Based Mapping and Assessment Report on the Status of ratification, domestication enforcement and reporting of laws and policies, and on implementation and investment on National Action Plans on EVAWG in line with Global and Regional Human Rights Commitments on EVAWG. In addition to this, the Manual was further informed by a comprehensive capacity needs assessment report, a regional consultation, peer review process and a regional validation.

Ms Odette Kabaya, Reginal Gender Advisor and Team Leader at UNDP RSCA, said “It is crucial, that our regional and national partners, use their voices and power to advocate and influence their Member States on ratification domestication, enforcement, and reporting on the human rights treaties. This should be followed by supporting monitoring and reporting frameworks to fast-track their enforcement and appreciate their accountability on improving the lives of women and girls on the African Continent.”

On behalf of Ms Victoria Maloka, Head of Outreach and Coordination Division at the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate of the AUC, Ms Lindiwe Ngwenya stated that “the work before us is urgent. Women and girls can no longer wait for us to take the necessary actions to ensure that the aspiration and promises we have made to them in the different instruments become a reality.”

Mr Julius Otim, Programme Coordinator, of the SIARP Programme Coordination Unit, said “With UNDP’s Comparative Advantage on Policy and Legislation, the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP) is on the right track of addressing the multiple obstacles faced with the ratification, domestication, and implementation of global and regional commitments aimed at EVAWG. Despite the significant progress on ratification, implementation and accountability remain challenges that we expect the Training of Trainers (ToT) will be in a position to address.”

Representing Equality Now Africa/SOAWR Ms Esther Waweru, Senior Legal Advisor said, “It is one thing to have laws and policies but it’s a totally different thing to have those laws and policies and treaties implemented. It is critical to note that for the next three days as relevant critical actors in this fight to end violence against women and girls you will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills and enhance your capacity to be able to work closely with the governments and any other actors to accelerate the ending of violence towards women and girls.

It is also hoped that through the training a poll of regional facilitators and advocates will be established to support in further rolling out the capacity building initiatives at both regional and national level. The Facilitators Training Manual is meant to serve as a resource guide and training tool to enhance the capacity of the AUC, RECs, the Pan African Parliament, the Network of African Parliamentarians, and CSOs to engage and influence Member States to ratify, domesticate, and enforce international and regional human rights instruments. The manual is also useful in providing an overview of the treaty-making and domestication process as well as tools to ensure that domestic legal instruments are effective tools to be used in ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG). 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Ms. Priscilla Mawuena Adjeidu, Communications Officer, AUC Youth Division: AdjeiduP@africa-union.org