UNGA 78: High Level Roundtable on Empowering African Girls and Ending Harmful Practices by 2030

Share:

September 23, 2023

The African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Health,Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHSD) and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, co-hosted on 18 September 2023, a High-Level side Round Table discussion, on the margins of the 78^th General Assembly of the United Nations under the theme: “Empowering African Girls: Engaging Religious, Political and Traditional Leaders as Catalysts for Change in ending Harmful Practices by 2030”.

The event, which took place in the Mandela Hall Conference room of the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York, USA, was co-hosted by the Republic of Zambia and the European Union and included high-level representation from UK FCDO, UNICEF, UN OCHA, Child Fund International, World Vision International, Women’s Legal Resource Centre Malawi and the I am a Great Child Worldwide.

The High-Level Round Table discussion facilitated a strategic discussion. It yielded critical commitments from these global leaders towards the investment in initiatives that actively engage religious, political, and traditional leaders as accelerators of an End to harmful practices by 2030.

Furthermore, the side event was a unique opportunity to unite and take bold action to end harmful practices against African girls, ensuring they have access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Participants at the Round Table discussion underscored the need to act urgently to make 2030 a reality for African girls, make a real difference and create a world where all African girls can thrive.

Critical commitments that emerged from this discussion include:

Republic of Zambia: as the holder of African Ambassador in Ending Child Marriage, the member state plans to convene a religious and faith-based leaders meeting later this year as part of enhanced advocacy actions to end child marriage by 2030.
UK FCDO: to increase targeted investments in member states' efforts for ending child marriage, including increasing member states’ use of evidence on FGM through the FGM data hub- a collaboration with the Population Council.
UNICEF: Make available and support member states to use data on children to inform programming and actions against harmful practices with the inclusion of all stakeholders.
UN OCHA: To continue financing grassroots women-led organisations that remain at the forefront of ending harmful practices in humanitarian settings.
Child Fund International: To support Member states in establishing and implementing national laws on preventing OCSEA.
World Vision International: to support the scale-up of effective interventions from pockets of excellence to hotspots, especially those that engage traditional, political and religious leaders in ending harmful practices.

It is worth recalling that the statistics on the current trends of child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) are alarming and paint a bleak picture of the future of African girls. According to UNICEF, one in four African girls is married before age 18, and 75% of girls have undergone FGM in some countries. The rise of digital technology has further exacerbated the problem of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). These harmful practices have long-lasting consequences, including increased maternal and child mortality risk, decreased education and employment opportunities, and physical and psychological trauma. These practices also perpetuate gender inequalities, undermine girls' economic opportunities, and perpetrate cycles of poverty and violence. To achieve sustainable change, it is crucial to engage religious, political, and traditional leaders as key drivers for eradicating these practices and empowering African girls.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

About the African Union:

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens.

The AU Vision is to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.

About the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the UN:

The Permanent Mission of the African Union to the United Nations (AU Mission to the UN) plays a pivotal role in representing the interests of the African Union within the United Nations system.

The Mission advocates for African interests and concerns on a wide range of global issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and climate change. It works to ensure that African perspectives are considered and integrated into UN policies and decisions.

The Mission plays a crucial role in aligning AU positions with UN agendas and initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and peacekeeping missions.

The Mission serves as a channel for information exchange between the African Union and the United Nations. It relays UN decisions, resolutions, and initiatives to the AU and provides the UN with updates on AU activities and developments in Africa. For more information, please visit the website of the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations: www.africanunion-un.org

For further media inquiries, please contact:

Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | Mobile: +1 (347) 812-7195 / WhatsApp: +251911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

Oumou Daou Koumoue| Communications Advisor | Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations | Mobile: +1 (914)316-3726 | email: koumoueo@africa-union.org