High-Level Side Events on the Sidelines of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)

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March 17, 2026 to March 19, 2026

What: The African Union Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) will convene two high-level side events on the sidelines of the 70^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).

Operationalization of the AU Accountability Framework to Strengthen Legal and Community Justice Systems to Protect Girls Against Cross-Border Trafficking, Violations, and Exploitation.
Technical Capacity-Building for Domestic Financing for the AU Accountability Framework on Ending Harmful Practices.

When: Tuesday and Thursday, 17^th and 19^th March, 2026.

Where: African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, New York.

Who: The meetings will bring together high-level Government Officials, Ministers of Gender, Justice and Interior of AU Member States, Civil Society and Traditional Leaders, African Union Organs (ACERWC and ACPHR), World Bank, United Nation Agencies, International Law Enforcement Agencies and Development Partners.

High-level Speakers include:

A Representative from World Bank.
A Representative from United Nations.
H.E. Amb. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development.
Honourable Ministers for Gender, Justice and Interior from Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia.

Key objectives include:

Operationalization of the AU Accountability Framework to Strengthen Legal and Community Justice Systems to Protect Girls Against Cross-Border Trafficking, Violations and Exploitation.

Showcase the AU Accountability Framework in tracking progress and holding Member States accountable for protecting girls in vulnerable cross-border contexts.
Advocate for increased domestic and international investment in justice infrastructure specifically tailored for adolescent girls.
Facilitate dialogue on cooperation and harmonising regional legal protocols to disrupt trafficking networks and ensure the safe repatriation and reintegration of girls.
Promote the integration of traditional justice systems with formal legal structures to ensure a "continuum of justice" for victims of trafficking.

Technical Capacity-Building for Domestic Financing for the AU Accountability Framework on Ending Harmful Practices.

Highlight the importance of expanding technical capacity-building to further understand the operationalising of the Accountability Framework and strengthen national and sub-national systems to end harmful practices such as FGM, child marriage, and other discriminatory traditions, practices, and social norms.
Facilitate dialogue on challenges and stronger solutions to strengthen institutional, policy, legal, and financing frameworks that support accountability and results.
Share good practices and innovations for measuring, monitoring, budgeting for, and holding stakeholders accountable for their commitments.
Promote meaningful child and youth engagement by leveraging their voices, leadership, and lived experiences to strengthen implementation, monitoring, and accountability efforts toward ending FGM, child marriage, and other harmful practices.

Highlights for the media:

High-level opening and closing sessions.
High-level Ministerial Session on AU Accountability Framework
Exclusive interview opportunities with key officials available upon request.

Registration:

Kindly confirm your participation with Mr. King David Cartey - E-mail: CarteyD@africanunion.org and Ms. Twambo Mumba MumbaT@africanunion.org by Friday, 13^th March 2026.

Key documents to consider are:

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Olubusayo Akinola I, Head of Division | Social Welfare, Crime Control and Crime Prevention | African Union Commission | E-mail: AkinolaO@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Nena Thundu, Policy Officer | Social Welfare Division | African Union Commission | E-mail: ThunduN@africaunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

WGYD