Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 22nd – 23rd January 2017:- The 29th session of the Gender is My Agenda (GIMAC) Pre-Summit consultative meeting kicked off, Sunday, January 22nd, 2017 at the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Gender Inclusive Youth Empowerment and Development for a Peaceful and Prosperous Africa,” which is in sync with African Union theme of “Harnessing The Demographic Dividend Through Investment In Youth.”

Addressing delegates on behalf of H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), the Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy of the AUC, H.E. Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim acknowledged the contribution of African women in the process of widening political, economic and social roles of women on the continent. She further pointed out that less women died from child birth, more women are elected to political offices, and more women are economically empowered thanks to increased commitments promote the rights of women such as, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa of 2003, the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights in Africa, and the African Union’s Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.

Commissioner Dr. Ibrahim noted the importance of the cooperation between civil society and women’s movements to women issues are addressed and implemented in many avenues. She further applauded GIMAC for keeping the African women’s movement alive. She said, “The GIMAC events and the Pre-Summit Gender meetings have shown that the African women’s movement is alive and well, but we need to do more to build our national movements, and involve grassroots women in our continental programmes”.

She urged the delegates to invest in youth to enable them to unleash their creativity and energy as part of the African skills revolution.  Commissioner of AUC, Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim concluded her statement with a quote from Nelson Mandela “To the youth of today, I also have a wish to make: Be the script writers of your destiny and feature yourselves as stars that showed the way towards a brighter future.”

Ms. Bineta Diop, African Union Commission Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security after observing a moment of silence for the late Mrs Fatoumata Diakite, who militated her whole life for the promotion of women’s rights and was one of the first to join the GIMAC network, noted that “Our work allows us to mobilize our efforts for the cause of women in Africa and beyond, for the transformation of our Continent. Our actions fall under the Agenda 2063 initiated by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for an Africa that takes care of its daughters and sons, a winning Africa, a united and prosperous Africa

Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in his statement called on the GIMAC delegates to ensure that the outcomes of the meeting align with AU’s Agenda 2063. He said “I am urging you to ensure that the recommendations and conclusions that come out of this meeting clearly demonstrate that it is no longer business as usual, but that the push for the continent’s structural transformation – including addressing unequal gender relations – take center-stage. Bold, action – oriented recommendations that are aligned with, and inform current continental discourse on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the AU’s Agenda 2063 in the context of your theme are a must from this meeting”.

GIMAC has a critical role to hold government accountable for the implementation of policies geared towards positive change on women’s rights and well beings. It is time we define strategic framework of positive transformative change on girls and women in Africa. Signing these frameworks is not an effort, it is all of our responsibilities to ensure these policies and frameworks are domesticated in the continent, acknowledged most of the GIMAC members.

Note to Editor

The GIMAC is a network consists of more than 55 civil society organizations promoting gender equality and accountability for women’s rights. It was launched was launched in 2002 in Durban, South Africa and has since held bi-annual civil society consultative meeting in advance of the AU summit to engage AU member states on African women’s rights, issues and concerns. 

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Faith Adhiambo | Communications and Public Relations Officer | African Union Commission I E-mail: ochiengj@africa-union.org I faiadhis@gmail.com

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

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

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