Across East and Southern Africa, governments, regional institutions, and women’s rights advocates are spearheading an expanding movement. This initiative aims to address the widespread issue of violence against women and girls throughout the region. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations globally, impacting communities and hindering development across the continent.
Namibia Mission Advances Convention
A recent high-level UN Women mission to Namibia recently focused on advancing support for the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG). The mission, which took place in Namibia, was specifically designed to foster greater commitment and action towards the Convention's goals. The discussions during the mission brought together considerations of violence prevention, the strengthening of care systems, and the implementation of gender-responsive social protection measures. The initiative also sought to shape regional dialogues concerning care-responsive policies, ensuring that these critical discussions inform national strategies. During the mission to Windhoek, Namibia signaled its commitment to advance national processes towards signing and ratifying the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, marking a significant step forward for the region.
UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda commented on the mission's significance. "Ending violence against women and girls requires not only strong laws but also strong political leadership and collective action," Gumbonzvanda stated. She added, "The momentum we witnessed in Namibia demonstrates a growing commitment across Africa to accelerate implementation of the AU Convention and ensure that every woman and girl can live free from violence." The mission shows an integrated approach, linking strong care infrastructure and social safety nets directly to the broader goal of eradicating gender-based violence across the continent. This holistic perspective acknowledges that violence is often intertwined with economic vulnerability and inadequate support systems.
Care Economy and Social Protection
Efforts to end violence against women and girls are increasingly linked to investments in care systems, social protection, and women’s economic empowerment. The care economy encompasses both paid and unpaid care work, including childcare, elder care, healthcare, and various forms of domestic work. Across societies, women and girls continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of these unpaid care responsibilities, which can limit their access to education, economic opportunities, and increase their vulnerability to violence. UN Women advocates for a full approach to address this imbalance, focusing on recognizing, reducing, redistributing, rewarding, and representing both paid and unpaid care work. This framework aims to transform societal perceptions of care work and ensure its value is appropriately acknowledged and supported.
The Sixth African Union Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Social Development, Labour and Employment adopted a decision calling for the integration of care systems into national social protection frameworks. This decision notes a growing recognition among regional bodies of the key role care services play in overall societal well-being and gender equality. Integrating care systems into social protection frameworks can provide essential support to families, alleviate the burden on women and girls, and contribute to their economic empowerment. Such measures can also create a more supportive environment, reducing the factors that can exacerbate violence.
Broader Context and Commitments
Regional engagement is seen as key for translating continental commitments into national action, according to Doris Mpoumou, Representative of the UN Women African Union Liaison Office. Mpoumou stated, "By working closely with Member States and the African Union, we can build the momentum needed to translate commitments into tangible results for women and girls." This collaborative approach is vital given the transnational nature of many challenges related to gender inequality and violence. Violence against women and girls persists as one of the most widespread human rights violations globally, demanding sustained and coordinated efforts. The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG) requires 15 ratifications to enter into force, a critical threshold for its full implementation and impact. UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda emphasized the necessity of strong political leadership and collective action to end this violence. Gumbonzvanda remarked, "The momentum we witnessed in Namibia demonstrates a growing commitment across Africa to accelerate implementation of the AU Convention and ensure that every woman and girl can live free from violence."
Voices from the Movement
A recent high-level UN Women mission to Namibia saw the nation signal its commitment to advancing national processes for signing and ratifying the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. This commitment from Namibia is a positive indicator of the increasing political will across the region to address gender-based violence systematically. The Sixth African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment adopted a decision to integrate care systems into national social protection frameworks, further solidifying the regional approach to this issue. This decision represents a concrete step towards institutionalizing support for care work and recognizing its importance. UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda stated, "The momentum we witnessed in Namibia demonstrates a growing commitment across Africa to accelerate implementation of the AU Convention." This collective drive is essential for achieving a future where women and girls across East and Southern Africa can live free from violence and thrive.