30th Gender is My Agenda Campaign - June 2017
ACCESS
UNSCR 1325 and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) are keyinstruments integrated in FAS activities and strategies. The dedication of FAS to their implementation led to its role as the coordinator of the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC), which was specifically created as a monitoring platform of SDGEA and the protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol).
THE GENDER IS MY AGENDA CAMPAIGN
GIMAC is one of the largest African women’s platform on the continent. The GIMAC is a leading African women’s civil society network dedicated to the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa and the respective thematic areas, coordinated by FAS and managed by a Steering Committee. Created to provide a space for civil society to formulate and promote a
gender equality agenda for Africa, it brings together more than 55 organizations coming from diverse backgrounds and from all over the continent. It has campaigned tirelessly over the last ten years for the equal participation of African women in leadership and decision-making and the acceleration of women’s rights, empowerment, and development. Since 2005, the GIMAC network members meet on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit for a Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the AU and Member States.
The GIMAC network members use this opportunity to examine cross-cutting issues in line with AU Summit’s themes and to develop recommendations that are then disseminated to the African Union Heads of State and Government and the international community to influence the high-level recommendations.
The 29th Gender is My Agenda Campaign January 2017
FAS coordinated advocacy at the African Union for African women’s groups during the 29th Pre-summit GIMAC consultative meetings held on the margins of the African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government in January The 29th Gender is my Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Pre-Consultative Meeting on Mainstreaming Gender Equality in the African Union took place on the 22 -23 January 2017 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the theme: “Gender Inclusive Youth Empowerment and Development for Peaceful and Prosperous Africa”. The meeting brought together over 200 delegates including AU officials, Women, and Gender Development Directorate, UNECA representatives, leading Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Gender in Africa and other interested groups working on and advancing women’s rights in Africa.
RESULTS
- Support and strengthen the office of the Special Envoy on Peace and Security as a key strategy for the systematic promotion and inculcation of a culture of peace among young Africans;
- The nomination of Youth Envoy at the African Union is guaranteed;
- Strengthen the role of youth in particular young women in peacebuilding to curb radicalization and gender deficits in humanitarian response;
- GIMAC key recommendations and advocacy points on Gender Inclusive, Youth Empowerment and development were reflected in Decisions and Declarations of Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government.
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD
Increased interaction between CSOs and government delegations before, during and after
the bi-annual pre-summit consultative meetings to advocate for and ensure that GIMAC recommendations are implemented.
The 30th Gender is My Agenda Campaign June 2017
The 30th session of GIMAC pre-consultative meeting was held from 27-28 June 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme: “Towards a continental Policy Framework for girls and young women: Gender Equality: A human right and key driver for economic transformation.” Recalling on the commitment and recommendations made during the 29th GIMAC held in Addis Ababa in January 2017, the 30th GIMAC, aimed to identify strategies, approaches, and interventions that have an impact for gender-responsive continental policy framework towards economic development with special focus on the demographic dividend and role of young wome
30th Gender is My Agenda Campaign - June 2017
Additional resources are needed for the GIMAC Campaign to conduct advocacy initiatives
throughout the year, including implementation of the SDI.
Strengthen the role of women and youth in entrepreneurship and enterprise creation; as a viable additional route to economic freedom in the light of shrinking
employment opportunities in the conventional workspace;
• Strengthen the Office of the Women, Gender and Development Directorate to
continue to support young women and girls towards achieving the demographic
dividend and ensure the protection of the rights of women and girls in Africa;
• GIMAC key recommendations and advocacy points were reflected in Decisions and
Declarations of Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government.