On the 2nd of November 2022 the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) invited ACCORD to a virtual consultation meeting of Women’s Rights and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in preparation for the second African Union Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence against Women and Girls. The consultation meeting was held in partnership with the AUC-Women Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) and Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Oxfam International Pan Africa program.
ACCORD’s Women Peace and Security Advisor, Ms Pravina Makan-Lakha delivered opening remarks that focused on the role of Women’s Rights Organization in promoting positive masculinity and ensuring accountability towards women and girls in Africa. The meeting which was moderated by Chimwemwe Fabiano, and Akina Mama waAfrika, also included contributions on the topics of positive masculinities, the Kinshasa Declaration’s accountability mechanisms, unpaid care and the economies of care-giving, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and peacebuilding and counter militarism.
In preparation for the 2nd African Union Men’s Conference, the CSO’s reflected on the 2021 Kinshasa Declaration, where various African Union member states committed to the advocacy for, and protection of, women and children’s rights against gender-based violence. The meeting further served to analyse accountability mechanisms and looked at the process of operationalising the Kinshasa Declaration. This discussions promoted awareness on the commitments made in the declaration to advocate against gender based violence and encourage, as well as support, the active participation and leadership of women and girls in all political, social, cultural and economic spheres.
ACCORD remains committed to enhancing the role of women to prevent, mitigate and resolve complex conflicts though engagements with institutions, which promote and advocate for the protection of women and children against gender based violence.
