DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE

AU Side Event at the 68^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 68)

Theme: “Gender Financing for Ending Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices”

Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development

15 March 2024

1.0 INTRODUCTION  

Gender-based violence (GBV) including harmful practices are pervasive issues in Africa. Despite efforts to address these challenges, they continue to hinder gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Gender financing plays a crucial role in providing the necessary resources to prevent and respond to these issues effectively.

The sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 11 to 22 March 2024 under the Primary Theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.

The African Union Commission, through the Department for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, will be organizing a Side Event on the margins of the 68^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The side event highlights the African Union’s commitment to addressing gender inequalities; and the protection of women and girls against all forms of abuse including harmful practices and online child sexual exploitation. This commitment is a critical pillar in delivering on Agenda 2063 - the “Africa We Want”. The event will also be launching an African Union Observatory which will incorporate indicators on harmful practices. It is necessary to have this Observatory as a mechanism to monitor gender equality and the advancement of girls and women's rights, the observatory is aimed at creating a data and knowledge base that allows multisector stakeholders to monitor progress and challenges of accelerating an end to harmful practices.

2.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE SIDE EVENT

The objective of the event is to explore innovative financing mechanisms including domestic financing in Member states and strategies to address gender-based violence, harmful practices, and online child sexual exploitation. By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors, the event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing to enhance efforts in ending these forms of violence against women and girls.

 Specific objectives

1. Discussing the importance of dedicated financial resources for addressing gender-based violence and harmful practices.
2. Launch and operationalize the African Union Observatory on Harmful practices
3. Exploring effective prevention strategies and responsive measures to address GBV and harmful practices, including legal frameworks and support services.
4. Examining the role of technology in perpetuating online child sexual exploitation and strategies for ensuring online safety for children and young people.
5. Highlighting the significance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in mobilizing resources and expertise to tackle these complex issues.

Expected outcomes

1. Increased awareness of the importance of gender financing in addressing GBV, harmful practices, and online child sexual exploitation.
2. The African Union Observatory launched and operationalized with Member States and other stakeholders.
3. Enhanced collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise.
4. Identification of innovative financing mechanisms and strategies to support initiatives combating these issues.
5. Commitments from stakeholders to take concrete actions towards ending GBV, harmful practices, and online child sexual exploitation.

3.0 EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS AND DATES

The Side Event will bring together Government officials, Civil society organizations, financial institutions, international organizations, Private sector representatives, Advocates, and activists.

The consultative workshop will take place on 15 March 2024 at the AU New York Office Conference Centre

4.0 FORMAT OF THE EVENT

The Side Event will be conducted as a physical and virtual event consisting of presentations, panel discussions and Interactive Sessions.  Interpretation services will be available in English and French 

5.0 CONTACTS

For further information, please contact Mrs. Angela Martins - Ag. Director of Social Development, Sports and Culture through MartinsA@africa-union.org; CC:

OlubusayoA@africa-union.org ; Thundun@africa-union.org; MumbaT@africa-union.org and  StellaS@africa-union.org