High Level Policy Dialogue on Ending all Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls

Theme: UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls in Africa

Opening remarks were given by representatives from stakeholders organizing the event. The opening segment hosted by Ms. Lindiwe Ngwenya, Program Specialist, UN Women Liaison office to AU and ECA gave an insight on the issue of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, providing valuable insights into its implications, challenges, and aims to raise awareness and foster solutions to combat this pressing social issue.

Ms. Saba Gebremedhin, executive Director of NEWA, HE Christine Pirenne, Ambassador of Embassy of Netherlands to Ethiopia, HE Adam Drury, Ambassador of UK to the AU, Ms. Doris Mpoumou, Representative of UN Women Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, and Mr. Zekarias Desalegn, Representative from Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Ethiopia, CEO for women’s right protection and response, head of GBV prevention and response desk; protection cluster and GBV AOR lead shared their insights and suggestions on addressing gender-based violence in both online and offline contexts, highlighting the importance of adopting and amending the African Union convention to enhance protective measures.

A Youth panel discussion spotlighting youth led solutions; apps, campaigns, and policy advocacy from across Africa addressing digital VAWG was moderated by Ms. Ethiopis Tadesse. Leonora

Tima, Founder and Managing Director of GRIT and Zuzi AI Chatbot from South Africa, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Executive Lead, Gender Mobile Initiative and ‘CampusPal’ App from Nigeria, and Sumaiyya Juma, AGCCI young Women Ambassador from Kenya presented their innovations that are set to tackle TFGBV in their respective regions. They showcased the platforms they created, highlighting their impacts and outlining future opportunities.

Policy Dialogue for actionable recommendations commenced with panelists after a video message from NEWA. Rita Fortunato Baptista, Political Officer, Strategic Communication, Youth and Gender EU Delegation to the AU, Ms. Beletshachew, representative from UN Women Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, Ms. Saba Gebremedhin, executive Director of NEWA, and Mr. Zekarias Desalegn, Representative from Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Ethiopia, CEO for women’s right protection and response, head of GBV prevention and response desk; protection cluster and GBV AOR lead discussed various policy interventions and advocacy efforts implemented to address gender-based violence, highlighting the additional challenges posed by online violence alongside existing offline abuse. This dual burden complicates the landscape of violence, necessitating a comprehensive approach that recognizes and mitigates the impact of both forms of aggression.

A closing remark was given by Ms. Karin STANGHED, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the AU which marked an end to the event.