The speedy implementation of commitments to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) has been emphasised again in a declaration and call for action between the African Union Commission (AUC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Development Diaries understands that the declaration and call for action was an outcome statement of the Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) – which is tied to the AUC – meeting with CSOs.
The recent round of engagement with the CSOs was virtually convened, with the support of the Gender is my Agenda Campaign (GIMAC), to gather rich perspectives and contributions from the academia, the media, youth, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, persons living with disabilities and Africans in the diaspora on the gender responsiveness of the AU and its member states in the Covid-19 response strategies.
Participants at the meeting noted that a key distressing challenge facing women and girls during the Covid-19 pandemic was the increased exposure to sexual and gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and abuse.
They also highlighted that the impact of border closures and lockdowns on industries along the supply chain further exposes women to income losses. Furthermore, the increased burden of unpaid care work was also observed, as well as mental health, the physical health impact of Covid-19 on health care workers and frontline female staff.
The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira El-Fadil, commended the visionary leadership of the AU in swiftly mobilising a collective African response, backed by a comprehensive continental strategy, to Covid-19.
She noted that the realisation of the impactful implementation of the continental strategy called for enhanced collaboration among the AU, its member states, development partners, and CSOs to create and strengthen social protection systems aimed at reducing social and economic risks.
It was gathered that the social affairs department was finalising the development of the AU Socio-economic Strategy aimed at strengthening the gender responses to the pandemic and also complement the continental AU strategy to ensure that women are not left behind.
Source: CNBC Africa
Photo source: African Union
