Coverage: UN Women Executive Director attends the African Union Summit
Date:
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was in Johannesburg from 14-15 June to attend the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), under the theme: “Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”. The theme provided an ideal opportunity to advocate for the highest level of political commitment and leadership for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa.
Read the announcer.
Read more about outcomes and voices from the Summit: “Moving from Solemn Declarations to Solemn Deliverables”
15 June
While attending the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has called on both the public and private sectors to invest in women in order to achieve sustainable development in Africa. The Executive Director said that although there has been progress in some areas since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 20 years ago, there is still work to be done in order to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. Read our coverage.
13 June
Civil society dialogue heeds strong commitment to ending child marriage in Africa
Linda, from Malawi, was married at the age of 12 and had a child at the age of 13. “I now have a child but I still need an education,” she said, asking governments to provide schooling and education opportunities to girls in the same situation. She spoke at the Civil Society Consultative Dialogue on Ending Child Marriage on 13 June, organized by the African Union Commission and the World YWCA, during the 25th African Union Summit. While the issue of marrying girls at a young age has been addressed continuously during recent days of the 25th African Union Summit, collective commitment was reached at the Civil Society Consultative Dialogue.
Read more about her story and the event here.