31 Jul Op-Ed: Women are Key to Africa’s Development: A Call for Renewed Commitment to Advancing Africa’s Women’s Health and Well-being!
As we commemorate Pan-African Women’s Day, we are reminded of the significant strides we have made towards gender equality and women’s empowerment on our continent. However, we must also acknowledge the work that remains and renew our commitments to promoting the health and wellbeing of women, particularly adolescent girls and young women. Challenges such as gender inequity, poverty and limited economic opportunities, gender-based violence including female genital mutilation (FGM) continue to be significant barriers to the improvement of women’s health in Africa. Nonetheless, continued high-level advocacy can greatly contribute to ensuring that women and girls enjoy their rights to health.
As representatives of the African Union’s Women, Youth, and Gender Directorate,(WGYD) and Africa REACH, we see first-hand, the impact that dedicated advocacy and leadership can have on improving the health of Africa women and advancing their rights.
The Role of the African Union’s Women, Youth, and Gender Directorate
Recognising the need to address the health needs of women and girls, the African Union (AU) has put in place various continental frameworks, policies, and initiatives promoting women and girls’ health and well-being on the continent. One of them is the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa also known as Maputo Protocol, which makes provision for access to quality health and protection as a fundamental human right. As we celebrate Pan-African Women’s Day, we also commemorate the 21st anniversary of Maputo Protocol. This serves as an opportune moment to reflect on the implementation of the continental framework in our countries and progress toward ratification, domestication, and implementation for the 10 countries that have not yet ratified the Maputo Protocol.
Complementing the Maputo Protocol is the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE), which is a transformative framework that seeks to address the major constraints hindering gender equality and women’s empowerment. The GEWE strategy recognises that the rights of women and girls to dignity, security and physical and mental well-being are often compromised when women experience violence and violations, often occurring in the context of violence against women and harmful traditional practices such as early-child marriage and FGM. The strategy, therefore, aims to amplify women’s voices and ensure that the challenges they face are fully addressed through effective legislation and proper financing.
In alignment with the relevant provisions of the Maputo Protocol and the African Youth Charter, the AU also put in place the 1 Million Next Level Initiative to empower young people, especially, young women, with opportunities in health and well-being, education, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement (4Es + H). Launched by His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, AUC’s Chairperson, the initiative seeks to mobilize, engage and empower young people to advocate for their sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, the elimination of harmful practices and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), mental health, peace and security, and climate change under the health & well-being thematic area. However, the success of the 1 Million Next Level initiative relies heavily on AU member states, development partners, youth organisations, and the youth of this continent contextualising and cascading the initiative at national levels. We, therefore, further urge member states and all key stakeholders to implement this initiative and create an ecosystem in which young people’s health and wellbeing can thrive.
“We must ensure that the voices of young people, especially young women and girls, are heard and their health and well-being needs are met.” ~ Prudence Ngwenya.
Africa REACH’s Commitment
Africa REACH has shown unwavering dedication to ending AIDS in children and young people across the continent. Through Africa REACH’s advocacy work and in-country programs, we have seen how dedicated advocacy for young women and girls can be impactful. However, it is also crucial to have champions for women’s health who can hold peers accountable for the commitments made in the public health space.
One of Africa REACH’s effective in-country programs is the national grants program, which supports various initiatives that directly benefit young women and adolescents. In Nigeria, the program supported Inspire IT podcast in Imo State, which is conducted in collaboration with the Department of Health and addresses stigma and barriers faced by young people, particularly adolescent girls, regarding comprehensive education on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. This initiative empowers adolescents with knowledge, helping them make informed choices about their health. In Uganda, the Africa REACH grant progamme has helped implement the DHIS2 system through Community Health Alliance Uganda, enhancing data collection and management to better serve the health needs of young women and adolescents.
Aligned with the AU Women, Youth, and Gender Directorate, Africa REACH’s work emphasises a collaborative approach. As advocacy, policy, and stakeholder supporters, Africa REACH contribute to the expansive work being done across the continent by the African Union. One significant initiative is the Call to Action: Ending AIDS in Children in Africa. This campaign mobilises governments, civil society, and communities to renew their commitments to this critical issue. By advocating for increased investment and effective policies, Africa REACH strives to ensure that no child is left behind in the fight against AIDS.
“I have seen firsthand the transformative power of dedicated advocacy for young women and girls, it’s about finding innovative approaches and alternative responses to champion their causes effectively.” ~ H.E. Toyin Saraki
The Importance of the AU Head of States Champions
The AU Champions are pivotal in advocating for issues at the highest levels of governance, garnering support for implementation of AU’s policies and programmes. These Champions hold a unique position to drive change and ensure that the health and rights of young women and girls are prioritised. H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and current AU Champion for Gender and Development Issues, exemplifies the power of this role. Through his flagship programme, the Gender and Development Initiative in Africa (GADIA), his leadership has brought critical attention to gender issues and has driven forward important initiatives. He has strongly advocated for the ratification, domestication, and implementation of Maputo Protocol and constantly urged leaders to ensure that the commitments made by member states to advance welfare of women and girls on the continent are fully and efficiently implemented. Together with H.E. Dr. Monique Nsazabaganwa, AUC’s Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also launched the Women and Youth Financial & Economic Inclusion Initiative (WYFEI 2030), an initiative of the African Women’s Decade (2020-2030) that seeks to address systemic bottlenecks that conspire to perpetuate poverty, deprivation, and social injustice among women and youth in Africa.
A Call to Action
As we look to the future, we must hold our leaders accountable for their commitments to women’s and girls’ health. Together, we call on our AU Champions to continue leading advocacy efforts and steer the continent toward achieving the ambitious goals of various continental initiatives that aim to advance women’s and girls’ health. We also encourage AU Member States to report their progress in the implementation of Maputo Protocol, the Maputo Plan of Action 2016 – 2030, Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB, and Malaria in Africa, and the Campaign for the Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) as well as the commitments made during the Africa Leadership Meeting: Investing in Health. We further encourage them to share their challenges so that we can collectively find solutions.
The success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) illustrates what can be achieved through dedicated leadership and advocacy. We need similar commitment and innovation to achieve our goals for women’s health and empowerment.
As we celebrate Pan Africa Women’s Day 2024, we must renew our commitment to championing the health and rights of women and girls across Africa. Let us continue to work together to ensure that every girl and woman has the opportunity to lead a healthy, empowered life.
Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, Director of Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate-
African Union Commission.
H.E. Toyin Saraki, Africa REACH Leadership Council Member, Founder-President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Special Adviser to the Independent Advisory Group of the World Health Organisation AFRO.