Sixty-ninth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) on the Review and Appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
Africa Pre-CSW69 on Beijing +30 Consultation
Opening Remarks
Check Against Delivery
By
Hanan Morsy
Deputy Executive Secretary of Programmes and Chief Economist
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
African Union Headquarters,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6 November 2024
Your Excellency Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Your Excellency, Dr Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
Honourable Betty Amongi Ongom, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development of Uganda and Chairperson of the Specialised Technical Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,
Honourable Ministers,
Dr Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN ASG and UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results,
Ms. Prudence Nyagwenya, Director of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate of the African Union Commission,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this high-level ministerial segment of the Consultation on the African pre-Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 69 on behalf of the Economic Commission for Africa. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, the African Union Commission, UN Women, UNDP, and UNFPA, for their invaluable collaboration in organising this meeting. I also would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our host, the Government, and the people of Ethiopia, for their warm hospitality.
Excellencies, distinguished participants,
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted nearly three decades ago, marked a transformative moment in our global commitment to advancing women’s rights. While this platform laid a framework for policies and initiatives that have inspired progress, we must acknowledge that the journey is far from complete. Let's first take a look at the positive side:
Africa has made remarkable progress in closing gender parity in education, reducing maternal mortality and adolescent fertility rates.[1]
Member States have also made significant efforts to implement the Women’s Peace and Security Agenda by adopting National Action Plans based on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and seamlessly integrating the agenda into their policies and strategies.
Member States have largely adopted the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol).
Almost all Member States have set up gender focal persons in government ministries, departments, and agencies to institutionalize national gender mainstreaming frameworks.
However, despite these achievements, persisting barriers and emerging challenges largely exist on our continent and pose a significant risk to sustainable, inclusive development:
Economically, 1 in 10 women in Africa continue to live in extreme poverty! African women spend 75% of their time on unpaid work, compared to just 24.2% for men[2].
Socially, challenges like gender-based violence, marginal advances in women's representation and participation in public and political spheres, and obstacles to gender equality continue to loom large.
Moreover, multiple crises - the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, climate change and debt crises, coupled with emerging issues in the digital space, such as gender digital divide and gender-based bias in AI models, further exacerbate these challenges, exposing vulnerabilities in our systems for women.
Therefore, we must urgently tackle these pressing issues and strive for a better future where every woman can thrive.
Excellencies, distinguished participants,
Today’s review is timely. This review, based on the reports submitted by 39 member States, calls us to action around the following:
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We need to effectively enforce and implement laws and policies that are already in place.
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We need dedicated resources to enhance gender equality and women’s empowerment. To do so, it’s crucial to enhance our efforts in mobilizing domestic resources.
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We need to bridge the technological and digital divide that exacerbates inequalities and limits women’s access to digital tools and services, which is essential for their empowerment in the modern economy.
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We must strengthen institutional mechanisms to ensure accountability in pursuing gender equality, particularly through national gender machineries.
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We need to establish multistakeholder partnerships and collaborative frameworks with the private sector, youth, and civil society organizations to create meaningful impact on women and girls.
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We must end discriminatory and harmful gender norms and stereotypes and our conscious or unconscious biases, which can exist even where gender-equality laws are in place.
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Last, but not least, let’s make our women and girls count. Their presence cannot be felt unless we explicitly measure them! Hence, we need more disaggregated data on specialized topics that matter for the well-being of women and girls.
Excellencies, distinguished guests
With your dedication and efforts, I am confident that this meeting will produce a solid outcome document that will contribute to the UN Secretary General’s report for the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
As we embark on this important dialogue, let us carry the resolve to turn our commitments into reality to pave the way for a more equitable and just society.
Thank you.
[1] The proportion of women in national parliaments has tripled from an average of 8.1 per cent in 1995. Fifteen countries surpassed the 30 per cent target for women’s representation in national parliaments in 2023. Women's representation in the media has improved, promoting their inclusion and positive portrayal across various platforms.
[2] Charmes 2022.