Congratulations to the African Union for adopting the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG), a regional treaty dedicated to ending all forms of violence against women and girls.
This new convention is a testament to Africa’s unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls across the continent to live a life free from violence. It is an important and necessary milestone in the ongoing struggle for gender equality. It represents a major milestone in advancing legal frameworks that ensure justice, prevention, and accountability for all forms of gender-based violence.
The convention comes amidst global data showing that violence against women continues to rise and that urgent action is needed. Every Woman Treaty applauds the African Union’s clear action at the regional level. At the global level, a normative gap remains, one that the African Union supports closing.
In alignment with this progressive move, the African Union expressed its support in September 2024 for the creation, adoption, and implementation of a new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to end violence against women and girls.
“The African Union stands firmly behind the call of a new Optional Protocol to CEDAW to address the existing gap in global protection,” said Her Excellency Mrs. Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the African Union on Women, Peace, and Security and Representative of the African Union Commission. “This is not just a legal necessity but a moral imperative. We are at the pinnacle of a historical moment. Let’s work together, governments, civil society and international organizations to make this a reality. The lives and futures of countless women and girls depend on it. Africa, and indeed the world, cannot afford to wait.”
The Adoption of the AU Convention on VAWG and the call for a new Optional Protocol to CEDAW are deeply complementary. Together, these instruments create a robust and holistic approach to tackling violence and discrimination against women and girls, bridging regional and global commitments for greater impact.
With both conventions working to change social norms and standards — in concert with other regional and global mechanisms — we can lower rates of violence and create a safer world where women and girls can thrive.
We celebrate and congratulate the African Union for its ongoing leadership in addressing violence against women and girls. Every Woman Treaty looks forward to working together to eradicate violence against women and girls and build a safer, more equitable world.
Photo: African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
