During the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, leaders from governments, international organizations, and civil society gathered to discuss pathways for ending gender-based violence (GBV) through the economic empowerment of women and girls.
High-Level Side Event: “Sustaining Progress toward Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls through Enhanced Economic Opportunity”
The high-level side event, hosted by Spotlight Initiative, the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission, and the Government of Uganda, aimed to build on the progress made in ending GBV and to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
The event brought together over 150 participants, including the Spotlight Initiative’s Global Coordinator, Erin Kenny, who highlighted the Initiative’s achievements in strengthening laws and policies, institutionalizing efforts to end GBV, and engaging men and boys in dialogue on positive masculinity and non-violent conflict resolution.
Key Messages and Outcomes
- Over 540 laws and policies targeting GBV were strengthened or passed.
- More than 50 countries institutionalized efforts to end GBV by strengthening national action plans.
- Nearly 6 million men and boys engaged in dialogue on positive masculinity and non-violent conflict resolution.
- Over 3 million women and girls accessed essential services, including in fragile contexts.
The event also highlighted the need for increased investment in interventions that eliminate GBV, with the African Union’s Head of Social Welfare, Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, emphasizing the importance of integrating gender-responsive economic inclusion into development programming.
Panels and Discussions
| Panelist | Organization | Key Message |
| Erin Kenny | Spotlight Initiative | “Since its launch, Spotlight Initiative has employed a comprehensive approach that addresses all key drivers of GBV and has achieved transformational results.” |
| Dorah Kiconco Musinguzi | Spotlight Initiative Global Civil Society Reference Group | “Women’s economic empowerment is critical to ending GBV. When women have financial independence, they are less likely to experience abuse.” |
| Karolina Hedström | European Union Delegation in Uganda | “The EU’s commitment to eliminating GBV is evident in our €500 million investment in Spotlight Initiative.” |
| H.E. Frederieque Quispel | Kingdom of the Netherlands | “In Uganda, we have made progress in legal frameworks, but we need to involve religious and cultural leaders in changing norms and behaviors.” |
| Dr. Olubusayo Akinola | African Union Commission | “Ending GBV is essential to development and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Integrating gender-responsive economic inclusion is a necessity.” |
Conclusion
“In my home country of Zimbabwe, the word for ‘rape’ is the same as for’murder,'” said the UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Leonard Zulu. “It is a shame that today only 22 out of 54 African countries have laws on gender-based violence.”
“The Secretary-General rolled out Spotlight Initiative as a fund to demonstrate that the United Nations can deliver as one,” said Mr. Zulu. “The Initiative succeeded in proving that coordinated approaches can and do enhance efficiency in the delivery of benefits to those we serve.”
“Now more than ever, ladies and gentlemen, we need each other… The deep-rooted expertise of women and girls needs to be brought to the fore,”
said Dorah Kiconco Musinguzi, a member of Spotlight Initiative’s Global Civil Society Reference Group.
