On March 7, 2025, the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations (UN), and the European Union (EU) took a bold step toward advancing gender equality and eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG) today with the signing of the regional agreement on the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0 (SIARP 2.0) as well as a declaration of intent. Held at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, this milestone event builds on the successes of the first phase of the program (2020-2023) and aims to drive impactful regional and country-level action against VAWG, harmful practices, and to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across Africa. The regional programme prioritizes strengthening existing strategies and initiatives, such as the African Union Gender Strategy 2017–2027, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Agenda 2063, and the Maputo Plan of Action for the Operationalization of the for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Continental Policy Framework (2016–2030).
The regional agreement was signed by the UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) Regional Director for Africa, Yacoub El-Hillo and the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Minata Cessouma Samate. The declaration of intent was signed by all three partners with His Ambassador Javier Niño Pérez signing on behalf of the European Union Delegation to the African Union.
SIARP 1.0 has spearheaded a comprehensive effort to strengthen the adoption and implementation of national and regional legal frameworks to address and combat VAWG and harmful practices in Africa. Under Pillar 1 on Policy and Legislation, SIARP strengthened advocacy and capacity for the implementation of human rights instruments and national action plans to address VAWG and harmful practices. It supported the enforcement, ratification, domestication, and implementation of regional legal frameworks, including the Maputo Protocol and initiatives to end child marriage and FGM. The programme conducted Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions, leading to significant legislative reforms and improved understanding of VAWG as a human rights issue. It contributed to the development and endorsement of Africa’s first Regional Action Plan (RAP) on EVAWG with a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. SIARP enhanced the capacity of civil society organizations in drafting shadow/alternative reports on women’s rights and promoted gender-transformative programming in 11 countries. It also strengthened accountability mechanisms and supported women human rights defenders, building the capacity of regional partners and empowering women advocates across Africa. SIARP 1.0 also facilitated the development and implementation of methodologies, standards, and tools for collating comprehensive prevalence and incidence data on VAWG/harmful practices and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Minata Samate Cessouma underscored the transformative impact of SIARP 1.0 in deepening insights into the complex challenges confronting women and girls across the continent. She highlighted the programme’s role in establishing a strategic platform for delivering targeted interventions and driving periodic, evidence-based responses to eliminate violence and harmful practices against women and girls. “This agreement marks a new chapter in our collaboration, which my successor will continue to champion to safeguard the rights, protection, and wellbeing of vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, through the eradication of harmful practices,” stated Amb. Cessouma.
Yacoub Ali El-Hillo, Regional Director for Africa at UNDCO, commended the SIARP 2.0 Programme as a testament to the robust partnership between the African Union Commission, the United Nations, and the European Union, reaffirming their collective commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls across Africa.
Ambassador Nino Perez, European Union Ambassador to the African Union, acknowledged the instrumental role of Ambassador Cessouma in spearheading the initiative and reiterated the EU’s unwavering commitment to strengthening collaboration among the three partners.
SIARP 2.0 is designed to build on the achievements of SIARP 1.0, scaling up impactful regional and country-level interventions to eliminate violence against women and girls and advance gender equality. The programme reaffirms the African Union’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of women and girls across the continent, in line with its vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.
