AU gender equality meeting puts focus on violence against women and economic empowerment

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Addis Ababa  — The African Union (AU) is holding the 11th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (STC-GEWE) in Addis Ababa from 26 to 29 October, as the continent seeks to strengthen efforts to prevent violence against women and expand women’s economic participation.

The meeting, being held in a hybrid format, brings together ministers, senior officials and experts from AU member states, as well as representatives of AU organs, regional economic communities, United Nations agencies and development partners. The experts’ session is scheduled for 26 and 27 October, with the ministerial session due on 29 October.

A key item on the agenda is the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG). Participants are expected to seek stronger political support for its signature, ratification and incorporation into national law. The convention’s practical impact will depend, however, on governments translating continental commitments into concrete measures, services and accountability mechanisms.

The session is also expected to consider the 2025 reports on the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) and review progress on initiatives such as the AU Gender Observatory. Regular reporting and monitoring are essential to track progress and identify gaps, although their effectiveness depends on the quality of national data and its use in shaping public policy.

Another topic under discussion is the WYFEI Country Acceleration Strategy, which aims to promote the economic empowerment of women and young people. The strategy is intended to guide priority actions at national level. Yet formal commitments to equality do not, on their own, ensure equal access to finance, jobs, training or leadership opportunities.

Ministers are also expected to review gender mainstreaming across AU policies and the roadmap for the AU Gender Champion Agenda. The agenda includes recommendations from the pre-CSW71 process, the inaugural Africa Care Forum and the second Egumeni Dialogue. Delegates will also discuss Africa’s candidacy to host the 74th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW74).

The election of a new STC Bureau and the adoption of a ministerial declaration are among the expected outcomes. The declaration could help consolidate common positions, but the session’s impact will ultimately depend on how its decisions are implemented in member states and monitored over time.

The STC-GEWE is an AU sectoral policy body responsible for providing strategic guidance, coordinating initiatives and monitoring commitments on gender equality and women’s rights. Its work is linked to Agenda 2063, the Maputo Protocol and other continental and international frameworks.

The 11th session aims to connect political commitments with monitoring tools and economic empowerment programmes. The challenge will be to turn recommendations and declarations into measurable change across a continent where implementation depends on political will, available resources and coordination among governments and regional institutions.