Policy Recommendations by African CSOs to the 60th CSW

We the representatives of African women’s rights organizations, CSOs, academia and media working to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa met in Nairobi, Kenya from 10 – 12 February 2016 to develop a common position and roadmap for engaging with African governments prior to, during and after the CSW60.
We re-affirm the role of civil society organizations as key actors in the implementation of Agenda 2030, contributing to the goal of achieving gender equality and women empowerment. As such, we recommend the following policy actions:

1. Adequate, accessible and sustainable financing for gender equality to implement SDG 5 and other gender related targets in other goals.
2. Address existing gaps between laws and practice to accelerate the implementation of progressive laws at national, regional and global levels to prevent and eliminate VAW.
3. Strengthen evidence on gender equality to inform policies and actions aimed at achieving gender equality.
4. Guarantee the realization of women’s full and active enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms including their sexual and reproductive health rights without discrimination.
5. Implementation of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) without compromising international human rights principles and national efforts to advance gender equality and women empowerment.
6. Proactively respond to the shrinking space and resources for civil society particularly those working on women’s rights, affirming the need for a vibrant, strong and free civil society that is essential for sustainable development.
7. Accelerate the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 that affirms the participation of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.
8. Invest in infrastructure and time-saving technologies to reduce and redistribute the burden of women’s unpaid care work.
9. Meaningful, inclusive and effective participation of women in social, economic and political development.
10. Eradication of harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and FGM/C,
11. Invest and leverage the use of ICTs as an alternative means for the delivery of education and training particularly to women and girls.

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