Johannesburg, South Africa – 11th October 2017 – The Pan African Parliament (PAP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Sonke Gender Justice are organising the 10th edition of the Pan African Parliament Women Conference to examine the role of parliamentarians in promoting international and regional human rights instruments on women, youth, peace and security, and ending harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM).
The conference is convened at the margins of the 2017 PAP sitting that is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 10th PAP Women’s Conference will look at international human rights instruments that include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and its protocols; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women or CEDAW (1979); and the Convention on the Rights of the Child – CRC (1990). Regional instruments will comprise the African Charter on Human and People Rights (1981), its Protocol related to Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol 2003), together with regional strategies/ campaigns such the Maputo Plan of Action 2016 - 2030, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the African Union Roadmap on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth (2017).
PAP member will also examine how to integrate FGM in their work as an obstacle to achieving the demographic dividend; engaging men and boys to address gender inequalities and harmful practices including FGM; and building south-south cooperation in enforcing human rights instruments and accelerating FGM abandonment.
When: 12th – 13th October 2017.
Where: Idriss Ndele Moussa Plenary Hall, Pan African Parliament, Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
What: “The Role of Parliamentarians in promoting international and regional Human Rights instruments, especially those related to Women and Youth, Peace and Security, and Female Genital Mutilation in order to achieve the Demographic Dividend”, with statements from Hon. Haidara Aichata Cissé, Chairperson of the PAP Women's Caucus and Ms. Justine Coulson, UNFPA Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.
For more information, please contact:
Seynabou Tall, +27 82 740 3911, tall@unfpa.org or
Robert Kasenene, + 251 983 802904, kasenene@unfpa.org
