The African Union International
Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) and the
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) have launched the Compendium of international and
regional instruments on girls’ and women’s right to education in Africa, on 16
June 2020. The launch also includes the monitoring Report on the implementation
of these instruments.
The compendium, developed over three
years by the AU/CIEFFA with inputs from the PAP, intends to stand as a point of
reference for governments and Human Rights’ defenders in their endeavor to
ensure actual realization of girls’ and women’s fundamental rights, freedom and
safeguard them against violations and breaches. It outlines key legal and
policy instruments pertaining to girls’ and women’s education.
In his welcoming remarks during the
virtual launch, Hon. Chief Fortune CHARUMBIRA, fourth Vice
President of the PAP, referred to the significance of these instruments and the
symbolism of the launch date. He recalled the commemoration of the Day of the
African Child (DAC) and the 1976 students’ uprising in Soweto (South Africa)
against the poor quality of education they received, and for their right to be
taught in their own languages. He pledged PAP’s commitment to ensuring the
implementation of these instruments at national level.
“Since May 2017, members of the PAP
have been enthusiastic to validate without reserves the Compendium component documents
during its early stages of development. I have the honor to let you know that
the PAP intends to continue working post-launch of this compendium as we are now set towards pulling our entire weight behind the
accountability for the commitments made relative to these rights. Today’s
virtual launch offers for our girls; educational systems, but to us all here
present; the opportunity not to return to the old normal!” says Hon.
Charumbira.
On behalf of
the Chairperson of the AUC, H.E. Sarah Anyang AGBOR, AU
Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology recognized the efforts
and commitment of the PAP in providing critical inputs during the development
process of this compendium by the AU/CIEFFA. She also applauded the AU member
states for making strides to advance beyond adoption to the stage of
ratification of key international and regional instruments for girls’ and
women’s rights to Education in Africa. She however, appealed for more decisive
action to accelerate the implementation of these instruments alluding to existing
gaps between the instruments and the actions undertaken at national and
community levels to guarantee equitable educational systems, including girls
and women on the continent.
According to
recent UNESCO’ statistics, 9 million girls of primary school age will never
have the opportunity to access school, compared to 3 million boys; and 4
million girls will never attend school compared to 2 million boys. Without
urgent action, this situation is likely to worsen!
“This unique
Compendium provides the complete listing of key instruments at both
international and regional levels compiled with key provisions emphasizing on
integration of gender-based parity, equity and equality in the education
sector. She continues “It is therefore with big joy in my heart that I
officially launch the compendium of regional and
international legal instruments on girls and women’s education as well as the
monitoring Report on the implementation of these instruments by our specialized
institution, AU/CIEFFA,” remarked H.E. Sarah Anyang AGBOR.
In her
response to the launch, Hon. Amina SOUNA, Chairperson of the PAP
Committee on Education called on all stakeholders including Youth organizations, Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to renew the commitment to
uphold the right to education for girls and women. “It is our duty to take ownership of
this collection and to promote girls and women's education. I call on all
stakeholders in the fight for girls and women's education to work together in
the implementation of these instruments and make them a reality” Hon. Souna
said.
The
sentiment was echoed by Hon. Kone DOGNON, Chairperson of the PAP
Committee on Rural Economy who encouraged Parliamentarians to ensure that this
compendium does not become part of other legal tools which are yet to be
implemented by our governments saying: “We have a lot of signed and ratified
instruments that are yet to be domesticated and implemented. We need solid
guarantee from member states that the compendium will not suffer the same fate.
It is our role as Parliamentarians to obtain those guarantees and we will do
all we can to ensure the implementation. We owe it to our girls and women.”
The
AU/CIEFFA says that instruments contained in the compendium articulate specific provisions with policies, measures and
practices which African states can readily take inspiration from. They put
emphasis on girls’ and women’ access and retention in educational systems, not
only quantitatively but qualitatively, with a focus on innovation and
creativity, TVET and STEM, at the highest level of education.
Along with the Compendium, the
AU/CIEFFA has also developed a Monitoring Framework, strategized to track the
level of implementation of all these legal instruments, identify key
stakeholders, the persisting barriers and specially the strategic actions to be
implemented for girls and women to enjoy the benefits of education.
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