UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is to strengthen its partnership and collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament Women’s Caucus, following a meeting with representatives of the Women’s Caucus at UNFPA’s East & Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) in Johannesburg on 24 March.
The meeting followed a presentation made by UNFPA on sexual and reproductive health in Africa at the recent Pan-African Parliament Women’s Caucus meeting.
UNFPA Regional Director Dr. Onabanjo expressed UNFPA’s interest in collaborating more comprehensively with the Women’s Caucus in the priority areas of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) through the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme, child marriage and maternal health. The Women’s Caucus was a good platform to engage African women Leaders on different issues of concern for the continent, including sexual and gender-based violence, peace and security, women’s economic empowerment, health (including maternal and child health, HIV and malaria) and youth development, she said.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Onabanjo, Dr. Akinyele Dairo, UNFPA Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Regional Practice Manager, Seynabou Tall, UNFPA Regional Gender Adviser, and three members of the Women’s Caucus – Chairperson Bernadeta Kasabago Mushashu, of Tanzania, and Vice Chairs Elisabeth Agyeman, of Ghana, and Faith Muthembi, of South Africa.
Ms. Mushashu presented common areas to be developed into a programme or action plan for more substantial and longer term collaboration between UNFPA and the Women’s Caucus, with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV), especially FGM/C, child marriage, and maternal and newborn health. The strategies identified included capacity building; budget analysis and allocation, and monitoring for effective utilization; and knowledge sharing and linking up with sub-regional and national parliaments. For instance, the Women’s Caucus could push model bills at national level, she said.
The Chairperson represents East Africa and the four Vice Chairs represent West, North, Central and Southern Africa. Ms. Mushashu acknowledged UNFPA ESARO for its previous collaboration, technical and financial support to the PAP Women’s Caucus.
Dr. Onabanjo agreed to link the Women’s Caucus to UNFPA’s Liaison Office in Addis Ababa regarding the upcoming African Union launch of the Campaign to End Child Marriage, due to their powerful role as advocates to reach out communities. She also invited the MPs to join the movement in celebrating International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October.
