The Second Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for urgent continental action to end violence against women and girls, warning that the menace threatens Africa’s progress towards peace, security and sustainable development.
According to her, Africa’s aspirations under Agenda 2063 cannot be fully achieved if a significant portion of the population continues to face violence, exploitation and discrimination.
Zanetor made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at a High-Level Dialogue on the Ratification, Domestication and Accountability of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She urged the Convention to serve as a catalyst for governments, parliaments, communities and institutions across the continent to strengthen prevention measures and create environments where women and girls can live, lead and contribute to society without fear.
The Klottey Korle Member of Parliament stressed that women’s rights are fundamental human rights, urging African Heads of State to demonstrate political commitment by pushing for the ratification and domestication of the convention to ensure its effective implementation.
She proposed a review of household census instruments to better measure women’s unpaid contributions, arguing that such data would enable governments to develop more accurate gender-responsive budgets and policies.
“It requires us to invest deliberately in girls’ education, women’s health, economic empowerment, protection services for gender-based violence survivors, access to justice and programmes that strengthen women’s participation in peace building, governance and leadership,” Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings added.
While acknowledging the potential of technology to support development and inclusion, she called for strong ethical standards, legal frameworks and oversight mechanisms to ensure innovation promotes gender equality and human dignity.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings assured that the Pan-African Parliament would continue to use parliamentary diplomacy, legislative engagement and policy dialogue to encourage AU member states to accelerate the signing, ratification, domestication and implementation of the convention.
The dialogue, organised by the Women’s Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, brought together legislators, African Union representatives, regional bodies, civil society organisations and development partners to discuss strategies for ending violence against women and girls across the continent.
The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) was adopted during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2025 and serves as a continental legal framework for preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
