The African Union International Center for Girls and Women’s Education (African Union CIEFFA) has convened Pan-African Parliamentarians to discuss strategies for providing a legal framework to support the implementation and domestication of the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign. This was during the 4th African Union CIEFFA Workshop with Pan-African Parliamentarians held on the theme: “Contribution of Pan-African Parliamentarians for National Implementation of the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign: Legislation to Ensure Learning Opportunities Post-Covid for Girls”. The meeting, which took place on May 24, 2023, brought together members of the Pan African Parliament from the Clusters of Education, Gender, Health, and Justice.
Underpinning the importance of this gathering during his keynote speech, H.E Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament warned against education potentially being a tool to widen socio-economic gaps within societies when not well understood and practiced. He asserted, “Where people who have access to education advance more and more while those who have no education go backwards and the gap becomes even wider and for us as members of parliament this is what we should fight for. That Education should close gaps rather than widen them.” The speeches from Hon. Amina Abdou Souna, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, and the Ag. Coordinator of the African Union CIEFFA, Simone Yankey, reiterated this statement.
The meeting provided a platform for the Parliamentarians from different Member States to share their country experiences in the advancements and challenges of girls and women’s education. The need to pay special attention to curricula and the content of education given, the role of parental education, the need for strategic funding and investment in technological infrastructure in rural areas, and the necessity to tackle cultural stereotypes were some of the thoughts that were spotlighted in the discussions.
The parliamentarians recognized the work of the African Union CIEFFA in championing girls and women’s education in Africa and pledged to continue collaboration to push for the implementation of the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign at national levels.
African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa
The International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) is a specialized institution of the African Union since 2004, dealing with women and girls’ education following Decision Assembly/AU/DEC.44 (III). AU/CIEFFA is a specialized institution of the African Union under the Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI). The Centre aims to promote girls and women’s education with a view toward their full participation in the eradication of poverty and the edification of a peaceful world for sustainable human development.
For further information please contact:
Azwe Success Barbara, Communications Officer | African Union International Center for Girls & Women’s Education in Africa | African Union Commission Tel: +226 25 37 61 55 | E-mail:BarbaraS@africa-union.org| Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube| LinkedIn
Ms. Faith Adhiambo, Communications Officer- Agenda 2063 Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: ochiengj@african-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: www.au.int| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube| LinkedIn
