“Silencing the guns to ensure safe schools and learning outcomes for girls and women for Africa’s development”
The African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Norway to the African Union and Save the Children will convene the 4thHigh Level Dialogue on Gender Equality and Education in Africa on February 5, 2020 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 2020 edition of this event will be held under the theme “Silencing the guns to ensure safe schools and learning outcomes for girls and women for Africa’s development.”
The 4thHigh Level Dialogue will aim to address the following objectives in line with the 2020 AU theme on Silencing the Guns by 2020:
- Strengthen commitmentsby takingspecific measures to protect girls and boys in education systems in conflict and post-conflict situations;
- Advocate for all member statesto implement the safe school Declaration to protect and secure teaching and learning environments to ease access for children and especially girls in armed conflict and post conflict zones;
- Create a platformfor sharing and learning on existing reporting mechanisms among stakeholders for protecting education for girls and women in Africa and elsewhere at the HLD.
The meeting will bring together by high ranking officials from the continent, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway and the Minister of Education, Chair of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Science, Education and Technology (STC-EST). Participants will comprise Ministers of Education/Gender/Ministers of Defence from selected African Union Member States, representatives of national governments, civil society groups, private sector/foundations, AUC Departments, RECs and Vulnerable girls/women with success stories in similar context, Champions /Advocates for Girls and Women’s Education.
The 4thHigh Level Dialogue will lead to the following outcomes:
- Strengthenedpolitical will and supporton enhanced safe teaching and learning environmentsfor girls and young women from a wide range of stakeholders.
- A Communiquéof the 4thHigh -Level Dialogue on safety and security for girls and women in humanitarian situations in Africa.
Background:
Conflict, persecution and violence have uprooted at least 3.2 million people in the first half of the year 2016, and low- and middle-income countries have played the greatest role in sheltering the world’s displaced (UNHCR, 2016). To make education a catalyst for economic growth and lasting peace, the right to access services for all segments of citizens should be recognized, respected and implemented.Girls and women are among the most vulnerable populations in armed conflict and other humanitarian situations in Africa. It is estimated that 12.6 million children are out of school due to conflict. According to the 2015 UNESCO Global Monitoring Report, about 55% of children dropping out of school are girls. It is therefore crucial that African leaders reiterate their commitment to ensure the protection of girls’ right to education in situations of conflicts/emergencies.
