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The Spotlight Initiative

The Spotlight Initiative, a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030, is the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

 

Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP)

As part of its Africa regional programme, it has partnered with Partners in Sexual Health (PSH) as an implementing partner to convene The 2022 Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and Women's Movement1 Forum on Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Africa.

 

The Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP) is guided by the 2030 Agenda, the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, AU Gender Strategy, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) and other Africa regional instruments. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is responsible for the technical coordination of the regional programme and oversees the Programme/Africa Coordination Unit (PCU). At the same time, UN Women coordinates the Stream 1 of the Programme, which oversees the Programme’s efforts around legislative and policy change, improved data and evidence and strengthened civil society and movements. The African Union Commission (AUC) is the leading partner and counterpart of the programme and signatory to the programme document.  

 

The SIARP recognises the critical role played by CSOs and women’s networks in EVAW and SGBV/HP, with a dedicated pillar of the programme aiming to enable ‘women's rights groups, autonomous social movements and CSOs, including those representing youth and groups facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalisation, [to] more effectively influence and advance progress on GEWE and VAWG, including SGBV/HP’. Africa regional and women’s networks have been critical in advancing continental and regional advocacy initiatives concerning regulations and laws and their implementation and ensuring implementation of interventions on the ground. Continued investment and partnership with regional civil society organisations, networks and academic institutions towards enhancing their influence and progress in the region is a crucial element of the programme and is guided by the “Leave no one behind” principle and regional ownership. 

 

Given the central role of a strong women’s movement in the fight to end violence against women and girls (VAWG), the Programme seeks to:

 

  1. build upon and strengthen the knowledge, expertise and capacities of women's rights organisations, autonomous social movements and civil society organisations, including those representing youth and groups facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination;

  2. support a conducive space for women's rights organisations, autonomous social movements and civil society organisations, including those representing youth and groups facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination's expression and activity; and

  3. establish multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks at local, national, regional and global levels with women's rights groups and autonomous social movements and CSOs, including those representing youth and groups facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.  

 

The Spotlight Initiative responds to all forms of violence against women (VAW), focusing on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation. It leverages the latest evidence and thinking on (VAW) and works to apply it within the context of country-specific insight and analysis.

 

It is composed of 6 pillars that form a cohesive and comprehensive approach to ending VAW. Of particular focus for the annual regional forum is pillar six (6), which looks at Women’s Movements and CSOs and Africa’s response to address VAW, SGBV, HP, SRHR, including FGM and Child Marriage. This forms the basis for the proposed thematic areas for the Africa regional forum.

 

  • Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)

    • Harmful Practices (HP)

    • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

    • Child Marriage (CM)

    • Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE)

 

  • Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) 

 

[1] The use of the term Women’s Movement is inclusive of the Feminist Movement. Both form part of social movements and political campaigns to bring about specific reforms on women’s issues.    

What we do

Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme: Civil Society Regional Reference Group

Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme: The 2022 Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and Women's Movement1 Forum on Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Africa

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The Spotlight Initiative, a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030, is the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls. As part of its Africa regional programme, it has partnered with Partners in Sexual Health (PSH) as an implementing partner to convene The 2022 Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and Women's Movement Forum on Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Africa.

 

The Spotlight Initiative responds to all forms of violence against women (VAW), focusing on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation. It leverages the latest evidence and thinking on (VAW) and works to apply it within the context of country-specific insight and analysis.

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WHO WE ARE

Partners in Sexual Health (PSH) is a youth serving non-profit organisation that provides and advocates for Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) services - including HIV/AIDS and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Support services – to women, men and particularly adolescents and youth.

Our vision is an empowered society on SRHR.

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Western Cape, South Africa

Telephone:     +27 21 932 6377
Fax 2 Email:   +27 86 573 4789
Email:                [email protected]

Registration Number: 067-206-NPO & PBO

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