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The Africa Leadership Foundation's Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Olumide Ajayi, has been chosen by the African Union to join its Reference Group.
The group, consisting of prominent legal and gender experts from African Union member states, has been given the responsibility to create and negotiate a Convention for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls among member states.
This decision was made at the 37th summit of the African Union earlier in the year, in line with Goal 17 of Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063.
The group is expected to offer advisory and technical guidance in drafting the convention and provide expertise on the text, addressing disagreements, reaching consensus, and ensuring compliance with the AU agreement language on the issues being discussed.
The primary objective is to tackle the widespread gender-based violence primarily targeting women on the continent.
The group is anticipated to operate until the Assembly of Heads of States adopts the Convention," the statement continued.
The African Union (AU) believes that taking action to prevent and eradicate all types of violence against women and girls, such as sexual violence in conflict zones and harmful practices, will contribute to reducing the inequality between men and women.
It noted that it was the first of its kind in the global setting and the United Nations was very keen on supporting its emergence.
Ajayi is a prominent advocate and expert in gender equality and women empowerment.
He has advised multiple African countries, UN Agencies, and inter-governmental Organisations, focusing on designing performance frameworks for key African women’s rights instruments, such as the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality and the Maputo Protocol.
