African Union, European Union and United Nations launch Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme to End Violence Against Women and Girls

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - On the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, the African Union Commission (AUC), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) officially launched the second generation Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP 2.0). SIARP 2.0 aims to end violence against women and girls and to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights across Africa. It is implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and UN Women in partnership with the AUC and is funded by the EU.

The theme of the high-level event was 'Accelerating Africa’s Promise: Uniting Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and Harmful Practices in Africa'. It was hosted by H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, the President of the Republic of Zambia in his capacity as the African Union Champion on Ending Child Marriage, together with H.E. Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development. Several global and regional leaders and State representatives joined the launch – including Ms. Diene Keita, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Population Fund Executive Director; Deputy Minister for Women, Gender, Community Development and Vulnerable Groups, Tanzania, Her Excellency Engineer Maryprisca Winfred Mahundi; H.E. Javier Niño Pérez, Ambassador, EU Delegation to the African Union; and H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, African Union Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security. Also in attendance were representatives from the SIARP 2.0 Recipient UN Organizations – UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women, as well as civil society representatives, who reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices across the continent.

Delivering remarks on behalf of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita described the launch as the renewal of a sacred promise to the women and girls of Africa. She sent a clear message that their safety is non-negotiable, their rights are inalienable, and their dignity is absolute.

Ms. Keita underscored that this second phase of Spotlight Initiative will deliver with renewed ambition, building on significant gains such as the adoption of the first AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. She highlighted that the Initiative’s approach remains evidence-based and data-informed, centered around the girl who can finally look to the horizon and see a future that she owns.

Ambassador Javier Niño Pérez, representing the European Union, underscored that “advancing gender equality and ending violence against women and girls is a matter of governance, stability and sustainable development”. He further remarked that “at a time of geopolitical fragmentation and competing narratives, the partnership between Africa and Europe matters more than ever.”

Ambassador Pérez further emphasized that SIARP 2.0 represents a reinvigorated tripartite partnership between the AU, EU and UN, demonstrating that multilateral cooperation can deliver concrete results for women and girls. He concluded by noting that violence against women and girls does not stop at borders and that regional challenges like harmful practices, including child marriage, require the coordinated regional responses provided by SIARP 2.0.

In her remarks, H.E. Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah lauded the launch of SIARP 2.0 as timely and strategic, highlighting its role in providing crucial technical and financial support to African Union Member States. She emphasized that the initiative will strengthen national capacities to implement evidence-based interventions, enhance regional coordination, and accelerate measurable outcomes in advancing the rights and protection of women and girls across the continent.

In his keynote address, H.E. President Hakainde Hichilema emphasized the urgency of this mission, stating that “we cannot achieve the ‘Africa We Want’ under Agenda 2063 if girls continue to be robbed of their futures.” President Hichilema further noted that his 2025 Champion’s Report on Ending Child Marriage in Africa provides a critical evaluation of progress and serves as a roadmap for legislative and social reform across AU Member States.

SIARP 2.0 represents a scaled-up, multi-sectoral partnership led by the UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) and implemented through UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women, in direct partnership with the African Union and funded by the European Union.

The programme prioritizes enforcing legal frameworks and accountability using data for action, while increasing investments in prevention to transform the discriminatory norms that drive harmful practices. It further aims to expand quality essential services for survivors and to empower, build and support women’s and youth-led movements.

During the launch itself, Mr. Yacoub Ali El-Hillo, Regional Director, UNDCO Africa, delivered a statement flanked by representatives from the AUC, the EU and the UN organizations implementing the programme (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women), the EU and a representative of the Republic of Zambia, the event co-host. Mr. Yacoub recognized that “SIARP 2.0 represents a renewed commitment by the African Union, the United Nations and the European Union to place women and girls at the centre of Africa’s development agenda." He further underscored that the launch signalled that “Africa and its partners remain resolute in advancing the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls through sustained political will and partnership.”

The event concluded with a call to action for all African governments to domesticate international human rights standards and increase domestic funding for gender-responsive programming. This event united leaders and partners in their belief that violence against women and girls is preventable, and that through sustained political will and partnership, it can be ended.
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Media Contacts:

African Union Commission
Dr. Olubusayo Akinola
Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention Division
AkinolaO@africanunion.org

European Union Delegation to the AU
Mr. Biruk Feleke
Press Officer
Biruk.feleke@eeas.europa.eu
+251911514809

United Nations Spotlight Initiative (SIARP 2.0)
Mr. Serawit Atnafu
Advocacy, Communication, and Knowledge Management Specialist,
Tesema@unfpa.org
+251911977910