By MONICA KAYOMBO, Zambia, Lusaka
The 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) in New York concluded last week, with the African Union Commission (AUC) calling for the expanded operationalization of the AUC Accountability Framework.
This aims to strengthen legal and community justice systems to protect girls against cross-border trafficking, violations, and exploitation.
AUC Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Her Excellency Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah, stated in her closing remarks following the AU high-level side event at CSW 70 that discussions at the conference highlighted the need for a unified approach to combat cross-border trafficking.
“The discussions have moved us beyond diagnosis to practical solutions – mechanisms, partnerships, and coordinated actions – needed to bridge the gap between Africa’s robust policy frameworks and the lived realities of our girls facing multiple and intersecting vulnerabilities,” she said.
She noted that deliberations on legal harmonization, community justice systems, and survivor-centered approaches were insightful and transformative, illuminating a clear path forward. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 30,000 out of 125,000 victims of trafficking worldwide are children, with nearly one in four detected victims globally being a child.
Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah called on stakeholders to translate their energy into tangible outcomes for girls awaiting justice. “To our Member States, I encourage you to act with urgency in submitting timely reports under the AU Accountability Framework, enabling us to track progress and close implementation gaps,” she emphasized.
The Ambassador highlighted progress made in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia, and encouraged more countries to join the growing community of practice. She expressed the AUC’s commitment to refining monitoring tools, deepening collaboration with Regional Economic Communities, and advancing the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG).
The CSW is a significant event focusing on promoting gender equality and women’s rights globally, where governments, experts, and civil society gather to discuss and address related issues.
