Accelerating Action For All Women and Girls-ACSRG

As the world observes the International Women’s Day (IWD), the African Civil Society Reference Group Inc. (ACSRG) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to uphold and promote the rights and protection of women and girls in Africa to the fulfillment of their destiny. Gender equality and the empowerment requires collective efforts, community participation, increased investment and multi-stakeholders’ partnership to achieve in the face of challenging situations of conflicts, crises, geo-political tensions, disasters, forced displacement, raising economic costs, and funding deep, the situation is dare, action urgent, making gender equality and the elimination of VAWG an urgent global priority.

This was made known in a press statement signed by John Ede for the Africa Civil Society Reference Group. Below is the full text.

ACSRG calls for action for ALL Women and Girls in Africa:

As we join in celebrating the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD), ACSRG calls for action for ALL women and Girls in Africa to the full enjoyment of their human rights, promote community participation and advance social justice for survivors of rights violations, in Africa. Besides, the year 2025 is a pivotal moment as it marks the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document is the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide that transformed the women’s rights agenda in terms of legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and change in social norms, stereotypes and ideas stuck in the past. ACSRG celebrates with the African Union on the adoption of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG); a comprehensive legal instrument for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls on the Continent.

While progress has been made in advancing human rights, Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) as a human right is not enjoyed by an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three— who have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older). Experience sharing from ACSRG recent multi stakeholders consultation brings hope; speakers spoke about initiatives advancing EVAWG in Africa; setting up mobile courts, advocacy for implementation of laws and policies in countries, community leaders stepping up community-based advocacy action, CSOs enhancing social protection services at country and community. Community champions offered hope that with collective advocacy, greater partnerships and collaboration, community empowerments, and increased investment, we can recalibrate to achieving EVAWG in Africa.

ACSRG’s Call to Collaborate, Accelerate Action to EVAWG in Africa

On this 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD), ACSRG calls upon multilateral agencies, governments, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, field actors, educators, donors, and the international community to take concrete steps to accelerate action in EVAWG:

• Advocate for the implementation and enforcement of laws – laws exist in Africa to uphold human rights, but implementation and enforcement is weak. ACSRG reaffirm its commitment to EVAWG in Africa through awareness raising, and to hold regional and country-based actors to account for the promotion of human rights, protection of survivors, and pursue legal action on perpetrators.
• Promote community-Led Initiatives to EVAWG – EVAWG is mostly community-based, hence the need to accelerate action at community level, that is community-led to achieve EVAWG in Africa. ACSRG urges relevant stakeholders and community leaders and actors to champion community-led initiatives that protect women and girls from all forms of violence.
• Increase investments in EVAWG initiatives – funding is critical in the fight to EVAWG in Africa. ACSRG is calling on donors, philanthropies, private donors and governments to increase investments in the fight towards EVAWG in Africa.
• Encourage capacity strengthening and empowerment – empowering multi-stakeholders with skills, knowledge and tools to better equip timely action is necessary. ACSRG commits to EVAWG in Africa by creating the platform for action to enhance stronger regional cooperation, promote capacity strengthening and empowerment initiatives at both strategic and community levels towards the elimination of Violence against women and girls in Africa.
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EVAWG: One Woman, One Girl, One Community at a time

Elimination of Violence Against women and Girls occurs in our communities, it occurs around us— it is a human rights concern. ACSRG calls for bold initiatives, bold leadership, sustained advocacy, and collective action at every level of society.

The African Civil Society Reference Group Inc. (ACSRG) a leading platform addressing issues affecting women and children across Africa, stands in solidarity with survivors, activists, policymakers, and communities working tirelessly to elimination of violence against women and girls. We must continue to accelerate actions by amplifying voices, step up action, advocate for stronger policy implementation, and create a world where every woman and girl in lives and community lives free from harm, fear and free to fulfill their destiny.

On this IWD, ACSRG invites you to join us now as we collaborate, forge partnerships and coordinate efforts and advance Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa