Pathway Document: Engagement by Regional Intergovernmental and Inter-Parliamentary Bodies in Advancing Gender Equality

The goal of the consultation was to provide a forum for discussion and agreement on strategic priorities to strengthen regional efforts towards accelerated action on gender equality and women’s empower-ment (GEWE), within the framework of the globally adopted Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, and Africa’s genda 2063. The latter supports the realization of the AU Vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the world”. The consultation, facili-tated by UN Women’s Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa (UN Women ESARO) and supported by the UN SDG Action Campaign, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Govern-ments of Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, discussed different initiatives and critical enablers. The consultations reaffirmed the commitment of the collective to the effective implementation of GEWE commitments within the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063 as a means to achieving these two critical global and regional complementary development agendas. Additionally, we recognized our unity of purpose, inter-dependence and respective roles and responsibilities, in operationalizing the GEWE commitments within the framework of the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063.