#Beijing25Africa: Updates on the Africa Beijing +25 Review Journey

Over 200 African women and girls will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 25th – 31st October 2019 for the 25 years review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.  We are keen to ensure that the outcomes of the Africa review process are decisive, forward-looking and inclusive to respond to rising inequalities, persistent discrimination and unacceptable violence meted on women and grils in Africa. Here’s a snapshot of what will be happening. Engage/ follow online #Beijing25Africa:-

Beijing +25 Advocacy in Practice (AiP) Training 

25th to 26th October 2019

This invite only training program brings together 20 young feminist leaders and women’s rights advocates to enhace their advocacy skills in influencing regional and global advocacy spaces. The IWHC-led AiP training for Beijing +25 review process will support advocates through their region’s review of Beijing +25, and to also potentially attend a more in-depth second AiP in New York City ahead of the global review at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March. Participants will advocate with their governments to ensure that country positions taken in negotiations are grounded in national realities and commit to advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of women and young people. For more information contact IWHC’s Neha Sardana on email nsardana@iwhc.org and FEMNET’s Esther Nyawira enyawira1990@gmail.com

Beijing +25 Youth Strategy Meeting
27th October 2019

FEMNET in partnership with Education as a Vaccine (EVA-Nigeria) and SPECTRA is organizing the one-day youth strategy meeting to ensure that young women and girls, especially those who have never participated in a consultative process before are informed and properly engaged and take leadership during the Beijing+25 Africa Review Process. The youth strategy meeting will serve as a platform  to learn, share, review progress, identify challenges and develop priorities in preparation for the meetings that will follow including the civil society consultation on 28th October and the experts group meeting from 29th to 30th October. This strategy meeting is open to all youth and young women leaders and activists on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. For more information please contact FEMNET’s Esther Nyawira enyawira1990@gmail.com

Africa Beijing + 25 CSOs Consultation Forum
28th October 2019

Over 200 women’s rights and civil society organizations will convene in Addis Ababa to candidly reflect on progress and persistent struggles to realising the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action promise, 25 years later. We will create a bold inclusive space, reflect on our movement and sisterhood moments, refine our advocacy strategies and dance – because what is the point of the revolution if we can’t dance. The day will culminate in co-creating and endorsing a bold recommendations that will be presented to the Specialised Technical Committee meeting on the 29th and 30th October and the Ministers of Gender meeting who will be convening on the 31st October. For more information contact FEMNET’s Rachelle Ouko on email r.ouko@femnet.or.ke

STC / Experts meeting with all CSOs – African Union
29th – 30th October 2019 

CSOs will join the Specialised Technical Committee meeting and present key recommendations on the Beijing +25 review process from a feminist and women’s rights perspective. For more information contact FEMNET’s Rachelle Ouko on email r.ouko@femnet.or.ke

Ministerial meeting (few CSOs with observer status will participate)
31st October 2019

A select CSOs will join the Specialised Technical Committee meeting and present key recommendations on the Beijing +25 review process from a women’s rights perspective. For more information contact FEMNET’s Hellen Apila on email h.apila@femnet.or.ke

Related Beijing+25 Process to Engage/ Follow

1. Asia Pacific Beijing+25 Review CSOs Forum
   24-26 November 2019, Bangkok
   For more information, CLICK HERE and follow online #FeministsWantSystemChange

2. European Beiijng +25 Review Meeting
   28th – 29th October 2019, in Geneva.
   For more information CLICK HERE  and follow online #FeministsWantSystemChange

3. CSW64: Online registration for CSW64 for NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is open from now upto 27th January 2020 United Nations Indico registration system. For more information CLICK HERE

4. Join the first Feminist and Women’s Movement Action Plan Launch virtual conference for #Beijing25
   4 November 2019, 10:00 am (EST-New York time)
   Register here >> http://bit.ly/2JgDh0d The deadline to register is 31 October 2019. 
5. Beijing+25: Navigating the Process
   7th November 2019, ActionAid London.
   The meeting aims to provide GADN members with key updates and information in the lead up to Beijing+25 and beyond – both globally and from the UK government. It will also be an opportunity to hear about the preparations being made by other women’s rights networks from across the global south. FEMNET has been invited to participate. RSVP comms@gadnetwork.org

Useful Resources

• Background and Expert Papers on Beijing +25 

• Generation Equality Civil Society Deck

• Civil Society Advisory Group to the Core Group

• Statement from the volunteer Selection Committee for the Advisory Group

• Announcement of Advisory Group by Selection Committee

• NGO CSW/NY Beijing +25 participation webpage:Beijing +25 NGO PARTICIPATION

• Beijing+25 webpage: https://femnet.org/beijing+25/

We would love to hear from you, send us on email beijing25africa@femnet.or.ke. Mobile + Whatsapp +254 799 29 70 18. Keep following and engaging with us online #Beijing25Africa.