His Excellency Hadrammeh M. Sidibeh, High Commissioner of the Republic of The Gambia to the Republic of Senegal attended the 2nd Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence against Women and Girls, organized by the African Union (AU) in partnership with the Government of Senegal with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners on 10th November 2022 in Dakar Senegal.
The President of Senegal, and Chairperson of the African Union, H.E Macky Sall presided over the ceremony and delivered the opening remarks. In his statement he said, African countries must raise their voices and speak against harassment, rape and all undesired advancement on women and girls if the continent should be seen as an example in promoting gender equality, protection of the right of women and girls and in ending gender-based violence against them.
Also speaking at the event via video was President of South Africa, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa. He called for mechanism for African Union funds on ending violence against women and girls and men, adding that men should take ownership of positive values to address the issue of violence against women and girls.
Other speakers included Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia, Moussa Faki Mahamat of the AU Commission, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim former President of Mauritius and Catherine Samba-Panza, former Interim President of the Central African Republic.
Other speakers from different Associations included Serign Cheikh Saliou Mbacke, President of the Religious Framework for Health and Development, Elvis Yirenkyi Ayeh, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate of the AU Commission, Denyse Raissa Gaju, MenEngage, Civil Society among others.
During the event, President Macky Sall was presented an award as a symbol of Leadership in the Circle of Championing Positive Masculinity by Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia.
The 2021 DRC Conference saw the adoption of the Kinshasa Declaration and Call for Action on Positive Masculinity, later adopted as a decision of the AU Assembly at the AU Heads of State Summit in February 2022 enjoining AU Heads of State to report annually on measures taken and progress made to end violence against women and girls in Africa.
The 2022 conference took stock of progress made in the implementation of the 2021 Kinshasa Declaration. Key recommendations by civil society groups, traditional and religious leaders, youth participants and the private sector made on the advancement of the right of women and girls: included the need to allocate budgetary support to programmes and setting up a committee to follow-up on the last commitments and recommendations of the Kinshasa Declaration, among others.
