Stepping Up for Gender Equality- UN Women East and Southern Africa 2016 Annual Report

This report presents a glimpse of some of the interventions we were engaged with in 2015/ 2016. In the East and Southern African region, where numerous challenges persist for women and girls, UN Women continues to champion progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment through our diverse programming and interventions. A key objective has been to position ourselves as the lead agency on gender equality using a range of methodologies such as programming in response to the needs of national governments, Regional institutions and the community, knowledge management, research, and evidence-based advocacy and policy support and formulation.

A few highlights of key results in the year under review are: the amendment to the Malawi Constitution, banning child marriage following consistent and persistent advocacy in collaboration with other UN Agencies and development partners; advocating for safe spaces for women, such as street vendors in Rwanda and survivors of gender-based violence in Ethiopia; creating opportunities for dialogue and showcasing the benefits of providing agricultural support to women in agriculture so as to reduce loss of GDP; supporting interventions with the military to increase safe spaces for women and encouraging recruitment and retention of women in the security sector, including their ascension into leadership positions. Across the region, UN Women continues to play a crucial networking, convening and catalytic role.

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