I am Generation Equality: Teresa Mugadza

I am Generation Equality because…

I am committed to advocating for justice for women's and girls to advance gender equality. My name is Teresa Mugadza. Coming from Zimbabwe, I currently serve as Kenya Country Manager at the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). As a dedicated Generation Equality Commitment Maker and Leader, I am deeply committed to driving meaningful change for women all over the world.

How is your organization making a difference in promoting Generation Equality?

Gender inequality is, above all, a matter of justice. This is why, IDLO works to reduce the justice gap for women and girls by advancing the rule of law.

This includes, first, strengthening legal and policy frameworks that facilitate the realisation of women’s and girls’ rights. Strong, clear and fair laws are essential to protect women from discrimination and gender-based violence (GBV), ensure their equality before the law, and promote their access to justice.

For example, we collaborate with UN Women and national partners to identify discriminatory laws in specific countries, such as in Kenya, and Sierra Leone. By assessing national legal frameworks, we provide governments with recommendations for the reform, repeal or passing of new laws.

Second, we build the capacity of justice providers, both formal and informal, to effectively respond to the needs of women and girls and the challenges they face when seeking justice. When doing so, we advocate for the strengthening of survivor-centred justice, ensuring that women are empowered to understand, use and benefit from justice mechanisms tailored to their realities and experiences.

Third, we work to enhance women’s participation and leadership in the justice sector, including within customary and informal justice systems. Women’s leadership not only grounds the administration of justice in lived realities but also transforms how women experience the justice system and drives more equitable outcomes for all.

What specific goals did you hope to achieve through your participation in the Beijing +30 review?

Participating in the Beijing +30 Review was an opportunity to take stock of the progress we have made in advancing women's rights, particularly in strengthening legal frameworks.

One of my main goals for this review was to assess the strides taken in adopting and implementing gender-responsive laws and policies, while also sharing lessons learned from IDLO’s experience across various regions. Each country brings unique insights, from which we can all learn. While there has been significant progress in advancing women’s rights across Africa, challenges to gender equality persist, including in protecting women from GBV and in ensuring women's full participation in leadership and decision-making processes. The Beijing Platform for Action outlined critical areas for global advocacy, and with the Beijing +30 Review, we can celebrate our achievements but at the same time highlight the areas where further progress is needed.

How do we leverage the multistakeholder approach to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing +30 declaration platform?

One of the most exciting aspects of Generation Equality is its multi-stakeholder approach: it brings together governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and civil society.

Collaboration across sectors allows us to advocate for policies, implement them effectively, monitor their impact, and where needed, advocate for change. 

What makes Generation Equality unique is its drive for systemic change. Through this platform, all stakeholders can commit to real and tangible solutions for advancing gender equality. IDLO is proud to lead and support this cross-sector collaboration, which is essential for the implementation of the Beijing +30 Declaration and in ensuring the full realisation of women’s and girls’ rights.

Three things one can do to promote justice for women and girls:

• Eliminate discriminatory laws and policies.
• Strengthen the capacity of both formal and informal justice actors to address the legal needs of women.
• Support initiatives that empower women and girls to access justice, through legal aid, policy advocacy, and grassroots efforts.

Quote: “What makes Generation Equality unique is its drive for systemic change. Through this platform, everyone can commit to real and tangible solutions to advance gender equality. IDLO is proud to lead and support this cross-sector collaboration, which is essential for implementing the Beijing +30 Declaration and ensuring women’s rights are realised” - Teresa Mugadza.