Signature of the Africa-Europe Marrakesh Pact for local equality
A draft “Africa-Europe Pact for local equality” was signed at the 8th Africities Summit in Marrakech (Morocco) last week by Frédéric Vallier, Emilia Sáiz and Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, respectively Secretary Generals of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) – representing PLATFORMA -, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and Célestine Ketcha Courtes, president of the Réseau des Femmes élues locales d’Afrique (REFELA). The final Pact will be approved during a ceremony at the UCLG Congress in 2019.
One of the sessions of the 8th edition of the Africities Summit (20 to 24 November) was dedicated to the Gender Equality and social inclusion strategy for a just transition of Africa, organised by CEMR, UCLG Africa, its Réseau des Femmes Elues Locales d’Afrique (REFELA) and UCLG.
In this draft Pact, all concerned parties recognise their active engagement in the processes of promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Signatories also, stress their support to the capacity building of local and regional governments in the implementation of this Pact.
The mentioned European, African and global local and regional government associations commit to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and SDG 5, notably through drafting the African Charter for Gender Equality in Cities and Local Governments, which will build on the principles contained in the New Urban Agenda, aiming at strong local governments and delivering inclusive basic services and sustainable societies.
The African Charter will be nourished by CEMR experience and the European Charter for the Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.
A drafting committee will be established (composed by elected representatives, already members of Standing Committees on Gender Equality from the African and European sections) which will be dedicated to the development of an African Charter.
(Photo ©UCLG-CGLU)
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