Government and United Nations reaffirm their joint commitment against violence against women during electoral periods in the Central African Republic –

BANGUI, Central African Republic, November 28, 2024 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- The Government and the United Nations have reaffirmed their joint commitment in the fight against violence against women during electoral periods in the Central African Republic. This commitment, aligned “ on national priorities and electoral processes » future, ” highlights the importance of this struggle ». The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in CAR, Mohammed Ag Ayoya, made this statement during the weekly press conference dedicated to the 16 days of activism campaign against violence against women and girls, launched by President Faustin Archange Touadera on November 25 in Damara.

During this conference, the Minister of Gender Promotion, Protection of Women, Families and Children, Marthe Augustine Kirimat, recalled that “ the CAR, like other countries, celebrates the 16 days of activism around the international theme, contextualizing it for the local elections in preparation”. She stressed that, in the history of the Central African Republic, this violence has prevented many women from registering on the electoral lists, thus limiting their electoral participation.

Thanks to the support of partners such as MINUSCA, the registration of women and girls from rural and urban areas on the electoral lists is becoming a concrete reality. This process, despite obstacles, offers hope of a significant increase in the number of women at the head of municipalities, from 4% to 35%. To do this, local awareness raising is carried out to remove doubts within households: “ Raising awareness step by step at the neighborhood level, by the neighborhood chief and the crier, so that women can exercise their civic duty and contribute to the development of their country “. The minister also underlined the crucial role of positive masculinity in supporting women in this process.

For his part, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in the CAR and humanitarian coordinator, Mohammed Ag Ayoya insisted on the capital importance of these campaigns for the joint commitment between the Government of the CAR, MINUSCA and the United Nations team for human rights, peace and sustainable development. Referring to the national theme, he recalled that: “ Resolution 2759, adopted on November 14 by the Security Council, instructs us to continue to support the Government in the organization of inclusive and transparent elections, ensuring the full participation of women as voters and candidates..

MINUSCA, in partnership with the Government, promotes the participation of women and guarantees their protection. A joint awareness-raising, capacity-building and social mobilization project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Promotion, Protection of Women, Families and Children, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and the National Elections Authority (ANE), was launched. This project is carried out in consultation with women’s organizations, community leaders and neighborhood and village leaders.

Mohammed Ag Ayoya reaffirmed: the commitment of MINUSCA and the United Nations system to support the Central African Government in its efforts to promote gender equality, protect women against violence and ensure their full participation in the governance of the country.

For his part, the acting spokesperson for MINUSCA, Joël Ndoli Pierre, announced that on November 25, Valentine Rugwabiza met the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, headquarters of the African Union. This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss progress made in the implementation of the peace process in the Central African Republic and the collaboration between MINUSCA and the African Union to support the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR (APPR- CAR) as well as the Luanda Road Map. She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening this partnership, in consultation with the Central African Government, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and other strategic partners, to contribute to peace through lasting political solutions.

During her meeting, the Special Representative also addressed the issue of the renewal of the mandate of MINUSCA, stressing the importance of continued support for the peace process, including the implementation of the ceasefire and the APPR. . She also discussed with the Vice-President of the Commission, Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, and the Commissioner for Political Affairs and Peace, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, on the crucial role of the African Union as guarantor of ‘APPR-RCA.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for MONUSCO.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

2024-11-28 09:02:00
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What role ⁤are local ⁤communities playing in promoting women’s political‍ participation in ‍the Central African Republic?

‌ ## ​Interview Transcript

**Interviewer:** Joining us today is [Guest Name],​ an‌ expert‍ on political developments ​in the Central African Republic. Welcome to the show!

**Guest:** Thank you for having ​me.

**Interviewer:** ⁤ The Central African Republic ‍is gearing up for local elections, and we know violence against⁤ women is a ‌serious concern, especially‌ during electoral periods. Can​ you tell us ‌more about the ⁤recent efforts to ⁣address ‍this ​issue?

**Guest:** Absolutely. The government, alongside the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA and various women’s organizations, are working hard to promote women’s participation and protect​ them from violence. Recently, they launched a campaign highlighting the importance of women’s involvement in elections and ​raising awareness about the detrimental effects of⁤ violence during this crucial time.

**Interviewer:** That’s encouraging news. What are​ some of the‌ specific initiatives being ⁢taken?

**Guest:** Well, one key initiative is focused ‍on voter registration. [Guest Name] highlights that historically, ⁤violence against women prevented⁣ many ⁣from registering to vote, which ultimately ​limited their‌ political participation. Now, ‌thanks to support from partners like MINUSCA, ⁤registration of women, especially from rural areas,⁣ is increasing significantly.

**Interviewer:** ⁢So, ⁤there’s hope for broader ​female ​representation in local⁣ government?

**Guest:** Yes, there is. ⁤ ‌The⁣ goal is to see a jump in‍ the number of women leading ⁤municipalities, from the current 4%​ to a much more significant 35%.

**Interviewer:** What⁣ role are local‍ communities playing in this?

**Guest:** Local⁣ awareness campaigns are vital,⁤ [Guest Name] explains. These campaigns​ target households and communities directly,‍ educating them ‍on the importance ⁣of women’s⁣ civic participation and encouraging them to support women’s⁢ political aspirations.

**Interviewer:** And ​what about ​the ⁣role of⁢ men?

**Guest:** [Guest Name] emphasizes ⁤the⁢ crucial role of positive masculinity in this process. Men need ⁣to be​ part of the solution by actively supporting women’s engagement in​ politics ⁣and challenging‍ harmful norms ⁢that⁤ contribute to violence against women.

**Interviewer:**‌ Amazing⁤ work is being done. Thank ​you so much ​for shedding light on these important initiatives, [Guest Name]. We wish the people of the ‌Central African Republic all the best for the⁤ upcoming elections.

**Guest:** Thank⁣ you for having me.