Press launch of the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual & Health Rights remarks by UN Resident Coordinator

The Honorary Conference Chief Patron, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency, Madam Fatima Maada Bio,

Conference Convener, African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights, Dr. Uwem Esiet,

Host, Co-Executive Officer, Purposeful, Mr. Chernor Bah,

Honourable Ministers & other senior Government Officials,

Development Partners,

UN Colleagues,

Members of the Press,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

----------------

After dealing with the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current Ukraine-Russia conflict that continues to disrupt our delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, Sierra Leone needs a huge conference like this - the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual and Health Rights to be hosted in this country.

Let me, at the outset, therefore, recognize and thank the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, who has agreed to serve as Honorary Chief Patron and Dr Uwen Esiet for also consenting to convene this all-important continental knowledge and experience-sharing platform in Freetown. The United Nations System in Sierra Leone applauds you, our Host organization, Purposeful, under the able leadership of Mr Bah, and the Government of Sierra Leone on the selection of Sierra Leone to host the Conference under the theme “Accelerating the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence in Africa”

On behalf of the United Nations Country Team, I am certain that this monumental event will accelerate national and continental efforts to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence. This is imperative as it is estimated that globally one in three women has experienced SGBV in her lifetime. According to the 2019 Demographic Health Survey, Sierra Leone has extremely high rates, with 62 percent of women aged 15-49 reporting having experienced physical or sexual violence. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 2020, the world ushered in the decade of ambitious action to deliver the SDGs by 2030. This was informed by the realization that action to meet the goals was not yet advancing at the required speed or scale. The Decade of Action calls for accelerating sustainable solutions to all the world’s biggest challenges — ranging from poverty and gender inequality to climate change and food insecurity. The hosting of this Conference could therefore not have come at a more opportune time. We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on all 17 SDGs. Specifically, lockdown and quarantine measures put in place to slow the spread of the pandemic have in some instances, significantly weakened protection systems and increased women’s exposure to higher risks of sexual and gender-based violence, thus, negating the progress towards the SDG target of eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls.

The 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights is, therefore, a timely opportunity for stakeholders to rethink and renew our commitment to sexual health and rights in general and SGBV in particular; and aid us in our collective efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals - in particular, Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls.

 

The UN is providing coordinated technical, financial, and logistical support to the Youth Pre-Conference and Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights with the certainty that it will contribute to:

• • Increasing investments in long-term strategies to tackle the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence, 
  • Protection of the rights of women and girls, and 
  • Promotion of strong and autonomous social movements as one of the most powerful ways in which to redress power disparities and build a world of safety and dignity for all of us.
    
     

Allow me, in this regard, to recognize the role that UNFPA is playing in coordinating UN support to the conference. As we continue to support resource mobilization efforts for the conference, I am happy to note that the UN system has so far contributed One Hundred and Ninety Thousand Dollars ($190,000) towards the conference; of which $100,000 is from the UN Spotlight Initiative.

As UN Resident Coordinator, I am delighted to take note of the key role that youth, including those with disabilities, from around the continent are playing in the planning, co-creation, and facilitation of the conference events. This is very much in line with the UN Youth Strategy's objective to build the agency and advance the rights of young people in all their diversity around the world. We believe that this is especially important as we work towards Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063.

The success of this conference will have a ripple effect in galvanizing and equipping stakeholders in Sierra Leone and around the continent to fight for lasting change and a more equitable society.  Working collectively, we must all join hands to end SGBV and harmful practices.

Let us all collectively make the Conference a clarion call on all stakeholders to mobilize for action on three levels:

1. 1. continental action to secure stronger partnerships, more resources, and smarter solutions to addressing SGBV
   2. local action embedding the needed transitions in the policies, budgets, institutions, and regulatory frameworks of governments; and
   3. people's actions, including by youth, civil society, the media, the private sector, and other stakeholders, to generate an unstoppable movement pushing for the required transformations.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

In closing, let me once again express my gratitude to the organizers for planning this truly transformative event. The UN remains committed to supporting the planning of the conference as well as the execution of the conference outcomes. I look forward to meaningfully participating in the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights and its lasting societal results.

I thank you.