AU Commission and the Republic of Angola Conclude High-Level Technical Support Mission to Accelerate Ratification of the AU-CEVAWG

The African Union Commission (AUC), through its Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Angola, successfully convened a High-Level Technical Support Mission from 13 to 15 July 2026 in Luanda. The mission’s primary objective was to support Angola’s efforts to ratify, domesticate, and implement the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG). 

Ms. Lehau Victoria Maloka, Head of the Coordination and Outreach Division at WGYD, led the AU delegation on behalf of Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, who participated virtually. As one of the first Member States to sign the Convention, Angola has consistently demonstrated strong political commitment to advancing gender equality. Building on this momentum, the three-day mission featured targeted engagements to resolve bottlenecks and establish clear goals for the fast-tracked ratification of the AU-CEVAWG.

Highlighting the urgency of the mission, Commissioner Sallah-Njie stated, “Instruments do not save lives; political will and collective action do.” On the first day, the delegation held highly productive strategic alignment meetings with key government leaders, including H.E. Ambassador Téte António, Minister of External Relations; H.E. Ana Paula do Sacramento, Minister of Social Action, Family and Woman Promotion (MASFAMU); H.E. Alcina Lopes da Cunha Kindanda, Secretary of State for Family and Woman Promotion; and H.E. Antónia Osvaldina Simão da Cruz Yaba, Secretary of State for Human Rights. During these engagements, the Angolan government reaffirmed its political will, committing to ratify the convention by year-end through a unified effort across the Ministries of Gender, Justice, External Relations and the National Assembly. 

Recognizing that ending violence against women and girls requires a whole-of-society approach, the second day of the mission focused on extensive thematic consultations. The AU delegation engaged with stakeholders from the Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, youth networks, the private sector, and media professionals. These groups committed to sustaining grassroots advocacy for the AU-CEVAWG, working collaboratively to transform discriminatory social norms and build strong partnerships to protect communities.

The mission concluded with a visit to the Centre Against Domestic Violence, where Angola’s measurable progress and recognized best practices in delivering coordinated, survivor-centered responses to gender-based violence were showcased. Following intense technical consultations, the mission concluded with an audience with H.E. Ana Paula do Sacramento, Minister of MASFAMU, where the AU delegation presented the mission’s outcomes and recommendations, expressing deep gratitude for Angola’s warm welcome and steadfast leadership. 

This High-Level Technical Support Mission was supported by the EAGER project, a strategic partnership between the World Bank and the African Union Commission. This collaboration advances Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) across the continent, ensuring policies translate into actionable, institutionalized changes that protect women and girls. The AUC commends the Republic of Angola for its exemplary leadership as a champion of positive masculinity and looks forward to the imminent ratification of the AU-CEVAWG, bringing the continent one step closer to a safer Africa for all women and girls.

About the AU-CEVAWG

Despite existing frameworks like the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), violence against women and girls remains a pervasive crisis in Africa. The AU-CEVAWG addresses modern challenges, including technology-facilitated violence, femicide, economic coercion, and conflict-related sexual violence. The roadmap launched in May 2026 outlines a time-bound strategy to secure the Convention’s entry into force, which requires 15 ratifications. Currently, eight Member States have signed the instrument: Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), The Gambia, Angola, Liberia, Burundi, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea. Notably, The Gambia’s National Assembly recently ratified the Convention domestically, marking a critical step toward the official deposition of its instrument of ratification with the African Union. The implementation strategy focuses on prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy implementation.

[Link to full AU-CEVAWG framework in all AU languages, roadmap and brochure]

For further information, please contact: 

Ms. Lindiwe Patience Mugabe | Programme Specialist, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: [email protected]

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Ms. Adele Onguene Atangana | Communications Associate, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: [email protected]