The United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) signed the three-year Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme on 27 April. The Initiative will work towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage. 

Funded by the EU, the programme will focus on the strengthening of AU member state legislation and policy processes in the specified areas, the generation of quality and reliable data and support to women’s movements and relevant civil society organisations. The design and implementation of the programme is guided by the AU’s Agenda 2063, the priorities of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) and the Maputo Plan of Action for the operationalisation of the continental policy framework for sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as other key regional instruments.