Kenyan lawmakers have joined parliamentarians from across Africa in a high-level dialogue aimed at accelerating the implementation of a landmark African Union treaty designed to eliminate violence against women and girls across the continent.

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP)-led High-Level Parliamentary and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue brought together legislators, policymakers, civil society organizations and international partners to chart the way forward for the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG).

Leading the opening session was Nyeri County Woman Representative and President of the PAP Women's Caucus, Hon. Rahab Mukami Wachira, who called on African governments and parliaments to move beyond commitments and fast-track the ratification and implementation of the convention.

Mukami described the AU-CEVAWG as Africa's first comprehensive and legally binding instrument dedicated solely to preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

She emphasized that while the convention marks a historic achievement, its success will ultimately depend on how quickly member states ratify it, incorporate its provisions into national laws, allocate sufficient funding and ensure effective implementation.

The Kenyan lawmaker noted that national parliaments hold the constitutional responsibility of approving treaties, strengthening domestic legislation, allocating adequate resources and holding governments accountable for fulfilling their commitments.

According to Mukami, the convention's impact should not be measured by the number of conferences or declarations made but by tangible improvements in the safety, dignity, justice and equal opportunities enjoyed by women and girls across Africa.

The meeting also highlighted the Continental Roadmap for the Signature, Ratification, Domestication and Implementation of the Convention, which provides member states with a structured framework for translating international commitments into national action.

Delegates explored strategies for mobilizing parliamentary women's caucuses, legislative committees and political leaders to champion ratification efforts. Discussions also focused on strengthening legal reforms, enhancing parliamentary oversight, improving public awareness and mobilizing resources needed to combat gender-based violence.

The forum brought together representatives from the African Union Commission, UNFPA, UN Women, AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities, National Human Rights Institutions, academia, development partners and civil society organizations.

Participants issued a strong call for African governments to accelerate the signing and ratification of the convention, enact comprehensive legislation criminalizing all forms of violence against women and girls, and establish effective legal remedies for survivors.

The dialogue further urged member states to allocate sufficient budgetary resources toward prevention programmes, victim protection, prosecution of offenders and survivor support services while strengthening parliamentary oversight mechanisms to ensure governments meet their obligations.

Delegates also stressed the importance of building stronger partnerships between governments, women's caucuses, civil society organizations, human rights institutions and development partners to sustain momentum in ending gender-based violence across the continent.

Kenya's delegation featured prominent members of the country's Pan-African Parliament contingent, including Sen. Prof. Margaret Kamar, who received special recognition for her contribution to the historic 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, where she served as an official Kenyan delegate and member of the national secretariat.

She was joined by Sen. Dr. Danson Mungatana and other Kenyan Members of Parliament, reflecting Kenya's active participation in shaping continental policies aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of women and girls.

The Midrand dialogue is expected to strengthen parliamentary leadership in advancing the AU-CEVAWG and accelerate efforts by African nations to translate the convention into enforceable national laws that protect millions of women and girls from violence and discrimination.