2023 Commission on the Status of Women Side Event: Ending Child, Early, and Forced Marriage in East Africa
This International Women’s Day, join the Women’s Refugee Commission, in partnership with Rozaria Memorial Trust and King’s College London, for a critical discussion, “Ending Child, Early, and Forced Marriage in East Africa: New Approaches.” This side event held on March 8, 2023, during the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women brings together leaders in local and national government, women’s human rights defenders, civil society advocates, and researchers for an interactive dialogue about supporting feminist-led change from the ground up and placing survivors at the center of policy and practices.
Through a two-year research and programming initiative supported by the Government of Denmark, the Women’s Refugee Commission engaged with civil society organizations, experts, and practitioners to identify gender-transformative approaches to end this harmful practice.
This event will highlight key findings from our participatory research and explore new ways to strengthen collaboration across sectors and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. We will hear from youth activists about barriers to intervention and present evidence for effective solutions that support married girls in forcibly displaced and crisis-affected communities in the region.
Speakers include:
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Executive Director, Rozaria Memorial Trust/former African Union Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage
Faridah Alfa, Advocate against child marriage, Founder of Da Vision Refugee Youth Group and One Touch Music Studio at the Kyaka II settlement in Uganda, and Gender and Diversity Coordinator for the Global Refugee Youth Network (GRYN)
Andreas Ahrenfeld Kiaby, Chief Advisor/Humanitarian Affairs Department for Humanitarian Affairs, Civil Society and Engagement (HCE)
Gayatri Patel, Vice President, Advocacy and External Relations, Women’s Refugee Commission
Local policymaker from East Africa (TBC)
After registering for the webinar on Zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.