International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated every October 11, is a globally recognized initiative to advocate for the rights and empowerment of girls around the world. A necessary reminder that many girls around the world still face daunting challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare and the disproportionate burden of the consequences of climate change. These challenges underline the urgency of promoting gender equality and the essential role of girls in promoting sustainable development.
In this context, JGEN, an organization dedicated to the defense of girls' rights and empowerment in Senegal, played a crucial role in collaboration with Speak Up Africa. Together, they led a resounding campaign, whose commitment and enthusiasm were evident as they embarked on a journey to make a difference on International Day of the Girl Child. This initiative is part of a wider effort by Voix EssentiELLES, highlighting the importance of giving girls and women a voice in the pursuit of a more equitable society.
The context for this inspiring day is set by the regional "POTENTI'ELLES" campaign, a collective effort across West and Central Africa, focused on advocating for the promotion and protection of girls' rights. Despite significant progress in women's and girls' rights and gender equality, many girls continue to face a multitude of challenges, from limited access to education and healthcare, to the impact of climate change on their conditions. JGEN, in collaboration with Speak Up Africa, has been at the forefront of this campaign, working tirelessly to raise awareness of these challenges and stimulate collective action, demonstrating their dedication and passion in their quest to make a difference on International Day of the Girl.
A day in Fatick
In Fatick, a gathering was held to celebrate the day with a strong sense of determination. The agenda was packed with events that reflected the importance of the day and the urgent challenges facing young girls. The highlight of the day was the reading of an advocacy note by two young girls from Fatick, highlighting the devastating consequences of climate change on their lives, including climate-related school disruptions, economic shocks on climate-sensitive households, increased risk of early marriage, transactional sex, HIV infection and early pregnancy due to lack of education, among others.
Among the 100 girls in attendance, two from the JAGAMMAR Children's Group stood as the voices of their generation, highlighting the intersection of gender equality and climate action. Their words were a reminder that climate change disproportionately affects young girls, who often bear the brunt of its consequences. The authorities present, including the SRAJ manager and the CDPE coordinator, also witnessed this poignant plea, emphasizing the protection and promotion of children's rights in the Fatick department.
JGEN's commitment
JGEN's commitment to empowering young girls is unwavering. The day was a demonstration of their dedication to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to become a leader. Their focus goes beyond raising awareness - JGEN is actively working to solve critical issues, such as raising the legal age of marriage for girls to 18, ensuring access to basic social services and mitigating the impact of climate change on children.
Support from Speak Up Africa
Speak Up Africa believes in the potential and power of young girls to become agents of change and leaders within their communities, and therefore remains proud to support JGEN in its mission. The organization recognizes that gender equality is at the heart of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG5), and by investing in young girls, they are helping to build a more equal future for all.
In conclusion, International Day of the Girl was a day of celebration, empowerment and advocacy. It was an opportunity to listen to the voices of young girls who are not only dreaming big, but actively working towards a better future. JGEN's commitment, in collaboration with Speak Up Africa, was at the forefront of the "POTENTI'ELLES" campaign, which is part of the wider Voix EssentiELLES initiatives. Together, Speak Up Africa and JGEN are working to make a difference, and International Day of the Girl is a reminder that the dreams and aspirations of young girls deserve to be celebrated and encouraged.
Kigali, July 18, 2023- On the sidelines of the Women Deliver 2023 conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Voix EssentiELLES, Her Voice Fund, Speak Up Africa, Y+Global, ViiV Healthcare Positive Action and the Global Fund are organizing a session around the theme "Advancing gender equality by investing in the meaningful engagement of women and girls in decision-making spaces". This session launches the second phase of Voix EssentiELLES, an initiative supported by the CHANEL Foundation and the Global Fund to empower women and girls and promote their involvement in decision-making processes and spaces.
This year, 2023, marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Maputo Protocol on Women's Rights, which establishes the guarantee of women's rights as an essential condition for sustainable development. Yet women still face multiple obstacles in accessing health care, education, economic opportunities and decision-making bodies. The meeting, organized during the Women Deliver 2023 conference, highlighted the voices of community organizations, women and girls, activists and donors who work daily to remove economic, religious and socio-cultural barriers to the full development of women and girls in all their diversity.
Larissa Bachia, Program Manager at IDEO, emphasized the need for a community-based approach in the design and implementation of initiatives to achieve gender equality.
"We need to eliminate stereotypes, strengthen girls' initiatives and ensure they have the means to participate actively in society. They need to sit at the same table as funders and implementing organizations as equals. We need a paradigm shift in the way we work. We can be experts in our fields of intervention, but the decision-making on what will work and what won't must be left to those whose lives are affected by the solutions we design and implement," declared Larissa Bachia.
Participants from feminist organizations, women's networks, civil society, the private sector and philanthropic organizations exchanged best practices and approaches, as well as lessons learned from women's initiatives to promote gender equality and strengthen the leadership of women and girls. The meeting presented promising initiatives, success factors and obstacles in implementing collaborative initiatives that meet the multiple needs of women and women's networks. It also addressed the theme of strategic partnerships, exploring ways for philanthropic organizations and women's and girls' networks to work together more effectively, as well as strategic alliances to influence policies, programs and funding to advance gender equality.
Among the panelists was Jennifer Van, President of "Jeunes engagées pour la sexualité", a recipient organization of the Voix EssentiELLES Fund in Côte d'Ivoire in 2021 and 2022. Drawing on her organization's significant success and impact in combating violence and inequality against women and girls in Côte d'Ivoire, Jennifer Van reiterated the urgent need for sustainable investment in women's leadership and the empowerment of women and girls. "Thanks to the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, we have been able to help hundreds of young girls take control of their sexual health by avoiding risky sexual practices. It's vital to support women's organizations working to eliminate gender inequalities, because empowering women is an essential lever for sustainable and equitable development in Africa", insisted Jennifer Van.
The meeting also enabled participants to explore new opportunities for partnerships and innovative financing to support community initiatives dedicated to gender equality. To this end, the various speakers placed particular emphasis on the importance of public-private partnerships in mobilizing funding to achieve significant progress towards gender equality.
"Faced with the enormous challenges of achieving gender equality, we need to leverage the skills and contributions of everyone. Governments and businesses must work with women and girls in all their diversity to create an inclusive ecosystem in which women and girls can flourish and contribute fully to development", said Kate Thomson, Head of Community, Rights and Gender at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
For Maximina Jokonya, Coordinator of HER Voice Fund, public-private partnerships can be a powerful strategy for ending gender disparities and amplifying the voices of women and girls.
"It's crucial that the public and private sectors pool their resources and expertise to drive social transformation towards gender equality. The synergy of their actions will make it possible to implement inclusive policies, create positive role models and foster the development of women as leaders and decision-makers", explains Maximina Jokonya.
Fara Ndiaye, Deputy Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, pointed out that collaboration between the public and private sectors is a strategic axis that cuts across all Speak Up Africa programs and initiatives, including those dedicated to gender equality.
"Having been a younger, smaller organization ourselves, and with what was considered a lower financial absorption capacity just a few years ago, we are now very proud to be in a position where we can build the capacity and potential of dozens of community-based organizations across West Africa. With this second phase, we are striving to achieve greater impact while building trust and lasting relationships with our community partners," added Fara Ndiaye.
Dakar, 18th July 2023- Alongside the Women Deliver 2023 conference taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, Voix EssentiELLES, Her Voice Fund, Speak Up Africa, Y+ Global, ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, and the Global Fund hosted a side event on the theme "Advancing gender equality through investing in women and girl's meaningful engagement in decision-making spaces". This event kicks off the second phase of Voix EssentiELLES, an initiative supported by Fondation CHANEL and the Global Fund and aimed at empowering women and girls and promote their participation in decision-making processes and spaces.
This year, 2023, marks the twentieth anniversary of the Maputo Protocol on African Women's Rights. This protocol established African women's rights guarantee as a fundamental condition for sustainable development. Yet women still face multiple barriers in accessing healthcare, education, economic opportunities, and decision-making bodies in Africa. Organized as part of the Women Deliver 2023 conference, the event was an opportunity to highlight the voices of community organization, women and girls, activists and funders committed to tackling health, economic, religious, and socio-cultural barriers to the development of women and girls in all their diversity.
Larissa Bachia, Senior Program Lead at IDEO, emphasized the need for a community-based approach to the design and implementation of gender equality programmes. "We need to neutralize hierarchies, reinforce girl's agency, and ensure they have the means for active participation. They should sit on a table with funders and implementing organizations as peers. We need to embrace new ways of working. We can be subject matter experts, but decision-making on what will work and what will not work should be left for those whose lives are affected by the solutions we design and implement" she commented.
Participants from feminist organizations, women's networks, civil society, private sector, and philanthropic organizations discussed best practices, approaches and lessons learned from women-led initiatives to promote gender equality. The event featured inter-connected themes including: What Works- featuring promising initiatives, success factors and bottlenecks within collaborative initiatives that address multiple needs of women and networks and Strategic Partnerships - interrogating funders and women and girls can collaborate better, building alliances, leverage on each others' expertise, influence policies, programmes and financing towards advancing gender equality and meaningful participation.
Jennifer Van, President of "Jeunes engagées pour la sexualité", a Voix EssentiELLES Fund grantee in Côte d'Ivoire in 2021 and 2022, was one of the panelists. She highlighted her organization's significant achievements and impact in fighting gender-based violence and inequality in Côte d'Ivoire. She also emphasized the urgent need to invest in women's leadership and empowerment and the need for long-term funding for organizations like hers.
"Through the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, we have helped hundreds of young girls take control of their sexual health by avoiding risky sexual behavior. It is vital to support women-led organizations working to eliminate gender inequality, as women's empowerment is a key lever for sustainable and equitable development in Africa," said Jennifer Van.
The meeting also provided participants with an opportunity to explore new partnership opportunities and innovative financing to support community-based initiative to ensure that gender equality becomes a reality. The speakers highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in increasing investments and finding innovative ways to accelerate progress towards advancing gender equality.
"There are still enormous challenges to achieving gender equality and we must leverage the skills and contributions of all. Governments and businesses must work together with women and girls in all their diversity to create an inclusive ecosystem where women and girls can thrive and contribute fully to development," said Kate Thomson, Head of Community, Rights and Gender at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Maximina Jokonya, coordinator of the HER Voice Fund, believes that public-private partnerships can be a powerful strategy for ending gender inequality and amplifying women and girls' voices. "It is crucial that the public and private sectors pool their resources and expertise to drive social change and achieve gender equality. The synergy of their actions can lead to the implementation of inclusive policies, the creation of positive role models and the development of women as leaders and decision-makers," said Maximina Jokonya.
Fara Ndiaye, Deputy Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, emphasized that collaboration between the public and private sectors is a key strategy in all Speak Up Africa interventions, including gender equality initiatives.
"As once a younger, smaller organization with what was considered lower absorptive financial capacity, we feel tremendously blessed to now be in a position where we can strengthen the capacities and unleash the potential of dozens of grassroots organizations across West Africa. With this second phase, we strive for increased impact as we further build trust and sustainable relationships with our grantees", she concluded.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: Statement of Voix EssentiELLES
As Voix EssentiELLES organizations from Senegal, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, meeting in Abidjan from November 30, to December1st of 2022, and as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, we urgently call on African governments and leaders to undertake firm actions to tackle socio-cultural stereotypes that fuel violence against women and girls.
While most governments acknowledge gender equality and women's empowerment as key factors in the development of their countries, the social status and roles of women and girls in our societies remain very traditional. As women, we continue to assume a disproportionate share of domestic and rural work and child upbringing, and even when we are included in decision-making circles, our voices are not valued because of our gender, which unfortunately becomes an obstacle to fully expressing our leadership.
As organizations committed to achieve women's rights, we work everyday to break down religious, economic and socio-cultural barriers to enable women and girls to achieve their full potential.
Within our communities, our commitment as feminists is still misperceived. We are seen as "promiscuous women", disconnected from our culture and under the influence of Western culture. Yet, our dedication to a fairer society remains indispensable to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Feminicide, rape, harassment, cyber harassment, physical, verbal, and sexual aggression, early marriage, social exclusion, menstrual precariousness... These forms of violence occur on a daily basis in our communities.
In West Africa, over 40% of women are victims of physical and/or sexual violence[1]. These acts of abuse are so common that they tend to be normalized by women themselves. In Côte d'Ivoire, for instance, 34% of women believe that a husband has the right to beat his wife[2]. The proportion is 30% in Burkina Faso and 31% in Senegal. In terms of forced marriage, it is estimated that one girl under the age of 18 is married by force every two seconds in the world[3].
In addition to these forms of violence, menstrual precariousness is also a problem. We note that around 30% of women under 35 years of age are affected by menstrual precariousness, meaning lack of access to sanitary protection for economic reasons. The cultural taboo surrounding menstruation and the lack of information accentuate this precariousness among women and girls.
In our countries, women's abilities to make decisions over their bodies, sexuality and reproductive health remains extremely low. As a result, contraceptive prevalence remains very low. In Côte d'Ivoire, for example, only 21% of women have access to contraceptive tools.
Lack of information, fear of side effects, the power of men to make decisions, religious prohibitions and socio-cultural contradictions prevent women from having access to these tools, which are vital for their health. The exclusion and under-representation are even more pronounced for certain groups of women, especially those living with a disability.
In this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence global campaign, we, the Voix EssentiELLES, reiterate that protecting women's and girls' rights is fundamental to sustainable development, economic growth, peace and security. We therefore call on African governments and leaders to respect their commitments to protect their citizens by eliminating all forms of inequality and discrimination against women.
Knowing that gender equality and women's and girls' empowerment are crucial for sustainable development, we call on African governments and leaders to ensure a safe socio-legal and institutional environment for women and girls to live free from female genital mutilation, early marriage, rape or any other form of sexual, physical or verbal violence.
We encourage them to maintain and strengthen their efforts to promote quality education, including sexual education, to build self-esteem and empower women and girls to defend their rights and take control of their health.
Recalling the need to invest in women's leadership and empowerment, we call for the development and financial support of women's and girls' organizations that work to amplify women's voices. These organizations are essential to creating the prosperous societies we want.
To capitalize on their potential and optimize their actions, we urge these women's and girls' organizations wherever they are, as well as all civil society organizations committed to protecting women's rights, to work together, to unite their voices and their strengths for a fairer world to which we all aspire.
Abidjan, December10th, 2022
[1] Report on gender-based violence in Africa
[2] World Bank data
[3] Early and forced marriage: what is it? Plan International
Declaration of the Essential Voices within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence campaign
We, Essential Voices from Senegal, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, gathered in Abidjan on November 30 and December1, 2022 as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence global campaign, urgently call on African governments and leaders to take strong action to break the socio-cultural stereotypes that fuel violence against women and girls.
Most governments recognize gender equality and women's empowerment as essential factors in the development of their countries. But in reality, the social status and role of women and girls in our societies remain very traditional.
We continue to assume a disproportionate share of domestic and rural work and child rearing. Even when we are included in decision-making circles, our voices are not valued because of our status as women, which unfortunately becomes an obstacle to the full expression of our leadership. As women's organizations working for the respect of women's rights, we work daily to remove religious, economic and socio-cultural barriers to promote the full development of women and girls.
In our circles, our commitment as feminists is still poorly perceived, some considering us as "promiscuous women", disconnected from our customs and under the influence of Western culture. Yet, our devotion to a more just society remains essential to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
Feminicide, rape, harassment, cyber harassment, physical, verbal and sexual aggression, early marriage, social exclusion, menstrual insecurity... These forms of violence are daily occurrences in our communities.
In West Africa, over 40% of women are victims of physical and/or sexual violence [1]. This violence is so common that it tends to be normalized by the women themselves. In Côte d'Ivoire, for example, 34% of women believe that a husband has the right to beat his wife [2]. The proportion is 30% in Burkina Faso and 31% in Senegal. In the case of forced marriage, it is estimated that one girl under the age of 18 is forcibly married every two seconds in the world[3].
In addition to these forms of violence, we also have menstrual insecurity. Indeed, we note that approximately 30% of women under 35 years of age are concerned by menstrual insecurity, i.e. the lack of access to sanitary protection for economic reasons. The cultural taboo around menstruation and the lack of information accentuate this precariousness among women and girls.
In our countries, women's decision-making power regarding their bodies, sexuality and reproductive health remains extremely low. As a result, contraceptive prevalence remains very low. In Côte d'Ivoire, for example, only 21% of women have access to contraceptive tools.
Lack of information, fear of side effects, men's decision-making power, religious prohibitions and socio-cultural contradictions prevent women from having access to these tools that are so vital to their health. The exclusion and under-representation of women in decision-making bodies is even more pronounced for certain groups of women, particularly those living with disabilities.
On the occasion of this year's global campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence", we, Essential Voices organizations, recall that the protection of women's and girls' rights is fundamental to sustainable development, economic growth, peace and security.
We also call on African governments and leaders to respect their obligations to protect their citizens by eliminating all forms of inequality and discrimination against women.
Recognizing that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are paramount for sustainable development, we call on African governments and leaders to ensure a safe socio-legal and institutional environment for women and girls to live free from female genital mutilation, forced marriage, rape or any other form of sexual, physical or verbal violence.
We encourage them to maintain and strengthen their efforts to promote access to quality education, including sexuality education, in order to build self-esteem and empower women and girls to defend their rights and take control of their health.
Recalling the critical need to invest in women's leadership and empowerment, we call for the development and financial support of women's and girls' organizations that work to amplify women's voices. These organizations are essential to creating the prosperous societies we desire.
In order to capitalize on their potential and optimize their actions, we urge these women's and girls' organizations, wherever they may be, as well as all civil society organizations committed to the defense of women's rights, to work together, to unite their voices and their strengths for a more just world to which we all aspire
Done in Abidjan, December 10, 2022
[1] Analytical report on the situation of violence against women and girls and the progress made in Africa
[2] World Bank data
[3] Early and forced marriage: what is it? Plan International
August 12, 2022, Dakar, Senegal - On International Youth Day, young people across the continent are urging their leaders to take more action, innovation and funding to fight malaria. In an open letter, also supported by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Speak Up Africa, these young people pledged to eradicate malaria and continue their fight to end the epidemic by 2030.
The African Union's target of a 40% reduction in malaria incidence and mortality by 2020, a critical step in eliminating malaria in Africa by 2030, has not been met. Indeed, WHO estimates indicate that 96% of malaria cases and 98% of malaria deaths worldwide occur in Africa. In 2020, 611,802 Africans died of malaria, 80% of whom were children under 5 years of age. In addition, revised WHO estimates in the World Malaria Report 2021 indicate that the number of malaria deaths was previously underestimated and that the burden is worse than previously thought. Malaria, although preventable and treatable, is responsible for up to $12 billion in lost productivity annually in Africa, significantly impeding economic growth and social progress.
As young people, malaria continues to plague our continent, claiming millions of lives. Despite recent progress, a child still dies of malaria every minute. The open letter is a call to action to decision makers because we, the youth, are convinced that malaria eradication is an achievable goal if we maintain decisive action.
Moses Kodah, Executive Director of Naye-Salone.
In response, the youth decided to take action. In this open letter, the youth call on African leaders to contribute to malaria eradication as part of the Agenda 2063 for socio-economic transformation. The letter calls on leaders to renew their commitment to keeping malaria high on national development agendas, mobilize additional resources (including from the domestic public and private sectors), empower communities, strengthen data and evidence-based governance, accelerate the rollout of new malaria interventions and products, actively engage young leaders, and rapidly deploy new tools to address the growing threats of insecticide and drug resistance.
Young people have the potential to end malaria for good. We have seen how young people can advocate, mobilize resources, participate, and lead the response to malaria at a time when the disease is threatening their bright future and stunting their development. Therefore, to make the right investments in malaria programs, research, and innovation and to tailor malaria interventions to save millions of lives, we must build youth ownership into the fight against this disease.
Dr. Corine Karema, Acting CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria
A decrease in funding would be disastrous for the global response, setting the stage for a sharp increase in malaria cases, and to make meaningful progress against the disease, increased funding is essential. That is why the open letter urges African leaders to fight for what matters and emphasizes the importance of a successful replenishment of the Global Fund in 2022, which aims to secure at least US$ 18 billion from world leaders to save 20 million lives and put the world back on track to eradicate HIV, TB and malaria. The Global Fund is critical to sustaining life-saving health and malaria services.
Because of the burden that women and girls continue to bear from diseases such as malaria, it is crucial that they are represented in decision-making spaces. " It is crucial to amplify the voices of young women and girls in key decision-making spaces, especially when it comes to our health and well-being. With active political participation of women and girls as well as financial support for women-led organizations, we will be the generation that can achieve the goal of ending malaria by 2030. I am fighting for what matters and will continue to do so until this epidemic is eliminated." Farida Tiemtore, President, Les Héroïnes du Faso and recipient of the Fund Essential Voices implemented by Speak Up Africa in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, with support from the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation.
Malaria is keeping young people, their future children and African economies from reaching their full potential, so we must all fight for what matters, and fight now.
On the occasion of International Youth Day, young people across the continent are calling upon their leaders for more sustained action, innovation, and funding to fight back against malaria. In an open letter, also supported by The RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Speak Up Africa, young people vow to be the generation to end malaria, and to not stop fighting until they end this disease as an epidemic by 2030.
The African Union goal of reducing malaria incidence and mortality by 40% by 2020, a key milestone to eliminating malaria in Africa by 2030, was missed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 96% of global malaria cases and 98% of malaria deaths occur on the continent. In 2020, 611,802 Africans died from this disease of which 80% were children under the age of 5. Furthermore, revised estimates by the WHO in the 2021 World Malaria Report indicate that the number of malaria deaths was previously underestimated, and the burden is worse than previously understood. Malaria is a driver for up to $12 billion in lost productivity in Africa annually, drastically impeding economic growth and societal progress despite it being preventable and treatable.
As young people we are concerned that Malaria continues to plague our continent taking millions of lives and despite recent progress, a child still dies from malaria every minute. The open letter is a call-to-action to decision makers because we, young people, believe that ending malaria is an attainable goal if we sustain decisive
Moses Kodah, Executive Director, Naye-Salone.
In response, young people have decided to take action. The open letter turns up the pressure on African leaders to achieve a malaria-free world in line with Agenda 2063 for socio-economic transformation. Calling on leaders to recommit to keeping malaria high on national development agendas, mobilize additional resources (especially from the domestic public and private sector), empower communities to act, strengthen data and evidence-based governance, accelerate the deployment of new malaria commodities and interventions, actively engage youth leaders and rapidly deploy the new tools to address the growing threats of insecticide and drug resistance.
Young people have the potential to end malaria for good. We have seen how young people can advocate, mobilize resources, participate in, and lead the malaria response as the disease threatens their bright future and holds back their development. That is why, to make the right investments in malaria programs, research, and innovation and tailor malaria interventions to save millions of lives, we must integrate youth ownership into the fight against malaria.
Dr. Corine Karema, Interim CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria
A decrease in financing would be dire for the global response, paving the way for a steep rise in malaria cases, and in order to make significant progress against the disease, an increase in financing is critical. This is why the open letter urges African Heads of States and Governments to fight for what counts and reinforces the importance of a successful replenishment of the Global Fund in 2022, which seeks to secure at least US$18 billion from global leaders to save 20 million lives and get the world back on track toward ending HIV, TB and malaria. The Global Fund is critical to sustaining life-saving malaria and health services.
Due to the burden that women and girls continue to bear as a result of diseases such as malaria, it is crucial that they are represented in decision making spaces. "It is crucial to amplify the voices of young women and girls in key decision-making spaces, especially when it comes to our health and well-being. With active political participation of women and girls and financial support for women-led organizations, we will be the generation that can achieve the goal of ending malaria by 2030. I am fighting for what matters and will continue to do so until this epidemic is eliminated." Farida Tiemtore, President, Les Héroïnes du Faso and recipient of the Essential Voices Fund implemented by Speak Up Africa in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, with the support of the Global Fund and the Fondation CHANEL.
The disease is stopping young people, their future children, and African economies from reaching their full potential, we therefore all must fight for what counts, and fight now.
It is time for action, financial commitments and a concerted response. With the 7th Replenishment Conference just weeks away, the Global Fund is sounding the alarm on the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.
Montreal - Ouagadougou - Dakar - More than 9,500 people have gathered in Montreal, Canada, from July 29 to August 2, 2022 to participate in and attend the 24th International Conference on HIV/AIDS, the first global platform for the response to the disease. Communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, policy makers, media, activists and civil society organizations are unanimous that progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS has stalled. Globally, the number of infections has stabilized at 1.5 million in 2021, the same number as in 2020. Who is to blame? The COVID-19 pandemic? Certainly, but even before it hit, the world was off track for HIV, TB, and malaria goals.
Progress in reducing the number of people newly infected with HIV is slowing. Between 2020 and 2021, the world saw the smallest annual decline in new HIV infections since 2016. In 2021, women and girls accounted for the majority of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, and more than 3 in 4 new infections among young people are among adolescent girls and young women.
Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director
The need for action is urgent. To this end, and shortly after the opening ceremony of the HIV Conference, the Global Fund organized a satellite session on 29 July 2022 entitled "Fighting for What Matters: Maximizing Health Equity, Gender Equality and Human Rights in the Fight Against HIV". Opened by Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, the symposium looked at the results achieved after 20 years of scaling up the Fund's programs and interventions, as well as at remaining and emerging challenges. Two panels, moderated by Maelle Ba, Strategic Communications Manager at Speak Up Africa, highlighted successful partnerships and the importance of community leadership. Farida Tiemtore, a 23-year-old activist, President of Héroïnes du Faso and recipient of the Voix EssentiELLEs Fund, also joined the discussions on the first panel, "20 Years of Impact, What Worked and Why? ", online from her native Burkina: " Faced with the urgency of eradicating HIV/AIDS, Voix EssentiELLES in Burkina is fighting for what matters by raising awareness, informing, strengthening advocacy for better prevention and response of young girls and women to the disease and I am convinced that we will succeed in eliminating it by 2030." Launched in 2021 and with 35 community-based organizations led by women in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, the Voix EssentiELLEs initiative, implemented by Speak Up Africa in partnership with the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, aims to support and stimulate the impact of health policies and programs by ensuring the engagement of women and girls, in all their diversity, in decision-making spaces.
This initiative is in line with the Global Fund's new strategy "Fighting Pandemics and Building a Healthier, More Equitable World," which places people and communities at the heart of the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. In the second panel, "What are our next steps and how can we ensure we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?", Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi, reaffirmed the importance of a fully funded Global Fund:
The Global Fund invites us all to fight for what matters. I matter, you matter, young women matter. Now is the time to prove it. Funding the Global Fund is about showing that our lives matter. I hope that with significant funding, we can do more to address gender inequality, defend the rights of adolescent girls and young women, and ensure that girls are free of HIV.
Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi
In 2021, the increase in the number of people on HIV treatment was the lowest in more than a decade. Although three-quarters of all HIV-positive people have access to antiretroviral treatment, about 10 million do not, and only half of HIV-positive children have access to life-saving drugs. In the same year, the AIDS epidemic was responsible for an average of one death per minute, or 650,000 AIDS-related deaths, despite the availability of effective HIV treatment and tools to prevent, detect, and treat opportunistic infections.
In addition to Peter Sands, Farida Tiemtore and Grace Ngulube, the Global Fund also gathered the views, expertise and comments of Her Excellency Stéphanie Seydoux, France's Ambassador for Global Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla, South Africa's Minister of Health, Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, Joshua Tabah, Director General of Health and Nutrition at Global Affairs Canada, Dr. Angeli Achrekar, Senior Deputy Coordinator at the US Global HIV Program, Javier Hourcade Bellocq from the Community Delegation to the Global Fund Board, and Lindsay Glassco, President of the Global Fund. Also present were Dr. Angeli Achrekar, Senior Deputy Coordinator, Global HIV Program, United States; Javier Hourcade Bellocq of the Global Fund Board Community Delegation; and Lindsay Glassco, President and CEO of Plan International Canada.
2022 is a pivotal year and marks a turning point in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria. While communities have shown remarkable resilience and changed their programs to ensure that people living with HIV and key populations are not left behind, their commitment and determination has clearly demonstrated the need for sustained and increased support from the Global Fund. The Global Fund has also shown remarkable flexibility, moving quickly to help countries strengthen their health systems, access emergency inputs, respond to COVID-19, and adjust their HIV, TB, and malaria programs. The future is uncertain, but the goal is clear: the Global Fund must be fully funded, with at least $18 billion for the period 2023-2025.
Either we increase funding or we give up hope of ending these epidemics by 2030
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
The time is for action, financial commitments and a concerted response. A few weeks before its7th Replenishment Conference, the Global Fund is sounding the alarm in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Montreal - Ouagadougou - Dakar - More than 9,500 people met in Montreal, Canada, from July 29 to August 2, to attend the24th International Conference on HIV/AIDS, the first global platform in terms of disease response. Communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, policymakers, media, activists and civil society organizations are unanimous: the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS has stalled. Globally, the number of infections stabilized at 1.5 million in 2021, the same number as in 2020. But whose at fault? The COVID-19 pandemic? Certainly, but even before it hit, the world had already strayed from the trajectory of the HIV, TB and malaria targets.
Progress in reducing the number of people newly infected with HIV is slowing down. Between 2020 and 2021, the world has seen the smallest annual decline in new HIV infections since 2016. In 2021, women and girls accounted for the majority of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa and more than 3 in 4 new infections among young people concern adolescent girls and young women.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
We need to act, now. To this end, and shortly after the opening ceremony of the HIV Conference, the Global Fund organized a satellite session on July 29, 2022 entitled "Fighting for what counts: maximizing health equity, gender equality and human rights in the fight against HIV". Opened by Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, this symposium looked back on the results obtained after 20 years of scaling up the Fund's programs and interventions, but also on the remaining and emerging challenges. Two panels, moderated by Maelle Ba, Speak Up Africa's Strategic Communications Manager, highlighted successful partnerships but also the importance of community leadership. Farida Tiemtore, a 23-year-old young activist, President of "Les Héroïnes Faso" and recipient of the Voix EssentiELLES' Fund, remotely joined the first panel "20 years of impact, what worked and why?" : " Faced with the urgency of eradicating HIV/AIDS, the Voix EssentiELLEs of Burkina fight for what counts by raising awareness, informing, strengthening advocacy for better prevention and response of young girls and women facing the disease and I am convinced that we will end it by 2030. Launched in 2021 and strong of 35 community-based women-led organizations in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and in Senegal, the Voix EssentiELLEs initiative, implemented by Speak Up Africa in partnership with the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, aims to support and stimulate the impact of health policies and programs by ensuring the commitment of women and girls, in all their diversity, in decision-making spaces.
This initiative is in line with the Global Fund's new strategy "Fighting pandemics and building a healthier and more equitable world," which puts people and communities at the heart of the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. During the second panel "What are our next steps and how can we ensure we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?" Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi reaffirmed the importance of a fully funded Global Fund:
The Global Fund invites us all to fight for what counts. I count, you count, young women count. Now is the time to prove it. Financing the Global Fund is showing that our lives are valued. I hope that with significant funding, we can do more to address gender inequalities, uphold the rights of adolescent girls and young women, and ensure that girls are free from HIV.
Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi
In 2021, the increase in the number of people on HIV treatment was the lowest in more than a decade. Although three-quarters of all HIV-positive people have access to antiretroviral treatment, about 10 million others do not, and only half of HIV-positive children have access to life-saving drugs. In the same year, the AIDS epidemic was responsible for an average of one death per minute, or 650,000 AIDS deaths despite the existence of effective treatment for HIV and tools to prevent, detect and treat HIV infections.
Around Peter Sands, Farida Tiemtore and Grace Ngulube, the Global Fund brought together the opinions, expertise and comments of Her Excellency Stéphanie Seydoux, Ambassador for Global Health of France, Dr. Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health of South Africa, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Joshua Tabah, Director General of Health and Nutrition at Global Affairs of Canada Angeli Achrekar, Principal Deputy U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Javier Hourcade Bellocq from the Communities Delegation of the Global Fund's Board and finally Lindsay Glassco, President and CEO of Plan International Canada.
2022 is a crucial year and marks a turning point in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. While communities have shown remarkable resilience and changed their programs to ensure that people living with HIV and key populations are not left behind, their commitment and determination has clearly shown how sustained and increased support from the Global Fund is needed. The Global Fund has also shown remarkable flexibility and moved quickly to help countries strengthen their health systems, access emergency supplies, respond to COVID-19 and adjust their HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis programs. The future is uncertain but the goal is clear: the Global Fund must be fully funded, with at least $18 billion for the period 2023-2025.
Either we increase funding or we give up hope of ending these epidemics by 2030
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund