2021-2030 Kinshasa Forum for Gender Equality

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating in Africa, especially for women, who bear the brunt of the restrictive measures put in place and disproportionately suffer from the lack of social safety nets in many countries.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s vision for Africa during its 2021-2022 tenure as AU chair is, “The Africa we want: An Africa at the Service of the People.” From health and education to economic opportunities, African women, who make up half of the African population, should have access to the resources necessary to reach their full potential.

It is within this context that the DRC in partnership with UN Women, is organizing the 2021- 2030 Kinshasa Forum for Gender Equality. This event, under the aegis of the Generation Equality Forum (GEF), aims to put gender equality at the top of the African Union agenda. Recognizing the specific challenges related to gender equality in Africa, the Kinshasa conference will bring together girls and women leaders from across the continent. Participants will contribute to drafting an agenda to accelerate progress and drive concrete action towards gender equality in Africa for the coming decade.

Organized under the High Patronage of His Excellency, Mr. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, the President of the DRC, the conference will also see participation from several African Heads of State.

The Kinshasa Conference will issue a declaration, supported by African civil society groups, academics, and youth organizations to increase political attention on gender inequality and provide concrete solutions to address the issue across the continent. The recommendations from the Kinshasa Declaration, aimed at elevating the voices of African women on gender equality, will be shared by H.E. Félix Tshisekedi at the GEF in Paris, France, from 30 June to 2 July 2021.