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UNODC Launches the AYP Network, a Platform to assist Young Parliamentarians in Promoting the Rule of Law
Nairobi (Kenya), 30 June 2021 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for Eastern Africa Youth Programme, hosted the Commemoration of the International Day of Parliamentarism and Launch of the Africa Young Parliamentarians (AYP) Network on 30th June 2021.
The high-level event took place at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, under the theme “The Role of Young and Women Parliamentarians in Combating Gender-Based Violence”. The event brought together young men and women parliamentarians from Kenya and Africa at large. In attendance, was also the African Union representative, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Kenya, Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA) team, Nairobi Women Representative, Nairobi County Commissioner’s Office representative, government officials, a representative from the Department for Public-Private Partnerships, private sector and civil society including women and youth organizations.
The objective of the commemoration was to develop a blueprint aimed at enhancing the role of Young African Parliamentarians in preventing gender-based violence (GBV-VAWG) in their respective parliaments. It also provided a platform for dialogue on how young women parliamentarians and senators can take lead in identifying policies and legislations that combat GBV-VAWG, to develop and implement a strategic action framework in response to the rising cases during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
The event was moderated by the Nairobi Women Representative Hon. Esther Passaris, and vibrant discussions centered on how various agents from different sectors of society are affected by gender and violence-related challenges. Additionally, the event was able to highlight the importance of the role of law and policymakers in society.
Vibrant panel discussions revolved around how to prevent and combat gender-based violence (GVB). The key issue that was raised during this discussion was the importance of raising awareness and establishing ways of spreading the resources and services for victims and survivors. Similarly, the necessity of funding and creating safe houses and spaces to encourage women to speak up and change mindsets surrounding GBV in the private and public sphere, were in discussion.
Parliamentarians are among the pillars of a democratic system. Once elected, they are the public voice of citizens and duty bearers of policy development and implementation. Furthermore, it is the Parliamentarians duty to scrutinize the actions of the Government and government systems to guarantee the respect of the fundamental rights of the people they represent.
UNODC will continue to work closely with Parliamentarians to mitigate Gender-Based Violence. Vulnerable and marginalized groups face challenges in accessing justice whether they are victims, witnesses, alleged offenders, or prisoners. It is a priority within the mandate area of UNODC, to build the capacity of criminal justice actors, expand gender-sensitive systems, and extensively, train gender-responsive criminal justice professionals to strengthen crime prevention and criminal justice approaches to violence against women and girls.
For more information, please contact:
UN Office on Drugs and Crime – unodc-plead@un.org