Femicide, the deliberate killing of women because they are women, is a grave violation of human rights and a significant concern globally. In Kenya, like many other countries, femicide persists despite legal frameworks and efforts to address gender-based violence. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) indicates that over 40 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. In all these cases, the blame has shifted from the perpetrators to the victims. This staggering number only represents cases reported in the media and does not represent the true count as on average a woman or girl is killed every day, often by a close family member. Femicide Count Kenya which monitors killings reported in local news in Kenya, records that at least 504 women have been murdered between 2019 and 2024. In 2023, the organisation recorded at least 152 killings the highest in the past five years.The stabbing to death of 26-year-old Starlet Wahu, a popular Instagram figure in a short-term rental apartment and the brutal murder and dismemberment of yet another young woman 20-year-old Rita Waeni with her remains scattered by the killer and some stuffed in a plastic bag necessitated protests on the streets of Nairobi by women-led organizations and feminist movements condemning the killings. Faith-based organizations and religious leaders held an Interfaith roundtable dialogue aimed at fostering deeper discussions on femicide cases and committing together to an end to femicide cases in Kenya.Despite legislative frameworks and efforts by various stakeholders, femicide continues to persist, often fueled by deep-rooted gender inequalities, cultural norms, and systemic failures. Addressing femicide requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach involving government institutions, media, police service, legal system, religious institutions, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector. The Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Ending Femicide in Kenya aims to bring together these diverse stakeholders to strategize and collaborate in combating this urgent issue.Recognizing this urgent need for collective action the All-Africa Conference of Churches, Christian Aid and Church Women United propose to convene a Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Ending Femicide in Kenya. The forum will serve as a critical platform for stakeholders to come together, share knowledge, and forge partnerships to tackle this pressing issue. By working collectively, we can strive towards a future where women and girls in Kenya are free from the threat of femicide and all forms of gender-based violence.Objectives The forum will convene diverse stakeholders who collectively engage on the issue of femicide and other forms of GBV in Kenya to identify opportunities, lessons learned, good practices and innovative approaches to address GBV. The forum aims to focus on practical solutions from different stakeholders to combat injustice.More specifically, the forum aims to:Share knowledge and experiences on how different stakeholders are working to prevent and respond to femicide and other forms of GBV.Foster partnerships and collaborations among stakeholders to strengthen the collective response to femicide through the side-by-side movement and share lessons learned of how other stakeholders can support addressing GBV.Share measures or programmes put in place at the local, national, and international levels that have worked in reducing GBV. Share the GBV framework in the country, identify gaps and develop recommendations for coordinated, multi-sectoral efforts to effectively address femicide and other forms of GBV in Kenya

 Zambia has endorsed international commitments towards ensuring everyone’s right to Sexual and Reproductive Health, as well as adopted several legislative and administrative measures to implement such commitments. However, the lack of access to accurate SRHR information, and appropriate services particularly among young people not only limits their ability to shun risky sexual practices but also limits their developmental possibilities. Some of the Key SRHR challenges faced by young people in Zambia include early sex debut and the consequent rise in unwanted and teenage pregnancies, unstainable population growth, persistent spread of HIV & AIDS, persistent of rape, defilement, and other forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the prevalence of the different kinds of cancer that affects the reproductive system, Menstrual hygiene challenges, among others. These challenges partly thrive on some deeply entrenched life-threatening cultural and religious conceptions and practices around gender and sexuality that curb the potential impact of policies and other Public health interventions implemented to address the SRHR challenges in the country. Addressing these challenges is key for Zambia to achieve Aspirations one and six of the agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 4. As a social driver of change, churches have a significant role to play in ensuring that Zambia overcomes the SRHR challenges faced in the country and in implementing the AU aspirations and SDGs mentioned above. To support its member churches in Zambia to achieve this, AACC will train 22 youth leaders to live as Ecumenical Health Ambassadors who promote sexual and reproductive health and rights in the country through approaches that foster human dignity. 

This training aims to consolidate the work of the AACC Economic Justice Advocates by exposing them to key debates on public debt. The training session will target AACC member churches from different countries. It will increase the number of Economic Justice Advocates. The focus will be on ensuring that the Church has a full appreciation of the debt question (legitimate/illegitimate, odious debts); traditional call for debt audits, and the general debt management systems within the broader public finance (and resources) management framework in different countriesParticipation in other key processes organized by AACC partners. AACC will also participate in the commemoration of key moments such as World Environment Day on 5 June. The aim is to remain visible during strategic moments that have implications on AACC work. 

The meeting is meant to raise awareness of the challenges of public debt and corruption in Zambia; to build the Church leaders’ capacity to track and document data on public debt and corruption to strengthen their prophetic role on the issues as well as to identify country-level Ecumenical Economic Justice Advocates to anchor AACC public debt and corruption programming. The meeting will be held to strengthen the capacity of AACC member churches in Zambia to engage key stakeholders including governments on public debt and corruption. It will be a platform for raising awareness of other critical economic justice issues that have a direct and indirect bearing on public debt management and corruption in Africa. Interaction with some experts and public officials will enhance the capacity of the Church leaders on public debt and corruption. The meeting will build on the research findings on the public debt of Burundi, Zambia, and Ghana that will be discussed.

 The research in Tanzania will contribute to broader research we are doing in five African countries under the title “Understanding Key Drivers of Africa’s New Debt Crisis: A Call for Ecumenical Advocacy Action”. To date, we have covered Burundi, Ghana, and Zambia. Thus, Tanzania will be our fourth case study. In this research we want to have a clear picture of the current status of African debt; the role of COVID-19 in that debt; the role of private lenders including China; the social and economic impact and what the Church can do. 

 The Dialogue aims to create a platform for Africans in the Diaspora to discuss issues affecting the continent and to create an open forum for discussions on issues relating to migration in the continent.

The consultation will bring together Young people across the African Continent: CSOs, Political Leaders, Government, and AU organs to discuss matters relating to democratization, governance, and/or the promotion and protection of human rights in the African Continent. As part of the discussions, the young people will also engage on the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance by AU Member States. These discussions with examine the role of the Youth in strengthening democracy in Africa and its impact on the Africa: My Home. My Future. campaign and the African Union Agenda 2063.

 Violations of Human Rights and dignity are lived realities among many widows in Africa, where in some communities, cultural norms and beliefs expose widows to traumatizing and dehumanizing experiences. These include but are not limited to denial of inheritance and land rights; eviction from the late husband’s home; humiliating cultural rites, stigma, and poverty. On International Widows’ Day, 23rd June 2024, the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in collaboration with the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, will host an in-person gathering to commemorate the International Widows’ Day 2024 under the theme, “The Love of Christ compels us to accelerate the Achievement of Rights and Dignity of Widows in Zimbabwe.” The key objective for this year's Commemoration is to carry out a Training of Trainers (T0T) on Promoting the Rights of Widows in Zimbabwe. The Specific Objectives include: To increase awareness of International Widows’ Day in ZimbabweTo raise awareness about the state of widows in Zimbabwe and the available legal instruments to protect widows’ rights.To raise awareness of the AACC Advocacy tool kit for justice for widowsTo strengthen the capacity of widows, women, and men participants to advocate for the rights of widows.To showcase achievements made by widows of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe from the AACC grants for widows’ programs, as a best practice in the economic empowerment of widowsTo share experiences of widowhood through testimonies from widows