Unaids (Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS), which chairs the H6 partnership - made up of six United Nations bodies working on health-related issues - and the African Union have committed to improving collaboration to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence, prevent HIV and protect women's health and rights in humanitarian contexts.
A new work program on this common agenda was announced at a special high-level event held in New York on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
"We are gathered here to coordinate efforts between the African Union and the United Nations to plan and intervene so that people's rights are protected, HIV is prevented and the right to health is promoted," said Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, who chaired the meeting.
The increasing frequency and scale of humanitarian crises have a devastating impact, particularly among women and children. In 2017, around 68 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict or generalized violence - an increase of 2.9 million compared to 2016 and a new record.
"We know it's time to act. More than 2 billion people live in countries affected by violence, conflict and fragility - the majority of whom are women and girls. This is unacceptable. We need political visibility and intensified international cooperation to eliminate gender-based violence and protect the health of women and children in humanitarian situations," said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS and President of the H6.
Unaids will support the African Union in developing a joint action plan with the United Nations. The plan will include developing training and awareness-raising tools for staff in peacekeeping operations and ensuring better reporting rates on sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls.
"The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union offers an opportunity to strengthen work in a reciprocal manner and to carry out joint and comprehensive responses to the needs of vulnerable populations in crisis situations," said Smail Chergui, African Union commissioner for peace and security.
Protecting the health and rights of women and girls will be key to mitigating fragility, conflict and disaster. It is estimated that 60% of all preventable maternal deaths occur in humanitarian and conflict contexts, which equates to almost 500 deaths per day.
"In South Sudan, 52% of our young sisters get married before their 18th birthday. I ask the leaders not to remain silent. We call for the inclusion of women in political processes. Our bodies, our lives and our futures are at stake. We have the right to the highest possible standard of health, whether in a conflict situation or not," said Riya William Yuyada, executive director of South Sudan's Crown the Woman organization.
Currently, there are few successful programs to prevent gender-based violence during conflicts and against refugee populations. Studies show that violence against women and girls increases during periods of conflict, with rape and other forms of sexual violence often a common practice during war.
"It's not about stopping weapons, we must recognize that women and children have the right to life, health and peace. This is where we must devote our energies and time to ensure that women and girls are protected," said Bience Gawanas, special advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General for Africa.
The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063 have created an important political opportunity. The new commitments provide a timely opportunity to improve collaboration in human security and humanitarian health, in the context of the recently adopted Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Strengthening Partnership in Peace and Security.
"We should not explain why we are partnering, but why we are not partnering to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence and protect the health and rights of women and children in humanitarian situations. Women and girls must be at the center of addressing root causes of deprivation, poverty and abuse," said Sigrid Kaag, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.
Among the commitments made by Unaids and the African Union is to work to ensure adequate funding to strengthen the coordinated implementation of programs for responses to sexual exploitation, abuse and HIV in humanitarian settings. This enhanced cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations will be key to ensuring peace, security and sustainable people-centered developments.