12th June 2025
Equality Now will host two public side events alongside the 45th SADC Ordinary Summit in Madagascar, bringing together policymakers, civil society, youth leaders, and experts to advance legal and systemic reforms for women and girls in Southern Africa. The sessions will provide a platform for delegates to deliberate and co-create a concise declaration to guide advocacy with SADC Heads of State on ending child marriage and protecting children already in or affected by it, as well as to examine technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and digital rights in the region.
Policymakers, civil society, youth policymakers, digital rights movements and experts.
Friday, 15 August 2025, 10 am – 12 pm (UTC+3)
Saturday, 16 August 2025, 10:40 am -12:40 pm (UTC+3)
Hybrid. Rooms to be confirmed or register to join online via Zoom.
About this event: Strengthening Protection and Support Mechanisms for Survivors of Child Marriage
Friday, 15 August 2025, 10 am – 12 pm (UTC+3)
Venue: Hotel des Thermes In Antsirabe, Madagascar
Equality Now is hosting a side event panel to the SADC People’s Summit (15-17 August 2025), focusing on the SADC End Child Marriage Campaign in Madagascar. The event will convene state, interstate, and non-state actors to establish the progress on adoption and domestication of SADC PF model law on ending Child marriage and its effect, assess the emerging issues on implementation of the SADC Model Law to End Child Marriage in the region and explore opportunities for strengthening protection and support mechanisms for survivors of child marriage.
About this event: Advancing Digital Rights and Legal Reforms to End TFGBV in Southern Africa
Saturday, 16 August 2025, 10:40 am -12:40 pm (UTC+3)
Venue: QG Tanora Ankorondrano, Madagascar
Equality Now, in partnership with the Southern Africa Youth Forum, will co-host a side event on TFGBV, with a particular emphasis on online sexual exploitation and abuse (OSEA) and digital rights. The event will bring together Civil Society Organisation (CSO) actors, Youth Policymakers, and digital rights movements to reflect on the state of digital rights governance and TFGBV in Southern Africa and facilitate an advocacy and movement agenda and roadmap for AUDRi Africa.