The African Union Gender Policy, launched two years ago, stresses the need to...

The African Union Gender Policy, launched two years ago, stresses the need to reinforce good practices of respect, equality and human dignity between men and women in the workplace and in society at large, and to enforce zero tolerance for gender-based violence, sexual harassment, assault, rape, sexual favours, gender stereotyping, sexism and abusive language and actions in the workplace, society and situations of conflict. It stresses the need ensure severe sanction and punishment for perpetrators of such acts. It further calls for the use of the Paris Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups as the basis for programmatic interventions in Africa, which should incorporate measures to prevent sexual abuse and pervasive discrimination against women and girls as weapons in armed conflict, and to promote their equal status in society.