Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXV) Page 1 DECLARATION ON 2015 YEAR OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS AFRICA’S AGENDA 2063 Doc. Assembly/AU/2(XXV) We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, having met at our Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 14 to 15 June 2015, on the 2015 Theme "Year of Women‟s Empowerment towards Africa‟s Agenda 2063"; Recalling our previous Decisions and Declarations on Gender Equality and Women‟s Empowerment in particular the Protocol on the African Charter on Human and People‟s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa in 2003 (Assembly AU/Dec.19(II)), the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa in 2004 (Assembly AU/Dec.12 (III)), the African Women‟s Decade (2010-2020) (Assembly AU/Dec. 229 (XII)), the Fund for African Women (Assembly AU/Dec. 277(XIV)), Malabo Decision on Theme for 2015 Year (Assembly AU/Dec. 539 (XXIII)) and all global policies, namely the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discriminations against Women (CEDAW), and the UN Security Council Resolution Number 1325, among others; Acknowledging the persistent efforts made in implementation of the AU Gender Architecture above-mentioned at national, regional and continental levels, and the positive and visible results of implementation of gender equality and women‟s empowerment made by our continent since Beijing 1995; Also acknowledging the challenges faced in the implementation of many of those Decisions and Declarations, in particular on progress made in attaining the minimum targets of gender equality and women‟s empowerment in women‟s socio-economic and political life that should demonstrate Africa‟s willingness, leadership and commitment to the achievement of goals as enshrined in the 2003 Maputo Protocol on Women‟s Rights in Africa; Noting with Concern that despite positive achievements registered recently in decision-making, women, the largest proportion of our population, still remain at-risk and impoverished due to the challenges caused by social, economic and political marginalization, gender-based violence and discrimination against women; and reiterating our resolve to ending violence against women and girls, and improving access to, and control of, finances, land, education, health, sciences and technology and decision-making in political governance and business enterprises, consistent with our Declaration on Agenda 2063 and our continental Gender Architecture and our commitments on global initiatives; Reaffirming our resolve towards ensuring that all categories of our populations, in particular women and young girls, must participate and benefit directly from the growth and transformation opportunities to improve their lives and livelihoods, with continued positive impact on the lives of our citizenry in rural and urban areas, through deliberate and targeted public support;