African Ministers Urged to Recommit to Women’s Empowerment
ECA Press Release No. 68/2009
Banjul, The Gambia, 19 November 2009 (ECA) – African Ministers in charge of gender and women’s affairs were urged today to fully recommit themselves to ensuring equality and empowerment of the continent’s women.
“The best outcome of our deliberations must be a commitment document that reaffirms your collective will and engagement, and reflects your decisions for the accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action over the remaining 5 years,” said Mr.
Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Mr. Janneh made his remarks atthe opening of the Ministerial segment of the Eighth African Regional Conference on Women (Beijing +15). The conference, organized by ECA, is a review of the progress of and challenges still facing women in Africa. The review was based on the Beijing Platform of Action (BPFA), an assessment of 12 critical areas in need of enactment to improve the lives of women adopted by Member States in 1995.
Nearly 1,000 delegates including Ministers in charge of gender and women’s affairs, gender experts, civil society groups and other stakeholders, attended the conference in The Gambia. In addition to a review of the BPFA, experts developed key recommendations of the way forward for African ministers to consider.
African Union Commission Chairperson, Mr. Jean Ping, praised the steps that had been taken thus far in terms of empowering women and achieving gender equality.
“However, much remains to be done by all women and men of good will if we are to build an African society in which everyone enjoys equal access to human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he said.
While applauding the progress women have already made on the continent, Ms Elizabeth Fong, Acting Deputy Regional Director for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa, said the BPFA still needs to be central to any gender policies.
“Given the significance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, it is imperative that the Beijing Platform of Action continues to inform the political, economic and social development processes in all countries in Africa,” she said.
Announcing the creation of a new UN gender entity, Mrs. Rachel Mayanja, Special Advisor on Gender Issues for the UN Secretary-General, said this new body would be better poised to help Member States, including those from Africa.
“It is expected that the new composite entity will be better resourced, stronger field presence and better capacity to serve Member States and the women of the world.”
Keynote speaker, H.E. Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Vice President of The Gambia, said her country could serve as a role model for the dignity, status and rights for women.
“Women are first and foremost human beings with God given rights, therefore indeed, women’s rights are human rights,” she said. “This accounts for why in The Gambia, women are visibly placed in all areas of leadership, design and decision-making and indeed in all spheres of national development.”
The meeting continues tomorrow, where Ministers are expected to craft a statement reaffirming their commitment to empowering Africa’s women and mainstreaming gender equality in government action.
Contact in Banjul
Myriam Dessables +220 9032000 Kaylois Henry +220 9031991 Houda Mejri +220 9031997
Web: http://www.uneca.org/acgs/beijingplus15/
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