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African leaders to tackle Action on gender equality, women’s
empowerment and ending violence against women in Africa at the Sixth African Development Forum (ADFVI)
ECA Press Release No. 30/2008
Addis Ababa 13 November (ECA) - Over 500 stakeholders representing African governments, civil society, academia, media, bilateral partners, regional and international organizations will convene at the Sixth African Development Forum (ADF VI) in Addis Ababa from 19-21 November, jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The African Development Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform for debating, discussing and initiating concrete strategies for Africa's development. This edition of ADF will focus on
“Action on gender equality, women’s empowerment and ending violence against women”, not only drawing on the participation of those traditionally involved with these issues such as ministers of gender and women affairs, social development and health, and non-governmental organizations, but also African ministers of defence, foreign affairs, finance, justice, environment, police and security forces, selected parliamentarians, and representatives of Regional Economic Communities. Special attention has been given to the participation of community-based organizations to draw on grassroots’ initiatives and experiences.
With the aim of identifying practical and concrete actions on gender equality, women’s empowerment and ending violence against women, ADF VI will focus on the following thematic areas: Violence against women; HIV and AIDS; Health and reproductive rights;
Education, training and skills development; Migration; Governance, conflict, peace and security; Employment, markets and trade; Food security; Land and property rights; Gender and ICTs; Climate change, water, sanitation and energy; and Financing for gender equality.
In line with the UN Secretary-General’s Campaign to End Violence Against Women, launched in February 2008, ADF VI will give prominence to the elimination of violence against women as a major impediment to social and economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This is an area that requires urgent efforts as women and children across Africa are particularly vulnerable to rape and other forms of sexual abuse, domestic violence, crimes and abuses committed by armed forces and police, harmful and exploitative labour and trafficking, harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation and others.
In addition to specifically tackling the issue of violence against women, ADF VI will look at the core dimensions of women’s empowerment in economic, social and political areas in terms of both challenges and opportunities for women in Africa. Financing for gender equality and women’s empowerment will also be a major issue discussed by the Forum.
A key objective of ADF VI is to identify actions that will push the agenda forward. As noted
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by the Decade Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, there is a need to bridge the gap between commitments and their implementation. Although many international and regional resolutions have been adopted by African countries, the implementation and reporting on the resolutions is often inadequate. In some countries, relevant policies, legislation and effective strategies aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment have been adopted, but they are not being implemented, enforced nor scaled up to promote change on the ground.
Prior to ADF VI, several preliminary events will also take place in Addis Ababa, including a regional consultation on proposed Africa campaign to end violence against women; a campaign on gender equality in the work place; a workshop on youth and a workshop on violence against women. These workshops will provide specific inputs for the main Forum to enrich the debate and help identify specific actions.
Post ADF VI events on securing women's access to and control over land in Africa through the land policy and land reform framework and guidelines for Africa, and a follow-up regional consultation between ECA, AU and UNIFEM will take place on the 22nd and 23rd of November respectively.
Further information can be found on the ADF VI website at: www.uneca.org/adfvi/.
Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65 E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org Web: www.uneca.org
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