Civil society to meet on gender mainstreaming at the African Union summit

Several civil society networks will convene in Addis Ababa under the aegis of the “Gender is my Agenda” campaign for a consultation on gender mainstreaming in the African Union. This 9th Pre-Summit Consultative meeting on gender mainstreaming in the African Union is scheduled for Addis Ababa between January 23-24, 2007.

The consultation is supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and is co-ordinated by femmes Africa Solidarites (FAS). It runs on the margins of the Heads of State Summit scheduled for January 25-30 January, 2006.

Its key aim is to bring together the focal points of the “Gender is my Agenda” campaign and other organisations committed to Women’s rights in order to strenthen monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa adopted by African Heads of State and Government in 2004.

The Addis Ababa consultative meeting takes place at a time of renewed commitment to gender equality in Africa. In 2004, African Heads of State and Government adopted the solemn Declaration on gender Equality in Africa.
The Declaration sought to promote and protect women’s rights at all levels. It identified some key priority issues including: HIV and AIDS, recruitment of child soldiers and the implementation of gender-specific economic, social and legal measures.

Women’s civil society networks have since focused on advocacy and campaigning in implementing the Declaration. This has involved defining thematic focal points, reporting guidelines and strategies for advocacy and lobbying on women’s rights.

Civil society organisations working on women’s rights recognize the challenges of implementing gender parity in the AU and at national levels. Besides the solemn Declaration, civil society have emphasised the importance of Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights in securing the rights of women in Africa.

The forthcoming consultative meeting in Addis Ababa is important in affirming the role of civil society in monitoring and in evaluating the commitment of governments in implementing the Solemn Declaration. Advocacy will continue to emphasise the role of civil society in measuring the commitment of governments in implementing the Declaration. The incorporation of the African Women Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD) into the mechanisms of the African Union indicates the success of civil society advocacy in monitoring women’s rights.

The launch of the “Gender is my Agenda” campaign in Banjul in June 2006 and the stated commitment to strengthen monitoring, reporting and advocacy strategies reiterates a continued determination by civil society to engage the various actors working on gender mainstreaming.

In addition to these efforts, attention needs to focus on:
• Effective implementation of the mandates of various organs such as the African Women Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD) which are charged with advocacy and oversight in implementing the various recommendations made by women.
• Facilitating continued dialogue between civil society and the AU on strategies towards gender mainstreaming.

For more information on the 9th Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union please contact: Femmes Africa Solidarite, Fax: +221 860 2047 email: cc:

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