African Union Gender Policy

(PANA) - African ministers responsible for gender and women’s affairs are due to hold a two-day meeting here from Thursday to discuss and a dopt the African Union’s gender policy, it was officially announced here Monday.

The policy will form the basis of a coherent strategy for the achievement of gender equality and the advancement of women on the continent, according to the co-organisers of the conference -the AU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA).

A committee of experts Monday started a two-day meeting to prepare for the ministerial session, which is a collaboration between the Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) of the AU Commission and the African Centre for Gender and Social Development (ACGS) of UNECA.

Participants include over 70 experts from gender ministries and resource persons, representatives of regional economic communities and UN agencies, as well as African and international media.

The meeting will also review and endorse a plan of action for the effective implementation of the Gender Policy.

"The pressing nature of the development challenges facing Africa, including gender inequality, made necessary for our continental institutions and other development partners to collaborate in order to harness resources, ensure coherence and avoid duplication," said Thokozile Ruzvidzo, officer in charge of the ACGS.

In addition, the conference will review the preparatory process for the Beijing +15 regional review due to take place in Africa in 2009 and in 2010 at the global level.

According to some experts at the meeting, there is need to strengthen national women’s and gender machineries in Africa because the momentum gathered during the 1995 UN Conference on Women’s Development in Beijing, China, seems to be on the decline.

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