ADF VI to focus on gender issues

The forum, one of the principal events of the Economic Commission for Africa's 50th anniversary celebrations, is being jointly held with the African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

ECA and its partners have made a notable contribution to the shaping of the gender equality landscape in Africa over the past half century. Nonetheless, there is still some way to go before “the mission is accomplished.”

Persistent gender inequalities and violence against women continue to be among some of the factors for Africa's slow progress towards attaining the targets of the Millennium Development Goals and overall social development.

Indeed, it is now widely acknowledged that promoting gender equality and women's empowerment is essential to achieving human development, poverty eradication and economic growth on the African continent.

At the same time, recent regional meetings (the First Joint African Union Commission and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development held in April 2008 and the 11th African Union Summit) have highlighted the emergence of new challenges on the continent that have the potential to deepen and widen existing gender inequalities such as climate change, and rising food and energy prices.

In that regard, it is clear that as the commission marks its 50th anniversary, there is need to reflect on the progress made towards achieving gender equality, women's empowerment and eliminating violence against women on the continent; identify the existing policy and implementation challenges and seek comprehensive solutions to tackle them effectively. The overarching objective of the ADF VI, therefore, is to review the state of play in this critical area in order to articulate concrete actions to hasten the translation of national and regional commitments into reality.

The forum will give prominence to eliminating violence against women as a major impediment to social and economic development on the continent and the achievement of the MDGs. This is in line with the UN Secretary-General's campaign to end violence against women, launched on 25 February 2008 and which will run from 2008 through 2015 to coincide with the target date for achieving the MDGs. Other themes that the forum will discuss with regard to gender equality include: 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, climate change, water, sanitation and energy, financing for gender equality, and ICT.

The forum is expected to among other things come up with a plan of action that will provide clear recommendations for member states and development partners to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women's empowerment.