African women hail AU for wide consultations on continent’s future

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Women stakeholders on pan-Africanism and the continent’s renaissance have commended the African Union (AU) for its initiative to consult with all member countries, regional economic communities and all sectors of society to develop a continent-wide Agenda 2063.

Agenda 2063 aims at enabling Africa to take full charge of its own destiny and propel itself forward into a prosperous and peaceful future.
At the end of their two-day consultative conference here late Monday, women representatives from across the continent and the diaspora adopted a declaration saying they were determined to ensure that the voices of African women from all walks of life and generations are heard in framing the Agenda 2063.
The conference was organised by the AU Commission in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and UN Women, in close collaboration with the Global Power Network, the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS and the African Gender Award (GIMAC).
In their declaration, the conference participants recognised the pioneering role of the Pan African Women’s Organisation, saying it laid the foundation for the emergence over the last five decades of women’s organisations and networks across Africa.
“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the OAU/AU, Africa must move with determination, boldness and dedication to eradicate poverty, underdevelopment, inequality, conflict, diseases and violence against women,” said the declaration.
“Neither peace nor prosperity will be fully realised without the participation and emancipation of African women,” the conference said, urging enhanced women’s access to modern technology and innovation for value addition in their economic activities.
The meeting also noted that Africa’s integration agenda should encourage free movement of people, goods and services, while natural resources of every country should be properly managed to ensure more equitable distribution of proceeds and contribute to industrialisation and development of communities and infrastructure.
The conference underlined the promotion of innovative use of science and technology in order to reduce the women’s care burden and release them to unleash and realise their potential, and encouraged all countries to teach African history, pan-Africanism and Renaissance in schools and higher educational institutions.