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The African Gender Development Index Strongly Commended at the International Workshop on Bridging the Gap Between International Instruments on Women and National Implementation

08 July 2005

The African Center for Gender and Development (ACGD) was recently invited to attend a landmark workshop organized by the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) in Johannesburg on " The Status of Women in Africa: Bridging the Gap Between International Instruments and National Implementation". Hannah Tiagha, Senior Social Affairs Officer, presented a paper she co-authored with Thokozile Ruzvidzo, the Center''''''''s Officer in Charge.

The purpose of this highly intellectual workshop was to examine the legal, structural and institutional impediments to the realization of African women''''''''s rights as articulated in international instruments. A host of researchers, gender experts, government officials, representatives from NGOs, foundations and donor organizations discussed during this two- day encounter the existing discrepancy between progressive instruments which look good on paper and the real situation of women in Africa.

The objectives of the workshop were: (i) to create a platform for debate and dialogue on the disjuncture between international instruments and national implementation in sub-Saharan Africa;(ii) to identify strategies as policy-makers, government officials and civil society to bridge these gaps.

In her welcoming address, Dr. Brigalia Bam, IGD Board member, emphasized that having women in senior positions in government is not meaningful if women go without food, and domestic violence is on the increase. Ms. Bam recognized that South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique had done well in increasing the number of women in parliament. She however, quickly cautioned that the quota system should not apply only in areas of government but in other areas of influence as well

In her presentation, Hannah Tiagha outlined the outcome of Beijing +10 regional and international review. She highlighted the success African Governments had made and the major challenges that still remain in meeting the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Platform of Action. She also presented the African Gender and Development Index (AGDI) and underscored that this Index is a tool to measure government performance not to set standards. She added that it is also as a practical instrument for civil society to use in lobbying governments to fulfil their commitments.

On gender equality, Hannah Tiagha underlined the importance of effecting African countries commitment to achieve gender equality and enforce gender mainstreaming, "because country positions should outlive individuals and action should be institutionalised". She also stressed the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms to follow up on the implementation of the regional and international conventions as came out clearly at the New York conference on Beijing+10. The responsibilities related to gender mainstreaming, she underlined, "include allocating resources, building capacity and training, not only among decision-makers but also among the technicians that will address the gender concerns in each sector..."

During the workshop, participant agreed on the following observations:

  • There are too many requirements on reporting made by the UN and other agencies and thus burdening governments. The AGDI provides consolidation of reporting on various instruments and conventions; There has not been sufficient domestication of the international human/women''''''''s rights instruments;

  • There is a disconnect between the human/women''''''''s rights instruments and tradition and culture;

  • There are gaps in terms of enforceability and accountability of human/women''''''''s rights instruments, and no recourse for non-compliance;

  • The language of the instruments is complicated and needs to be made simpler.

The Institute for Global Dialogue will produce a research publication containing the papers presented and the conclusions reached at the workshop, to be utilised as an advocacy tool by policy-makers, officials and civil society. This will be posted on the ACGD website.



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