Meeting of Committee on Women and Development Bureau (CWD) and the Advisory Panel of the Africa Women's Rights Observatory(AWRO)

Addis Ababa, 18 April 2007 - The Bureau of the Committee on Women and Development (CWD) comprising ministers for gender and women's affairs from six countries is scheduled to hold its meeting on the 19 of April 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC). The CWD is a statutory body of ministers and experts that advise ECA on gender related issues. Among other things the meeting of the CWD Bureau will review the progress of implementation of ACGS's 2006-2007 Program of Work and will also consider the 2008-2009 Program of Wok. Furthermore, the Bureau will discuss how national gender machineries can better deliver the agenda of gender equality and women's empowerment.

The Bureau meeting will precede the first meeting of the African Women's Rights Observatory (AWRO) Advisory Panel that is scheduled to take place on 20 and 21 of April 2007. The AWRO is a joint initiative of the UNDP Regional Gender Program for Africa Bureau and the African Center for Gender and Social Development (ACGSD) of the ECA.

Despite significant progress at various levels, the protection and promotion of women's rights in Africa remains a serious challenge. Although most African countries have ratified international and regional conventions and adopted various resolutions, translating commitment into action has remained a persisting challenge. In addition, although legislative reforms in some countries have removed discriminatory laws, the plurality of legal systems in the area of family law, inheritance and succession has undermined the globally and regionally established rights of African women. Furthermore, violence against women manifested in various forms has continued to compromise the physical, sexual, psychological and material well being of women and children.

AWRO role is to host the observatory that will systematically track progress made in African countries by collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on the status of women's rights in Africa. AWRO will also facilitate exchange of information on challenges and best practices. AWRO will largely depend on secondary data but will also collect primary data on selected thematic areas to be periodically defined, based on consultation with various stakeholders.

The niche of the Observatory is expected to be the capacity to make information and data available on the status of women's human rights in Africa in a comparative way and from a regional perspective with the view to motivate advocacy by stakeholders and action by governments. It is hoped that this mechanism will help to strengthen accountability of governments to the various commitments they have made towards the protection of the rights of women in Africa.

The AWRO Advisory Panel is composed of representatives of governmental, inter-governmental, non-governmental organizations, African women's rights organizations, media institutions focusing on women and gender issues as well as research and academic institutions. The Panel is expected to guide and support the work of AWRO.

For more information contact: Ms. Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Officer-in-Charge, African Centre for Gender and Social Development at ecainfo@uneca.org