Womens Day 2005: African Women Take Stock

It is a decade since the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted to advance gender equality. In Africa, women celebrate an improved climate with newly committed leadership, more representation nationally and at the African Union an increased understanding of the need to do more. On the other hand, poor access to health, education and resources as well as violent or sexual abuse and exploitation, have left more women in poverty than ten years ago. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says this year offers a chance to act on lessons learnt. That sentiment is echoed by UNIFEM's Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer who calls for "determined" implementation, greater accountability and stronger institutional advocacy to promote gender concerns.