Press Release No. 18/1997

Expert Group Meeting on Gender Networking: ECA Delivers on its Undertaking To Put Gender at the Top of the Priority List

Addis Ababa, 14 June 1997: An expert group meeting on gender networking at sub regional level in Africa focussing on women and decision-making and the economic empowerment of women through the promotion of their legal and human rights is to take place at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa on 16-18 June 1997.

The networking meeting follows the 18th Meeting of the Africa Regional Coordinating Committee for the Integration of Women in Development (ARCC) held here in April to sharpen the focus of ECA's work on gender issues in Africa.

The objectives of the meeting -- organised by the African Centre for Women (ACW) which implements ECA's gender programme -- are:

• to draw lessons in the application of gender networking from past experience;
• to examine and consider new strategies and partnerships required to achieve synergies and optimize gender sensitive development outcomes;
• to explore approaches for strengthening ECA's role in the process.

The list of invited guests includes Ms. Tadeletch Haile Michael, Ethiopian Minister in charge of women, Ms. Berthe Eliane Mokodopo, Minister in charge of women, Central African Republic, Ms. Gertrude Mongella, Secretary General, the United Nations Fourth Conference of Women held in Beijing in 1995 and Member of Parliament of Uganda, Ms. Winnie Byanyima who is also the President of the Forum for Women in Democracy.

The highlight of the meeting will be group work on missing links or gaps for Networking in three priority areas:

• economic empowerment of women;
• women in decision-making;
• women's legal and human rights.

Summary presentations by experts will outline the existing situation at the sub regional level. Altogether 6 presentations are envisaged. Other sessions will be developed to distill concrete networking strategies that encompass governments, international agencies, NGOs and other interested parties.