African Experts, Policymakers Review 25-year Implementation of Beijing

African experts and ministers have kicked-off a high-level continental meeting to review the 25-year implementation progress of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The high-level AU Specialised Technical Committee (STC) Meeting focuses on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE).

The meeting focusing on the review of the implementation work is underway from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 in the Ethiopian under the theme of “Realising

Women’s Rights for an Equal Future.’’ The five-day meeting is also expected to feature the launch of the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, according to the 55-member pan African bloc.

The meeting, among others, brought together African ministers in charge of gender and women’s affairs as well as experts, regional economic communities, civil society organisations, UN agencies and development partners, Pan African bloc said.

Experts and policymakers were mainly expected to consider and adopt the Africa review report, as well as endorse documents and decisions to support accelerated implementation of the AU GEWE Agenda commitments, it said.

The continental meeting also came as the year 2020 marks the 25th anniversary since the world adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

This is a commitment that provides a framework for achievement of irreversible and measurable progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, without leaving anyone behind.

The Beijing declaration underscores commitment made at global, regional and sub-regional levels to ending discrimination, promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The 1995 Beijing Platform for Action flagged 12 key areas where urgent action was needed to ensure greater equality and opportunities for women and men, girls and boys.