Some women at the conference believe that views like his hamper constructive discussion and shouldn't be given a voice. But that is like living in a gender paradise - in the real world, it is the Sata's who dominate.

This conference has been heartening for its emphasis on men and their role in the battle for a better world for women. Like it or not, men are essential partners in this war. It is crucial that they be part of all education drives, programmes and campaigns. And the decision to insist that all delegations be comprised of a quota of men is vital. It's time that gender activists stopped preaching to the converted.

Already the fruits of Beijing, where the idea of partnerships with men first gained ground, are being sampled. The numbers of men at this conference who see the issues of girl-child education, employment for women and the myriad others as their challenges too is heartening. But more can be done.

We need to consider whether it is not necessary to ensure that the Ministers in charge of finance and trade (mostly male) are invited to these conferences too. They are the true political elite who take the spending and policy decisions that have the greatest impact on women's lives.

African women can and should command the attention of all levels of state power.