The consultations examined the twelve critical areas of concern to assess the achievements and challenges as well as mapping innovative ways forward into the next millennium.

The following questions were addressed in relation to each of the twelve critical areas of concern in the African Platform for Action:

1. What have been the trends and attitudes towards implementing the strategic objectives? What progress has been made? What concrete steps have been taken?

2. What have been the obstacles to the realization of the targets set at Beijing

3. What must be done in future?
a. Benchmarks for progress
b. Minimum standards to be attained
c. Resources needed
d. Regional and international mechanisms required

Trends

The Consultations noted that in the last five years there has been some progress made in the implementation of the strategic objectives of the African and Global Platforms for Action in certain areas, while at the same time there has been considerable deterioration in the situation of women. The Consultations also noted that, by 1998, forty countries of Africa had national plans of action or draft plans to guide the implementation of the PFA.
The Consultations noted the following trends under each critical area of concern of the African Platform for Action:

1. Women and Poverty/Economic Empowerment

In the area of poverty and economic empowerment, the Consultations noted that women continue to constitute the majority of the poor, lacking access to resources such as land, capital, technology, water and adequate and nutritious food. Global trade negotiations are reinforcing the marginalization of Africa, particularly in the area of property rights, patenting of resources and knowledge. For example, the production of the terminator seed and patenting of indigenous resources, misappropriation and mismanagement of resources has lead to increased feminization of poverty and starvation on the continent.
The economic reforms are not people-centred and include wholesale privatization that has led to increased impoverishment and disempowerment of women.

Participants noted that the level of poverty had risen increasingly in the last five years and had impacted more negatively on women in particular. They, further, noted, with concern, that poverty levels had increased as a result of increased constant misuse and misappropriation of resources and Governments had undertaken people-blind economic reforms without proper cushioning measures in place to protect vulnerable groups in their citizenry. This was seen to contribute to increased impoverishment and disempowerment of women.

The participants noted that global trade negotiations have continually marginalized Africa. They also observed that the guidelines provided in the Platform for Action on food security had not been fully implemented by these governments. These guidelines include:

Participants cited a few examples of innovative programmes aimed at supporting women's needs in the area of food security by improving their access to land and providing them with farm implements. Examples were given of government Departments/Sections in Ministries of Agriculture, which focus on training of more women extension officers and on involving women in decision-making on agricultural policy. Other examples were given of women's bank catering mainly for rural-based women. Several examples of micro-finance facilities for women were also given.

2. Women and Education and Training and Access to Science and Technology

The Consultations noted that although most countries have sophisticated policies, which apparently address issues of gender imbalance, the gender gaps continue at all levels. In spite of all the activities like increased enrolment in schools and literacy programmes, illiteracy among women continues to grow in real and concrete terms.

Participants also noted a tendency to provide so-called appropriate technology which has proved ineffective in reducing drudgery and has not added value to women's productivity.
The participation of women and girls in science and technology was noted to be still very limited, and there is resistance in accepting women in what have become male-dominated fields.

3. Women, Culture, the Family and Socialization

The participants noted that women continue to be disadvantaged by discriminatory cultural practices. Patriarchy is still deeply entrenched in all African societies. Several strategies have been used to bring about change. These include awareness raising, and conscientisation campaigns. NGOs have been quite active in sensitization and advocacy campaigns against cultural practices that hinder the advancement of women.

4. Women's Health and Reproductive Health

A significant number of countries have prioritized women's health and reproduction as an area of concern, however, the health status of women in all African countries remains a concern. Women's health is affected by gender bias in policies, programmes and practices. Decreased health spending and privatisation of health care systems in many countries without guaranteeing universal access to affordable health care has affected the health of women and girls.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has negatively affected women in many ways, such as an increase in infection and increase in the demands made on women as care-givers. The HIV/AIDS tragedy is devastating the African continent, and women are extremely vulnerable.

It was also noted from studies that since 1995, the rates of maternal and infant mortality have risen.

5. Women, Environment and Natural Resource Management

In the last five years there has been an increase in the formation of governmental and non-governmental structures that focus on the role of women in relation to the environment and natural resource management. This has led to an increased awareness of the necessity to involve women in decisions and programmes to preserve the environment. Examples of actions taken include the increased participation of women in the development of alternative sources of energy and capacity building of women on the use of natural resources such as water and fuel wood in a sustainable manner.

Environmental Impact Assessments that are being carried out in relation to the rapid industrialization are not taking into account the specific impact on women's health, social, political and cultural well being, neither are they taking into account the negative impact on women's lives of the destruction of the environment.

6. Women, Politics and Decision-Making.

There has been an increase in the number of women in decision making in many African countries. As a result of more awareness and increasing profile of African women in public life, there are now some African women who are ready and willing to seek the highest decision-making positions in their countries. Affirmative action programs have helped many women get into positions of decision-making in those countries implementing the programs. For example 41% of women in Namibia got into local government. Decentralization programs have also enabled more women at grassroots level enter into decision-making.

There is some demonstrable political will to support women in decision-making in some countries such as South Africa, Uganda and Mozambique. For example in Mozambique, the restrictions which prevented women from running for elective office and keeping their public service employment, were relaxed in order for women not to lose out both ways.

Several national and regional NGOs have been following the trends which affect women in politics and decision-making. They conduct research, and provide support for women in the planning stages of political campaigns, give them information, provide analysis of complex issues and also run leadership development programs.

Even in countries where we have high numbers of well educated, professional women who are self-empowered, the majority of these tend not to be attracted to elective politics.

7. Women's Legal and Human Rights

In many African countries, women are still regarded as second class citizens, minors, junior males and /or property of their husbands. Even in countries where there are progressive legislations, the Executive and/or Judiciary sustain actions and rulings, which discriminate against women. In instances where laws and constitutions are progressive, societal attitudes and behaviours remain the same.

Six African countries have not ratified CEDAW as of 1999, 46 have ratified, one has signed and 7 have ratified with reservations. These reservations all relate to the basic principles of the Convention such as non-discrimination against women and family laws. There have been positive developments such as the optional protocol to CEDAW which for example now allows groups of people to lodge complaints

There is also the Additional Protocol on Women's Rights to the Africa Charter on Human and People's Rights, which is a progressive, far-reaching document. The Draft has been accepted by the African Commission on Human and people's Rights and will be passed on to the OAU for further discussion and adoption.
Violence against women in Africa is on the increase. Femicides, acid attacks, ritual murders, gang rapes, abduction, girl-child slavery, ritual rapes, military sexual slavery, cultism in tertiary institutions, trafficking in women and girls, are all new and old trends. Women in Africa still remain vulnerable to harmful traditional practices and traditions, many of which expose them to risk of HIV and AIDS which has been devastating the continent. There are now universal standards which provide a framework for human rights, liberty and freedom, which African governments have made commitments to in many international conventions and agreements. There is therefore no excuse for the continued discrimination against women and violations of their human rights.

There has been some progress in getting Violence Against Women on the agendas of some African governments. There is a Violence Against Women addendum to the SADC Gender Declaration, which requires periodic reporting to the SADC Heads of State. There are now laws on violence against women in countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Senegal and Mozambique.
However, the Global Platform for Action has provided more strategies on Violence Against Women and this is what African NGOs have been using through research, advocacy, campaigns (16 days of activism) shelters, legal aid, training, and monitoring implementation of laws.

There has been a backlash in some countries i.e. Zimbabwe (inheritance laws) and Nigeria, with one State implementing Sharia laws and others planning to follow suit.

There are now universal standards which provide a framework for human rights, liberty and freedom, which African governments have made commitments to in many international conventions and agreements.

Women in Africa still remain vulnerable to harmful traditional practices and traditions, many of which expose them to risk of HIV and AIDS which has been devastating the continent.

8. Involvement of Women in the Peace Process.

Africa is worse off now than it was five years ago in terms of conflict. Several African countries are still at war. Over 2 million Africans have lost their lives in wars and genocides over the past five years, many more are displaced as refugees, and the nature of conflicts has changed form inter-State to intra-State. Conflicts have left many affected countries deeply traumatised and have resulted in violent societies, especially towards women. Wars and conflicts in Africa have made communities, especially women, more vulnerable to HIV & AIDS, and have increased the feminization of poverty. In addition, landmines and the illicit proliferation of small arms are a huge menace and threat to security, and have killed and maimed thousands. Impunity and crimes against humanity, especially women, have gone unpunished. There has also been a tragic problem of thousands of child soldiers.

Whilst noting that there have been many regional initiatives for peace and conflict resolution, some of the initiatives to bring about peace have lacked credibility and legitimacy and have amounted to a waste of resources which could have been better used. At the level of civil society, there has been a broad-based mobilisation of women for peace throughout the continent and at all levels. This has led to the creation of many national and regional networks on peace. Women, in collaboration with other allies, have been actively engaged in promoting a culture of peace through dialogue, mediation, peace campaigns, peace education, art and poetry, seminars and conferences, and have demonstrated courage and fortitude under extremely difficult circumstances.
The nature of conflicts has changed form inter-State to intra-State. Bearing in mind the above, very little has happened to prevent conflicts at a governmental level, the reverse has been the case. Conflicts have left many affected countries deeply traumatised and has resulted in violent societies, especially towards women. Wars and conflicts in Africa have made communities, especially women, more vulnerable to HIV & AIDS.
Whilst noting that there have been many regional initiative for peace and conflict resolution, some of the initiatives to bring about peace have lacked credibility and legitimacy and have amounted to a waste of resources which could have been better used. Impunity and crimes against humanity, especially women, has gone unpunished. At an NGO level, there has been a broad-based mobilisation of women for peace throughout the continent and at all levels. This has led to the creation of many national networks and the regional umbrella FERFAP.
Women, in collaboration with other allies, have been actively engaged in promoting a culture of peace through dialogue, mediation, peace education, art and poetry, seminars and conferences.
They have also initiated and organized peace processes and sustained a civil society voice i.e. in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Somalia, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan, etc. The establishment of the AWCPD by the OAU came out of the demands of women, and it a testimony to the role African women have played in conflict resolution and peace-building.
Women have taken advantage of their enhanced roles during situations of conflict to use as leverage during the reconstruction phase as political gains for women i.e. women in Uganda and South Africa. In spite of this, decisions on going to war are made by male leaders, peace missions continue to be male dominated and women are absent from the negotiating table.

9. Mainstreaming of Gender Disaggregated Data

Some attempts have been made to collect gender disaggregated data by the governments but on the whole, governments have not prioritized the collection of gender disaggregated data. Therefore, the sources of information themselves have no disaggregated data.

In spite of the efforts of civil society organisations to collect such data, the trend is to accept and use government data which is often not necessarily more reliable.
Some attempts have been made by NGOs and government to collect desegregated data. But the sources of information themselves had no desegregated data. Even in situations where desegregated has been done, it was difficult to identify the gender gaps. Figures and percentages are established for women on one hand, as well as for men on the other. It is possible to subtract to find the percentage of the gender gap. Therefore the information is not useful.
Questionnaires sent out to relevant organisations to seek information are usually not filled in and sent back. This affects the extent to which reliable statistical data can be obtained for planning purposes.
In most countries programmes are set up before data for implementation is collected. However some progress has been made. Example is the case of Cameroon where a new organisation has been set up to produce data for planning purposes.
In spite of the efforts of civil society organisations to collect such data, the trend is to use government data which is often not necessarily more reliable. Some attempts have been made by NGOs and government to collect desegregated data. But the sources of information themselves had no desegregated data. Even in situations where desegregated has been done, it was difficult to identify the gender gaps. Figures and percentages are established for women on one hand, as well as for men on the other. It is possible to subtract to find the percentage of the gender gap. Therefore the information is not useful.

Questionnaires sent out to relevant organisations to seek information are usually not filled in and sent back. This affects the extent to which reliable statistical data can be obtained for planning purposes.

In most countries programmes are set up before data for implementation is collected. However some progress has been made. Example is the case of Cameroon where a new organisation has been set up to produce data for planning purposes.
Inspite of the efforts of civil society organisations to collect such data, the trend is to use government data which is often not necessarily more reliable.

10. Women, Communication, Information and Arts
As a result of the mobilisation and sensitisation during the preparations for Beijing, there are a number of media programmes, both electronic and print, to counter the negative attitudes on women. In most countries, the participation of women in the media has increased in terms of numbers, however, they are not in decision-making positions. Images of African women in popular culture and the media still remain discriminatory, stereotyped and backward.

Following the opening ceremony for the NGO Consultations of the 6th African Regional Conference on women group 3 started its discussions at 11.20am. The chair asked participants to refer to pages 11,21,28, and 44 of the African Platform for Action as basic documents for the themes. Discussions were to centre around women's role in Culture, the Family and Socialisation which could be easily linked to women, information, communication and arts. She called on participants (representatives of NGOs ) to give a picture of themes in question in their various countries. Ie. What have been the trends and attitudes/what progress has been made?
Examples were given of women in Rwanda where the woman is depicted both negatively and positively in the media. For example, the woman is "the heart of a home". Therefore, the quality of a household is directly linked to the woman; but at the same time the woman is not to speak in public, and is also referred to as the "vipers tongue". There is need to eradicate the negative imagery.
Delegates from Namibia shared their experience with the newly created Namibia Fathers Union which started programmes to care for children abandoned by parents. In collaboration with the ministries of women and social affairs, the Feminine Empowerment programme and UNICEF, these children are being rehabilitated so as to uphold cultural family values. Funds are raised to send the children to school; accommodate them and provide counselling to ensure good citizenship and avoid criminality and delinquency.

11. The Girl Child

The Consultations noted that almost all African countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, yet there is a marked increase in the incidences and nature of the violation of the rights of children. This is manifested through sexual abuse, trafficking, child labour, early marriage (institutionalized pedophilia) and the overall neglect of the welfare of children.
Issues relating to minimum age of marriage which would protect the girls' rights to education are ignored by almost all the countries.

The African Charter on the Welfare of the Child is still unratified by many countries. More and more young girls are being exposed to HIV/AIDS through traditional beliefs and practices which encourage intercourse with young girls as a cure for the disease.
12. Institutional Mechanisms
In Africa the trend has been that governments have established different forms of national machineries e.g. ministries, commissions, councils. But according to a study initiated by one NGO in eight countries in Africa, in terms of practice, these structures do not have strong political support and are not located at the highest level. They tend not to have the necessary technical capabilities and adequate resources.
There is lack of dialogue between the government and NGOs. Consequently collaboration between national machineries and NGOs has been limited. Thus the actions outlined for implementation under the PFA have not materialized.

In Africa the trend has been that governments have established different forms of national machineries e.g. ministries, commissions, councils. But according to a study initiated by one NGO, The Third World Network (TWN) in eight countries in Africa, in practice, these structures do not have strong political will and are not located at the highest level of decision making. In situations where they are located at such high levels, they tend not to have technical capabilities and adequate resources.
There is usually a lack of dialogue between the government machinery and NGOs. Consequently, collaboration between national machineries and NGOs has been limited. Thus the actions outlined for implementation under the African PFA have not materialised . The relevant sections are ( a) & ( b ) of paragraph 131. However, there are some exceptions such as in Cameroon where consultation of government and NGOs exists.
Policies on women are usually seen as separate from the main policies of the country. The policies themselves are also not gender sensitive enough. Therefore there is a tendency for women's concerns to be marginalised on both counts. In Guinea however, there exists a national program of gender which has been integrated in the government national programme of sustainable human development. That program has been validated at the national level and has started to be implemented.
A number of examples of structures of national machineries were given:

In Guinea there is a Ministry of Social Affairs, Women Promotion and Childhood.
In Namibia, there is a department of women's affairs in the office of the Office of the President, headed by the director general at the level of a minister. She is a Member of Parliament and sits in cabinet but, compared to ministers, she does not enjoy overall power and privileges.
In Rwanda - the national machinery is responsible for gender and women's advancement. There is then a committee of parliamentarians which ensures that gender is incorporated in policy issues.
Central African Republic has a Ministry on Women.
Zambia has a Gender Division in the Office of the President, headed by a Permanent Secretary.
South Africa has a Gender Equality Commission mandated by the constitution. There is also an Office on the Status of Women in the Office of the President . Then there are offices at the provincial level.

Obstacles

1. In many African countries, there is still a lack of political will to implement the commitments made at Dakar and Beijing. Although there has been a lot of rhetoric, it has not been followed by action even where there are national or regional mechanisms for doing so. Many African countries have ratified CEDAW and other international instruments, but have failed to integrate these into national laws.

3. In all countries, the entrenchment of patriarchy in customs, traditions, attitudes has led to an intensification of discrimination against women in all forms. As we approach the new millennium, women are confronted by more brutal forms of violence of and deprivation of their rights. The rights that have been gained are being eroded by the rise of conservatism and fundamentalism. Culture is being reinvented with a male face rather than from the perspective of gender justice. .

4. Governance: Lack of involvement of women in decision-making processes has led to further marginalization of gender issues and increased discrimination against women at all levels. Lack of democracy and good governance has led to corruption and mismanagement of resources.

5. Governments have failed to allocate resources for the implementation of the Platform for action. No budgetary allocation to national machineries, or to critical sectors such as education, health and agriculture.
Macro economic policies have been fashioned in such a way as to undermine women's social economic needs and are inconsistent with the commitments made under the Platform for Action.
NGOs have not been able to implement the Platform as effectively as they could because of the lack of resources from Government and the international community.

6. Globalization has meant the liberalization of markets, which has led to the destruction of local markets. Women's enterprises on which African communities have depended over time, have become less sustainable. The negotiations of the World Trade Organisation have not taken into account the needs of Africa and particularly those of African women.
Some of the proposals of the Bretton Woods institutions have led to policies that deny access to resources for women and consequently to the feminization of poverty in Africa. The requirement to charge user fees for basic social services has led to the denial of these services to most women since they cannot afford the fees.

Globalization has led to a situation whereby Africa's market share has shrunk further The Proposed Africa Growth and Opportunity Act is making access to the American textile market conditional on governments reducing expenditure on education and health care

7. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a major disaster for Africa and a huge obstacle to the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action. It has exacerbated the already vulnerable situation of women's health, their status, and their ability to access their socio-economic rights.

8. Recurrent conflicts and outbreak of hostilities in Africa have been one major obstacle to the implementation of the Platforms for Action. It has meant the diversion of resources towards conflicts, has brought development to a stand-still, and has led to untold suffering and serious abuse of women's rights.

9. Although the African Platform for Action requires governments to allocate resources for financing the implementation of the Platform for Action, this has not happened. Further, there has been a lack of collaboration and dialogue between governments and NGOs. There have been some limited partnerships, and governments have not systematically consulted with NGOs and civil society on the strategies for implementation of the Platforms for Action.

10. Climatic conditions have not been conducive to ensuring food security

11. Government ministries charged with gender issues suffer from acute lack of resources, both financial and human thereby becoming inefficient in their work and have had to rely on NGOs for assistance in the implementation of the Platform for Action.

12. Political affiliation by the national machineries has reduced capacities to implement the Platforms for Action

13. There are few women in leadership and decision-making positions. In most instances, even where women are represented, this is at low-level positions

14. There is a lack of commitment to support action research by national machineries. Research is viewed as an academic exercise and not of relevance to the practicalities of life. Thus there is little facilitation of efforts to collect data.

15. Gender data variables have also been criticised as too many creating resistance for its use, while conventional variables continue to be prepared.

16. There is no gender policy to determine what gender gaps should be bridged. In situations where a policy on gender exists, no specific guidelines on what specific data is required is provided.

17. There is resistance and lack of recognition of the validity of the qualitative methods of data collection. These methods have been used to seek information from non-literate people in our communities and this non-recognition affects the extent to which their needs and concerns can be addressed.

18. NGOs also lack access to adequate resources to collect relevant data. This makes it difficult to plan properly for their interventions.

19. In some situations, data exists but there is no analysis of gender to identify gaps and address them. If for instance data is collected on children as a group, policy cannot be formulated to deal with the gaps between boys and girls. New methods of data analysis are therefore required to ensure that gender differentials and inequalities of social, economic and political relationships are identified and strategies formulated to bridge the gaps.

20. The use of low technology in many of women's productive and reproductive activities limits the capacity to produce enough data for planning purposes. While recognising the potential negative impacts of the interaction of technology with social phenomena and relationships, there is a need to increase the use of technologies to enhance the productive and reproductive capacities of women as a basis for producing enough disaggregated data for enhancing the capacity to plan from a gender perspective.

21. The specific context of war-torn countries (e.g. Somali- land) raises another dimension of the problem. Everything is destroyed and the priority is usually rehabilitation. However, some organisations have started collecting data. Secondary data is very difficult to find since much of it has been destroyed through the war.

22. The secrecy surrounding information generally and statistics in particular is another obstacle. By the time statistics collected that is released, it is outdated and not relevant for planning.

Recommendations for Action

1. Women, Poverty, Food Security and Economic Empowerment

Engendering of national Budgets to ensure the equitable allocation of resources
The resolution to of the Council of Ministers to establish the African women's development Bank
More emphasis should be made on more representation of women by women in positions of decision-making.

There is need to train women in order to enhance their skills to effectively participate in economic activities. It was also stressed that we need to train trainers to continuously support their organisations and continue building capacities for these organisations

The International Community should build NGOs capacities in the South through availability of resources directly to the local level; (without prejudice to our independence)
Creation of micro-credit facilities to women should be encouraged
Engendering of National Budgets to ensure equitable allocation of resources
Necessity to enhance networking among NGOs both at the local level was stressed while at the same time, NGOs in donor countries should enhancing their networking with these local NGOs. This will enhance solidarity among NGOs in the two regions
Institutions such as the World Bank, PTA, ADB should open channels that will enhance women's access to funds.
Women should make better use of ICTs to address poverty issues.
Allow African markets to join the International market without conditions that continually marginalize them.
National development policies should be gender sensitive.
Strengthening the relationships between NGOs and government
Setting up strong women's structures through training information advice on resource mobilization.
Legislating all the conventions the promote women.
Governments should come up with programmes meant to cushion their citizens from further harm as they sign treaties - Re: SAPS that have further deteriorated the material well being of the society and especially women.

Informal sector should be supported and funds availed.
The resolution of the Council of Ministers to establish the African Women Development Bank should be implemented and the bank established as part of the implementation of the Implementation of the Beijing and African Platforms for Action. Actors in this area will be African governments, ADB and ECA

The NGOs have a task of urging our governments to take our meetings seriously.
Governments should subsidize farm inputs by reducing taxes and duty.
Governments & donors should divert funds to fight poverty rather than purchase arms and donors should support the existing structures.
Acknowledging the negative effects of globalization and its effects on fragile African economies e.g. Patenting of the Kenyan (kiondo) basket, stopping of the cheap production of HIV/AIDS drugs by South Africa, genetic engineering of seed such that local reproduction is eliminated.
Cushioning of citizens against harmful trade barriers that encourage removal of all barriers. We are therefore suggesting stronger working relationship with our governments so that we can protect our people from the adverse effects of the above-mentioned malpractice.
Our governments should ensure that, prior to any international negotiation/treaty they put in place formidable teams of experts from all sectors i.e. the private sector, civil society and NGOs.

2. Education, Training, Science and Technology

Total reform of the educational system to give life skills, functional literacy and to revise the school curriculum to include gender equality, human rights and democracy.

That not less than 20% percent of every country's budget be allocated to education, with special attention to the education of women and girls.

3. Women, Culture, the Family and Socialisation

African governments should legislate against customary laws and traditional practices that are repugnant to natural justice, and which are incompatible with the objectives of the African and Global Platforms for Action, as well as other international human rights instruments.
Governments should provide an enabling environment for NGOs that are involved in programmes to sensitise both women and men on the negative effects of discriminatory cultural practices and socialisation processes that are incompatible with the expectations of the Platforms for Action.

4. Women, Health, Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Population

All African countries are urged to remove user fees for basic health care in order to enhance women's health.
The nexus issues of discriminatory laws, cultural practices and religious attitudes and their impact on women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS must be addressed in all countries.

5. Women, the Environment and Natural Resource Management
African countries are strongly urged to make financial and human resources available for the involvement of women in environmental and natural resource management.
Governments should involve women in decision-making on programmes

6. Women's Legal And Human Rights

All governments should harmonise national laws and constitutions in line with regional and international commitments and standards, there should be no inconsistencies. All discriminatory laws and practices against women should be eradicated.

All six African countries that have not ratified CEDAW should be encouraged to do so by June 2000. Those who have ratified must show evidence of concrete steps towards implementation. All CEDAW reservations should be withdrawn, and the optional protocol to CEDAW should be ratified when it becomes open in December 1999. African countries should also adopt the Additional Protocol on the Rights of Women to the Africa Charter by the year 2001.

7. Women in Politics and Decision Making

Increased participation of women in key decision-making positions at national and regional level. Include women's participation in conflict resolutions at very senior and strategic levels, on peace missions and negotiations.

All African constitutions should have non-discriminatory clauses, including affirmative action where necessary to enable the representation of women, people with special needs and the youth. Affirmative action quotas should be raised to 50%, to reflect the true situation in our continent.

8. Women And Peace

African countries are urged to promote a culture of peace through education, awareness raising, dealing with diversity and teaching cultural and religious tolerance.
NGOs should be supported through adequate resources (human, financial and technical) in order to work on early warning mechanisms and post-conflict reconstruction processes.
All African countries are urged to endorse the West African moratorium to stop the manufacture, importation and usage of small arms in order to facilitate the promotion of a culture of peace. African countries should make the issue of landmines a priority, and programs for the clearance of landmines in the affected areas, plus care and rehabilitation of the victims needs to be supported.

9. Mainstreaming Gender Disaggregated Data

There is a need to continue the implementation of gender sensitization programmes at all levels to include new gender concepts and methods of data analysis. In this connection, government officials should be particularly targeted for gender sensitivity programmes.

NGOs must include in their action plans, programmes and activities that build their capacities to collect and analyse data using gender analysis tools. Therefore, as a matter of priority, adequate resources should be provided to support the capacity building initiatives of NGOs to collect and use their own data for planning purposes.

Some attempts have been made by NGOs and government to collect desegregated data. But the sources of information themselves had no desegregated data. Even in situations where desegregated has been done, it was difficult to identify the gender gaps. Figures and percentages are established for women on one hand, as well as for men on the other. It is possible to subtract to find the percentage of the gender gap. Therefore the information is not useful.

Questionnaires sent out to relevant organisations to seek information are usually not filled in and sent back. This affects the extent to which reliable statistical data can be obtained for planning purposes.

In most countries programmes are set up before data for implementation is collected. However some progress has been made. Example is the case of Cameroon where a new organisation has been set up to produce data for planning purposes.
Inspite of the efforts of civil society organisations to collect such data, the trend is to use government data which is often not necessarily more reliable.

10. Women, Information, Communication and Arts

Governments and NGOs should utilise both traditional media and the new communication technologies for wider dissemination of information for the empowerment of women.
Governments are urged to free the airwaves to facilitate the setting up of independent broadcasting stations that can be used for programmes of particular interest to women.

11. The Girl Child

All African Governments who have not done so, should ratify the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and to implement it in conjunction with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
All states should legislate and put in place effective mechanisms for a minimum age of 18 for marriage, which is in line with the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child

12. Institutional Mechanisms

All African governments that have not done so should institute national machineries for the advancement of women through constitutional and legislative provisions for a strong mandate that enables them to have power, resources and legitimacy.

International agreements should be translated into national policy frameworks so that institutional mechanisms are strengthened to improve women's conditions.

There is a need for training in the area of data and how to utilise it to promote gender equality. Women's NGOs need to be educated and trained in the collection of reliable data, how to interpret it and use it.
Civil society organisations have to be proactive and be more committed to collect and validate data collected through analysis of gender. For example, one NGO ZARD, is beginning to collect gender profiles in all the countries in the SADC region. Fourteen (14) countries are involved. The information collected is analysed and published under the theme of "Beyond Inequalities" with specific reference to each of the participating countries. There is a need for other regions of Africa to initiate such innovative strategies to enhance their efforts in planning from a gender perspective.

There is a need to continue the implementation of gender sensitization training programmes at all levels to include new gender concepts and methods of data analysis.In this connection, government officials should be particularly targetted for gender sensitivity programmes.
People in government at all levels should be targeted and trained in the collection and analysis of statistics using the tools of gender analysis. Officials should be trained to adopt bottom-up approaches in the collection of such for planning purposes.

NGOS must include in their action plans, programs and activities that add to the knowledge of gender statistics. Therefore as a matter of priority, adequate resources should be provided to support the capacity building initiatives of NGOs to collect and use their own data for planning purposes.

Data collected through the use of qualitative methods should be recognised and accepted as valid data by international, regional and government institutions and structures.
Gender desegregated data should be routinely desegregated on the basis of age.

NGOs should also set up mechanisms using ICTs to place data available to them on web-sites e.g. (FLAMME/FLAME) to make it available and accessible to a wider audience. Such information should also be available in other forms to reach other women that do not have access to such facilities.
NGOs should establish central points to collect information, which is then sent through their focal points. Such a system requires the strengthening of focal points to facilitate easy retrieval and dissemination of information.
Governments and UN agencies should similarly have focal points for the dissemination of data specific countries. In addition to the central points a decentralised system should be established such that each country has its own data.
There is the need to form NGO Coalitions that can have access to Internet facilities to source for data. An NGO focal point could be identified to collaborate with NGOs use of websites again FLAMME/FLAME mentioned by other groups.
Government, regional and UN bodies and bilateral institutions should provide resources at all levels to undertake research. NGOs must know they need desegregated data for their own use and must therefore take advantage of opportunities for research.
An example of good practice is the initiative o f the African Leadership Forum which is convened annually. In 1998 a study was commissioned to establish indicators and benchmarks on women's leadership positions. African women themselves initiated this. This effort by African women to define their own type of data that they need is an initiative that should be replicated in all of Africa.

Another innovative attempt is the gender analysis of the budget initiated by South Africa where the national budget is evaluated to see in figures how the national resources was being shared between women and men. This process should be adopted by other countries in Africa.