Women Storm Abuja, Want Gender Issues On AU Agenda - Interview

January 30, 2005 - (Vanguard - Lagos) TOP on the African Summit of the Presidents due to start today in Abuja would be such issues as health, food security and environmental degradation. But a coalition of 19 women's groups under the banner of Solidarity for African Women Rights are in the Federal Capital City saying issues of women's rights also need to be highlighted.

In an interview with BBC, a member of the coalition - Ms Mary Wandia - of the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) - expatiated on why it was necessary to have women-related issues to be high on the agenda of the Abuja meeting of African leaders on the New Partnership Initiative for African Development (NEPAD). Excerpts:

Our main message is that we need to see a demonstration of African leaders' commitment to women's rights and a commitment to their words; that when they promise that they want to ratify the women's protocol to ensure that it comes into force they mean what they say. For now they have not done that. We're waiting for the action.

And what do you think is causing the delay? Some 20 African countries have not signed and ratified the African Women's Protocol . . .

It depends on the particular countries. For some countries, it's the lack of political will, and for others, it's the process of ratification, which takes a long time.

Why is it so important for these women's needs to come into force?

Women's rights are human rights and we're saying human rights cannot be postponed. African women constitute more than half of the continent's population. So, you can also not ignore half the population. We know that the enjoyment of women's rights is critical to even men's advancement. So, we're saying - men, women, boys and girls - want to advance together in this continent.

What, specifically, are the issues around women's rights and do you see their fitting into the A.U. agenda?

Women's issues cover all sectors of our society - be it HIV/AIDS, food security etc.; they are at the core of women issues today. We know that when it comes to HIV/AIDS, women are disproportionately affected in Africa. In terms of food security, we know whom the managers of food are in the continent. We know that when you don't give women the means to ensure that we have food security for the families and the communities, the agenda they (African leaders) are going to discuss will not bear any result - if we do not have the concerns of women at the fore-front.

Meanwhile, President Olusegun Obasanjo has approved Peugeot vehicles as the official carrier of the Heads of State and dignitaries who are attending the African Union (AU) Summit, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Research and Liaison), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar. Umar, who is also the Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN), Kaduna, disclosed that Obasanjo had directed that PAN should provide to the organizers of the Summit 160 units of Peugeot vehicles to convey delegates to the Summit.

Umar's statement issued weekend in Abuja and signed by his spokesperson, Mr. Tunde Martins, said that the directive was based on the recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200501310344.html