Top Africa Women Conference has opened in Addis Ababa Ethiopia with a call on African Nations to promote gender inclusion for the development of the continent.
Declaring the conference open , Minister of Women and Social Affairs in Ethiopia Dr. Ergoge Tesfaye while calling for enhanced unity, support and Cooperation for accelerated development, challenged governments to enforce instruments which will enhance equal rights for women and girls on the continent of Africa.
“… collectively we need to scale up initiatives within the framework of the African Continental Free trade to ensure that women fully benefit from Continental Free trade economy”. Tesfaye said.
In a welcome address, Co-convener of the conference Dr. Jummai Ahmadu said The conference is a platform for engaging in conversations to set the agenda for the next phase of women’s empowerment in Africa as it addresses key issues, challenges, and opportunities related to women’s empowerment, with the goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
‘’ The main focus of the AWC is to bring together experts, institutions, and individuals from different sectors of the African economy and beyond to brainstorm on issues of inclusion, equity, equality and empowerment to Provide platform, knowledge sharing, gender equality, to facilitate collaboration among government and a total well being for women addressing key issues, partnership, engaging in conversations, creativity, facing challenges, interact in sharing ideas and to have access on learning’’ Ahmadu added.
Strengthen advocacy
The Chairman, Senate Committe on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Senator Mohammed Tahir Munguno While admonishing participants to embrace the audrous task of nation building, called on civil society organisations to strengthen advocacy proficiency to hold government accountable through massive sensitization to ensure that women and girls are aware of the existing legislations enacted to protect them.
“No one should be discriminated upon by reasons of his or her sex, religion, ethnicity, political opinion or the circumstances of his or her birth. Therefore, any act to the contrary is considered and aberration to the constitution.” Munguno said.
He further pledged the commitment of the 10th Senate to advancing legislation that will guarantee all inclusive protection of the rights of women and girls as well as taking legislative steps to strengthen existing legal instruments to frontally address the dynamic of gender inclusion, economically, socially and politically.
Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian steel PLC, Bhavesh chandaria in a presentation charged African women to support one noting that it would be an iniquity if the challenge of women getting a raw deal in the next 30 years is not fixed.
“When we test women it should be in the spirit of guru and coach to see her succeed rather than than like a jury where we subject a woman to the test with an intent to her fail. Anything can be done in one and a half generation, in 2053 we should not have a conference called women conference, women need to assert and drive the change by two narratives and two behaviours; as a voter you need to keep questioning if the party I support has a women agenda? Women, as consumers should adopt the service and products of companies who are demonstrating women care, women affinity, women friendly policies and practices in spirit and letter. ” Chandaria asserted.
In a goodwill message, the Federal Capital Territory Administration Mandate Secretary, Women and Children Affairs Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi reminded attendees that as Africans with a strong power of association, the goal is to positively leverage on the dynamic of our colour, religion,culture by celebrating who we are.
”Our DNA is not about poverty it is about new creation, additionally, networking with each other and facing challenges from our diversity. what is truly Africa is to bring a new continent.” Benjamins-Laniyi said.
In her Keynote Address, Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, chairperson United Africa Group, Namibia pointed out that it is crucial to create platformthat encouraand facilitate women’s active participation in politics, ensuring that their voices are heard and their talents utilized.
“By fostering collaboration betwren governments, businesses and civil society, we can harness collective wisdom and resources to address the most pressing issues of our time. Together we can create policies and initiatives that support women in Leadership, breaking the glass ceiling that has hindered progress for far too long.” Namundjebo-Tilahun asserted.
Woman Leader of the All Progressive Congress Mrs. Mary Idele Alile in a remark
Said women must defy challenges cutting across culture, religion and societal norms to change the narratives. She urged participants to promote the voices of great women that are breaking the glass ceilings by educating and supporting works of women agenda.
The Africa Women Conference with the theme Reviewing The Economic, Social and Political Inclusionof Women and Girls in Africa’s Development Agenda holding in Adis Ababa Ethiopia is the 7th edition.
The conference which provides a platform for stimulating conversations to address key issues, challenges and opportunities relating to women’s empowerment, with the goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable society, is an initiative of a Non Governmental Organisation Helpline Foundation for the Needy, in partnership with other development stakeholders
