Relevant Literature

NGO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE AFRICAN PLATFORM FOR ACTION

12-15 NOVEMBER 1994, DAKAR, SENEGAL

{{ Curly double brackets indicate proposed additions

<<Triangualar bracktes indicate proposed deletions

III. GLOBAL AND REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

A. Global perspective

10. In accordance with the proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly, 1975 was designated as International Women's Year (IWY), when the first intergovernmental Conference on Women was convened in Mexico City with the themes of Equality, Development and Peace. The Declaration of Mexico on the Equality of Women and their Contribution to Development and Peace and the World Plan of Action for the implementation of the objectives of International Women's Year were the major outcomes of the Conference.

11. The United Nations declared 1976-1985 as a Decade for Women to be devoted to effective and sustained national, regional} and international action to implement the World Plan of Action and related resolutions. In 1979, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Since the 1970s, all United Nations agencies have been mandated by their governing bodies to incorporate a gender perspective and gender responsible policies and plans as a priority area in their programmes. In July 1980, the second World Conference on Women was convened in Copenhagen to assess the progress made since the first World Conference and to outline actions to be taken during the second half of the Decade for Women. Three sub-themes were added to the theme of equality, development and peace, namely education, employment and health. To mark the end of the Women's Decade, the United Nations convened the third World Conference on Women in Nairobi in July 1985. The Nairobi Conference adopted the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women up to the Year 2000.

12. The gender perspective and its incorporation in all policy decisions is of paramount importance in engendering equality, development and peace. Overall, many governments have globally adopted strategies for the enhancement of women's status and skills, their mainstreaming and their involvement in key decision making. However, what is still lacking is the total political commitment and the necessary resource allocation without which the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies will remain unfulfilled aspirations.

13. Governments throughout the world should demonstrate their full commitment to the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies through concrete allocation of resources for the implementation of these Strategies, accompanied by concerted efforts to develop basic institutional and human resource capacities to facilitate the attainment of the stated objectives.

14. Since the adoption of Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women in 1985, major political, economic, social and cultural changes have taken place. These have had both positive and negative effects on women and it is against the backdrop of the impact of these global changes on the African region that this Platform for Action has been formulated.

15. The expectations for greater global security and a just, equitable and non-discriminatory international economic order have not been realized. In addition, financial institutions and new world trade arrangements have assumed larger roles in global affairs and have failed to halt the economic decline in many African countries. There has been a reduction in external assistance flow and the depressed demand for African primary commodities have significantly reduced export earnings. In addition, the heavy debt burden has exacerbated the already depressed economic situation {{including the negative impact of SAPs on the lives of women.}} Regrettably, the interdependent world economy continues to be marked by uncertainty, imbalance, recessions and eventually this has led to the continuing marginalization of developing countries. Numerous interrelated global factors therefore impinge on the lives of women in Africa, affecting both their productive and reproductive roles. The emergence of the political democratization process has ushered in competitive multi-party system whose impact on women is yet to be assessed.

B. Regional perspective

16. The first Regional Conference on the Implementation of National, Regional and World Plans of Action for the integration of Women in Development was held in Nouakchott, Mauritania in 1977.

The main purpose of that Conference was to review progress made by African member States and by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations operating in Africa in the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action adopted at the World Conference on Women in Mexico City in 1975. In line with the decisions taken at this Conference, the second Regional Conference for the Integration of Women in Development was held in Lusaka, Zambia in 1979. The main purpose of that Conference was to review the progress made and constraints which hindered the achievement of objectives as stipulated in the World and African Plans of Action for the Integration of Women in Development and to draw up programmes and strategies as well as to prepare for the second World Conference on Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, in July 1980. The third Regional Conference on Women was held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania in 1984. This Conference was also the preparatory meeting for the Nairobi World Conference on Women in 1985. The objectives of that Conference were to review and appraise progress achieved and obstacles encountered in attaining the goals for women; to adopt forward-looking strategies for the advancement of women in Africa to the year 2000; and to arrive at a common African position for the forthcoming Nairobi World Conference on Women. The main outcome of the Conference was the adoption of the Arusha Strategies for the Advancement of African Women beyond the United Nations Decade for Women. The meeting further called for a regional review and appraisal of the United Nations Women's Decade in the area of women's equality, advancement and integration in the African region. In 1986, the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development, 1986-199Q (UN-PAAERD), was adopted, while in 1989, the ECA Conference of Ministers considered a document on the "Changing socio-economic conditions in Africa in the context of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies".

17. The fourth Regional Conference on Women and on the implementation of the Arusha Strategies was held in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 1989. This was in accordance with ECA Conference of Ministers resolution 365 (XIV), adopted in March 1979 in Rabat, Morocco, which endorsed the recommendation that ECA should convene a Regional Conference on the Integration of Women in Development every three years. The objectives of the Conference were to provide a forum for a thorough review and assessment of the extent of implementation of the Arusha Strategies by governments, United Nations bodies, NGOs, etc., to consider emerging socio-economic problems that are affecting the lives of African women, and to reassess the priorities stated in the Arusha Strategies and make appropriate recommendations for the future. The outcome of this Conference was the Abuja Declaration on Participatory Development: The Role of Women 2000 in the areas of education, science and technology, agriculture and food production, environment, decision making and mainstreaming, population issues, women and culture, etc.

18. Other regional milestones that have impacted upon the political, socio-economic and cultural status of women in Africa have included, inter alia:

(a) The Lagos Plan of Action and Final Act of Lagos (1980);

(b) The Kilimanjaro Programme of Action on Population and Self-Reliant Development (1984);

(d) The Ouagadougou Declaration on the Education of Girls (1990): (e) The Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (1991);

(f) The Dakar/Ngor Declaration on Population, Family and Sustainable Development (1992);

(g) The Regional Conference on Women and Peace, and the Kampala Action Plan on Women and Peace (1993) which was adopted by the Council of Ministers of OAU at its sixtieth session held in Tunis in June 1994;

(h) Resolution CM/Res. 1550 (LX) on the preparation of the fourth World Conference on Women adopted by the Council of Ministers of

OAU at its sixtieth session held in Tunis in June 1994; (i) Resolution CM/Res. 1551 (LX) on population and development adopted by the Council of Ministers of OAU in July 1994.

19. In most of Africa, drought, disruptions from civil wars and political conflicts have contributed to the depressed economic activity and growth resulting in low per capita incomes. As a result, more countries have been pushed into the least developed country (LDC) category with extremely low income levels. Economic growth has also been constrained by external debt which at the end of 1993 stood at $US 285.4 billion, with interest on arrears representing nearly 40 per cent. The debt structure has hardly changed over the last five years. The impact on economic growth has been mixed due to the inadequacy of external support and internal conflicts which have derailed the attainment of these objectives, resulting in their failure to reflect long-term development goals and the neglect of regional planning. This has adversely affected income levels and distribution and the capacity to deliver basic services.

20. These recurrent crises have affected the tempo and level of all economic development of Africa. Women more than men tend to bear the disproportionate burden of such crises, and they become greatly disadvantaged in participating effectively in any development ventures because of other compounding traditional, cultural, religious and attitudinal constraints. Women, who make up more than 50 per cent of the populations affected by these crises, must contribute effectively to solving the numerous problems posed by these adverse conditions.

21. Early indications of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations which were finally concluded in January 1994 are that it will have limited immediate effects on Africa's economic performance, depending on the region's ability to manage change and optimize technology for more efficient use of factors of production in an effort to raise its competitive status in international markets. It is also likely that agricultural subsidies will increase the food import bills of African countries. This will greatly affect the socio-economic status of women because of their total involvement with agricultural sector activities. The emergence of trade blocs and regional markets such as the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) {{and the Genaral Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT)}} could also make it more difficult for the African region to maintain its traditional relationships with its European partners for much-needed resources. {{There is a concern about the implications of GATT's provision which make it difficult for local and export products from horticulture, textiles and garments, fishing industry to compete in the global markets.}}

22. Economic decline, recession and the resultant economic restructuring in the face of external debt have led governments to focus on the more pressing and immediate problems often to the neglect of longer term issues that have direct bearing on the advancement of women. At the same time, pre-existing conditions of inequality between men and women, inter alia, in health and nutrition, levels of literacy and training, access to education and economic opportunity, and in participation in decision making, have sometimes been exacerbated both by the crises and by the policies adopted to cope with them. In other words, such policies have compounded further the already disadvantaged situation of the women. The policies do not effectively address the impact of restructuring on women and their multiple roles. This Platform for Action is expounding a comprehensive and attainable agenda for human and social development centred on women.

23. There is a democratization process sweeping the whole continent and women have been active participants as candidates for election, as voters and as observers of the election process in many countries. A good number of women have entered parliament through their own efforts, affirmative action and through the support of women and men, women's groups, non-governmental associations and organizations of women. Unfortunately, the number of African countries in political crisis and turmoil is on the increase with many such cases manifesting themselves in the form of disputes over election results, cancellation of election results and abrupt cancellation of the democratization process. In addition, African Governments have yet to undertake comprehensive and concrete steps to promote pragmatically the integration of women as equal partners, particularly in politics, in popular participation and in key decision making. There is need therefore to monitor the impact of democratization on women locally and nationally and to ensure that there are provisions for women's education and sensitization for more effective political participation.

24. Despite the commemoration of the International Year of the Family; (IYF) in May 1994, the integrity of the African family {life} is being seriously undermined by persistent socio-economic crises. {{There is massive increase in}} <<The recent and unprecedented >> rural-urban migration, {{precipitated by the lack of land reforms and development of rural infrastructure. The majority of the}} <<consisting mostly of >> young men and women, has severely affected the socio-psychological and financial security of many families. {{Consequently, there is an increase in crime and violence, drug abuse, homelessness, slum conditions, sexual exploitation of women, young girls and boys}}. In many African rural and urban communities, the number of households headed by single women has steadily increased to a regional average of around 35 per cent {{increase in their burden.}}

25. The unprecedented increase in the number of refugees and displaced persons in the region is one of the major consequences of the protracted internal strife, civil wars and political instability in many countries of the region. According to UNHCR, the current refugee population in Africa is estimated at 7 million out of a world total of 20 million and there are also 25 million internally displaced persons, most of whom are women and children.

{{Women form a large percentage of refugees and displaced persons in the continent. Refuge and displaced women are particularly vulnerable and special attention should be paid to their protection needs. But they also represent a useful resource whose potential should be tapped in the search for durable solutions to the refugee problems. The refugee women' and girls' access to health, education and shelter should not be affected as a result of their need to flee from the areas of conflict.}}

26. Worldwide, AIDS is a social, economic and political issue as well as a medical one. Africa is in the front line of the worldwide epidemic. The full dimensions of the epidemic in the region are still uncertain but it is already a grave problem in many countries in East, Central and Southern Africa. With regard to women, according to WHO, the number of HIV infections among women in Africa outnumber men by six to five, and more than 4 million women of child-bearing age have been infected. One out of every three pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in some major African urban centres is infected. The economic and social consequences of AIDS affect women the most with serious repercussions on the elderly women who are left to care for orphans when they are least capable. The subordinate position of women and their lack of access to education, health facilities, training, independent income, property and legal rights make them particularly vulnerable to the AIDS infection. They lack knowledge about the disease and the measures that have to be taken to protect themselves against HIV infection.

27. During the last decade, African Governments have undoubtedly shown an increasing tendency to see the political and socio-economic participation of women as a key factor and catalyst in the processes and linkages that engender and encourage equality.

development and peace for the accelerated advancement of women. In this respect, almost all governments have established and given support to national machineries to discharge their responsibilities of coordinating and monitoring the incorporation of the gender perspective in overall national development activities. In addition, most African countries have enacted legislation against discriminatory practices with regard to education, employment as well as legislation in favour of paid maternity leave for women.

28. Overall therefore, despite regional and individual efforts made by member States and the international community {{and local and national NGOs}} to improve the status of African women, only modest progress has been made and critical gaps still exist in several areas. The more glaring gaps are in relation to, inter alia, gender disparity in access to education and health; under-representation in the higher political and decision-making levels; inadequacy of national machineries, policy and programmes for the enrichment of the women's cause; lack of disaggregated data; de jure and de facto discrimination with respect to marital and family status; lack of awareness on the part of both women and men regarding the issue of women's legal and human rights; and lack of understanding of the legal and administrative systems and mechanisms for redress. A more detailed analysis of these gaps is given in the following section.