The GREAT Inititiative - Gender Right & Equality Trust

Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, 2004 »

January 18, 2011  

In July 2004, the AU met for its Third Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the summit, the heads of state adopted the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, which affirmed the commitment of member states to the task of mainstreaming gender into the AU’s approach to health, human rights, education, economic development, governance, and peace and security. This was the first time a continental organization took ownership of gender mainstreaming at the highest level, prioritizing issues such HIV/Aids and the recruitment of child soldiers.

In ratifying the Solemn Declaration, the AU agreed to:

• expand and promote the gender parity principle to all the AU organs, and not merely the Commission;
• ensure the participation and representation of women in peace processes, including the prevention and resolution of conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction;
• accelerate the implementation of gender-specific economic, social and legal policies in order to combat the HIV/Aids epidemic;
• launch a campaign to end the recruitment of child soldiers and the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and girls;
• ensure the active promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls;
• protect the property and inheritance rights of women;
• expand the education of women and girls, particularly in rural areas

Click here to download a PDF of the full text of this key declaration.

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