Gender Peace Building and Women in Africa

By Brenda Zulu

Published on October 31, 2004 By ICT Journalist In Internet

The WSIS Gender Caucus on Dcember 9, 2003 provided an opportunity for gender advocates and decision makers in Africa to present their perspectives on priority issues and recommendations for action.

“Africa is seen by many as a continent besieged by conflict. These conflicts have hindered Africa’s road map to economic and social development. They have exacerbated levels of poverty, illiteracy, corruption, famine, diseases and debts. There is an urgent need to empower women to participate in peace building to ensure that human security is prioritised in national policies in Africa,” said Bineta Diop, Executive Director Femmes Africa Solidarité.

To set up an E-Quality fund for Africa emerged as one of the most important issues of the Africa regional panel. Dr Laketch Dirasse, chief of the African section of UNIFEM appealed to the international community to emulate the catalytic Nordic donor’s support and make this a reality for African women.

She said that the E-Quality fund is the engine that will propel African economies from survival to stability to success and ultimate significance and influence in world economic affairs. Partnership with African diaspora ICT entrepreneurs affords an untapped resource to propel E-Quality in Africa. The programme of action developed under the guidance of the GAC will be piloted in the remaining 6 participating countries

Another issue that emerged was the need to increase the ability of the Africa voice to be heard. Diana Mercorios of ABANTU for Development and the WSIS Africa Caucus observed that many African women lacked the means to attend the preparatory meetings for the WSIS. Looking forward to post-summit activities, social justice and human development were seen as priority issues. Mercorios called on governments in Africa to implement various gender instruments. “Gender equality is crucial to Africa and Africans in order to achieve development,” she said. She urged governments to move to the idea of setting up the E-Quality development fund. Mercorios also urged more women to come on board and move from being marginalized to being active participants. “And,” she added, “it is important that the Gender Caucus be formalized as it is presently a voluntary activity.

In conclusion Yvonne Diop, the coordinator of a social development project in Senegal called Bokk Jang 2B1 remarked that the impact of social development projects is that they promote cultural respect and that women develop networking skills

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