As countries in the rest of the world prepare for the 10th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in 1995 in Beijing, China, southern Africa is intensifying efforts to accelerate its implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA).

A southern African Sub-Regional Meeting for the decade review of the BPFA was held in Lusaka, Zambia, from 26 to 28 April 2004, followed by a meeting of Ministers of Gender/Women’s Affairs on 29 April. These meetings were organised by the southern African regional office of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

With financial support from the southern African regional offices of the Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (HIVOs) and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), a working session to enhance participation of non-government organisations (NGOs) that promote women’s empowerment and gender justice, was convened on 25 April 2004.

The Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) programme on Women in Development Southern Africa Awareness (WIDSAA) convened the NGO working session, in collaboration with the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC), the umbrella body of gender and development-oriented NGOs in Zambia to strategise for a consolidated input to the meetings from 26 to 29 April.

The main constraints and challenges encountered in implementing the 12 critical areas outlined in BPFA as obstacles to the advancement and wellbeing of women were reviewed in both the NGO working session and the main meeting. The 12 critical areas of concern are:

• Women and Poverty;
• Education and Training of Women;
• Women and Health;
• Violence Against Women;
• Women and Armed Conflict;
• Women and the Economy;
• Women in Power and Decision-Making;
• Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women;
• Human Rights of Women;
• Women and the Media;
• Women and the Environment; and
• Girl-child.