Organistion of African Unity (OAU)
African Platform for Action: African Common Position for the Advancement of Women, Adopted at the Fifth African Regional Conference on Women
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: OAU, 1994

The African Platform for Action is a synthesis of regional perspectives and priorities as well as a framework for action for the formulation of policies and implementation of concrete and sustainable programmes for the advancement of women. It is developed in consonance with the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies, the Abuja Declaration and the Kampala Action Plan.

Keywords: Equal Rights; Gender; Human Rights
Source: Organisation of African Unity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Gender and Economic Reforms in Africa Program: a System in Peril
Ottawa, Canada: North-South Institute, 1999

Looks at gender insensitive economic policies and develops effective strategies leading to economic justice and social and political emancipation for African women.

Keywords: Gender; Development
Source: North-South Institute, Ottawa, Canada

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Fifth African Regional Conference On Women 16-23 November 1994
Dakar, Senegal (Vol. 2 Conference Papers on Priority Issues. Part III: Economic Empowerment of Women)

The principal objective of this paper is to examine some of the most salient gender issues as they relate to some of the macro economic policies currently affecting women's lives in Africa. Covers structural adjustment programmes and their gender implications.

Keywords: Women; Affirmative Action
Source: United Nations Economic Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

UNFPA/CST
Operationalising Advocacy as a Thematic Area: Experiences and Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: UNFPA/CST, 1997

The UNFPA post-International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) instituted Advocacy as a thematic area, along with Reproductive Health (RH) and Population and Development Strategies (PDS). Advocacy is conceived to play three roles, i.e. to foster a favourable climate for the implementation of national RH and PDS programmes; to promote issues that impact directly or indirectly on population but are not covered by core RH and PDS interventions and to raise the profile of the population domain and its main actors at global and national levels.

Keywords: Population; Policy
Source: UNFPA, P.O. Box 4775, Harare, Zimbabwe.

UNESCO
Women and Economic Policies in Africa
New York: UNICEF, 1994

Too old for toys, too young for marriage and childbirth, the adolescent girl often falls between the cracks of her family understanding, her community's support and her governments programme. The study reveals that an adolescent who is compelled to marry or forced into early sexual activity finds her childhood snatched away, replaced by burdensome work and premature responsibilities. She often pays harsh personal costs in terms of her health, well-being and earning capacity.

Keywords: Economy; Policies
Source: UNICEF, Programme Publications, 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA.
Email:unicef@unicef.co.zw

UNESCO
Women and the Democratization Process in Africa
Windhoek, Namibia: UNESCO, 1994

Calls for more women in policy-making and for placing gender issues onto mainsteam policy agendas. Also looks at a strategy for humanizing and consolidating democracy.

Keywords: Democracy; Equality; Liberation Movements
Source: UNESCO, P.O. Box HG 435, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Email:unesco@ure.unesco.co.zw

Williams, Paula J
Women's Participation in Forestry Activities in Africa Project ΠSummary and Policy Recommendations
Nairobi, Kenya: Environmental Liaison Center International, September 1992

A collection of case studies that examine constraints to women's participation in forestry activities and strategies used to overcome those constraints. Constraints include limited mobility, restricted land and tree-tenure rights, limited education and training, lack of money and income-generating opportunities, women's inadequate access to resources, women's heavy workloads, lack of labour and lack of adequate organisation and groups to work with women.

Keywords: Environment; Education
Source: Environmental Liaison Centre International. P.O. Box 72461, Nairobi.
Email:undp.org