25 August 2008
A joint United Nations and African Union (AU) gathering to address gender equality and the advancement of women on the continent kicked off today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dozens of experts from gender ministries, representatives of regional groups and UN agencies, and journalists are attending the two-day expert segment of the Conference of Ministers of Gender and Women's Affairs which began today, while more than 25 government ministers are expected to take part in the Ministerial portion to take place on 28-29 August.
The event is a collaboration between the Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the AU Commission and the African Centre for Gender and Social Development of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
Participants' discussions will focus on the adoption of the AU Gender Policy, a coherent strategy to promote gender equality and the advancement of women.
"The pressing nature of the development challenges facing Africa including gender inequality made necessary for our continental institutions and other development partners to collaborate in order to harness resources, ensure coherence and avoid duplication," Thokozile Ruzvidzo of UNECA said in her address to experts today.
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