REPORT OF THE FEDERAL
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AU
SOLEMN DECLARATION ON GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA
Like many African countries, the majority of women
in Ethiopia hold low status in the society. They have been denied
equal access to education, training and gainful employment opportunities
and their involvement in policy formulation and decision-making
processes has been minimal. Women play a vital role in the community
by taking care of all social activities. However, they do not
enjoy the fruits of their labor and suffer from political, economical,
social and cultural marginalization.
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LESOTHO : AFRICAN UNION
SOLEMN DECLARATION ON GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA
The Sesotho culture is based on
a patriarchal ideology whereby one’s identity is traced
through one’s paternal lineage and descent. Some aspects
of this culture have been incorporated into customary law that
places women under the perpetual custody and protection of men.
A number of customs and practices have evolved which give men
more decision-making powers and the position of the heads of households.
A woman who is married in community of property owns half of the
joint estate, but the whole estate is administered by the husband
who is at liberty to do as he pleases with it even if it means
to dispose of it, alienate or donate it to whoever he likes, without
consulting the wife. Due to the changing socio-economic circumstances,
it is evident that such practices should be revisited as they
can be used to perpetuate gender-based violence and restrict many
women from carrying on with important tasks in their lives.
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MAURITIUS COUNTRY REPORT ON THE AU SOLEMN
DECLARATION ON GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA .
The island of Mauritius has an
area of 1,865 km2 and is situated in the south west Indian Ocean
slightly over the tropic of Capricorn in latitude 200 South and
longitude 570 East of Greenwich. It is 2000 km off the east coast
of Africa and some 855 km east of Madagascar and it is almost
entirely surrounded by coral reefs.
The Republic of Mauritius
includes the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, St. Brandon and
Agalega. As at 31st December 2005, the total population of the
Republic of Mauritius was estimated at 1,248,592:1,211,308 in
the island of Mauritius and 36,995 in Rodrigues.
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NAMIBIA’S COUNTRY REPORT ON THE AFRICAN
UNION SOLEMN DECLARATION ON GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA
Namibia, like many other African
countries has a history of gender inequalities, be it economic,
social, cultural or political. It is from this experience that
the Namibian Government decided to adopt the African Union Solemn
Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa at the 3rd Ordinary Session
of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government in July 2004
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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SOUTH AFRICA’S REPORT TO THE AU SECRETARIAT
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AU HEADS OF STATES’ SOLEMN DECLARATION
ON GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA
The African Union (AU) Solemn
Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa was adopted by the Heads
of State of the AU in July 2004. Operative paragraph 12 of the
Declaration commits the Heads of State to report annually on progress
made in gender mainstreaming and to support and champion all issues
raised in the Declaration, both at the national and regional levels.
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