UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VISITS ECOWAS

Madam Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women conducted a working visit on 10 and 11 January 2013, at the ECOWAS Commission. During this visit, Madam Michelle Bachelet had a conversation with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo which focused on deepening cooperation between ECOWAS and UN Women in the areas of gender equality, empowerment of women and their role in the mediation process for Peace and Security in West Africa.

The Executive Director of UN Women also met with the private sector actors at the ECOWAS Commission. This meeting led by the Vice President of ECOWAS, HE Toga Gayewea McIntosh addressed several important issues such as emancipation of African women, gender equality, the role of women in nation-building and resource mobilization to support women’s initiatives in the region.

Indeed, many initiatives have been taken by the ECOWAS Commission in favor of Women. Article 63 of ECOWAS Revised Treaty on “Women and Development” provides a political provision for promotion of gender equality and improvement of women participation in the region. A regional Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and UNSCR 1820 has been adopted by the Member States. A regional network for Peace and Security has been established in West Africa. Training of women leaders in the mediation process was organized by the Centre for ECOWAS to promote gender equality. ECOWAS has contributed to the creation of ECOWAS Business Women Federation. Finally, ECOWAS has contributed to the formulation of various national policies on gender in the Member States.