Plea for a future respecting gender equality
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Mr. Aboubakri Diaw, Chief of Staff and Head of the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), made a plea on Monday in Kampala for an Africa where respect for gender equality becomes a priority for sustainable development.
He was addressing the Gender Forum preceding the eleventh session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (FRADD-11).
“Take a moment to imagine an Africa where every woman has the same access to opportunities, technology and leadership as her male counterpart. This is not just a dream, it is an economic imperative.” said Mr. Diaw.
He stressed that by remaining united, Africa was capable of creating a future where gender equality was not just a promise, but a lived experience, rooted in dignity, empathy and shared humanity.
“A future where every girl feels important, every woman knows she has a place, and every boy grows up understanding the power of equality and respect.”
“Gender equality is not just a goal. It is the very foundation of social and economic transformation. Integrating gender equality into digital innovation, healthcare infrastructure and data systems is not an option; it is essential.
"By giving women access to technologies, we liberate entrepreneurship, market participation and innovation. Investing in healthcare infrastructure frees up time and talent.
"What about gender-disaggregated data? They reveal the invisible, enabling policies to serve those they often neglect. Combined, these elements become a force multiplier for inclusive growth,” he declared.
The AfDB and ECA's Africa Gender Index 2023 stands at just 50.3%, he recalled, pointing out that this is a stark reminder that the continent is only halfway there, halfway to equality, halfway to opportunity, halfway to empowerment.
‘If we do not reinvigorate our efforts, Africa risks delaying the dream of SDGs 5 by another 65 years, pushing the target back to 2094. This is unacceptable. “We need to change gear. We need to accelerate progress, because time is running out,” Mr. Diaw hammered home.
With only five years to go until 2030 - the deadline for the SDGs - Africa needs to pause, reflect and rethink its strategies.
For the UN official, this is not about small steps forward, it is about transformation, about aligning actions with aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063, while creating decent jobs and inclusive prosperity.
While undeniable progress has been made, including a decline in child marriage, more women in leadership positions, and more girls completing secondary education, there is still a long way to go, with too many women and girls still facing systematic barriers - to work, to land, to leadership and to capital.
“Think about it: women earn less. Own less. Lead less. And yet they take on more. More responsibility. More burdens. More resilience. They earn 21% less than men. They own less than 20% of farmland. They enjoy only around three quarters of the rights accorded to men. These inequalities are not just holding women back, they are holding us all back,” lamented Mr. Diaw, calling for accelerated gender-responsive job creation and inclusive economic growth to unlock the full potential of African women and girls.
The Gender Forum is being held as a prelude to the eleventh session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (FRADD-11), scheduled for 9 to 11 April in Kampala.
-0- PANA IT/IS/BBA/RA 8April2025
