Affirmative action urged to promote women's interests

Publié: 23 Juillet 2007
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UNI-Africa women in action



Guest of honour, Fatou Sow Sar, addressing the Women's meeting

 THE UNI-Africa Executive Committee that met in Dakar, Senegal from 10 – 11 July heard that women and young workers are a majority both in national populations and at workplaces and that affirmative action should be encouraged to reflect their representation in all spheres of life

Women representation at parliamentary level stands at 19 per cent in Africa.

The meeting heard that Niger has adopted a law that demands for a quarter of women and youth representation in all spheres of national development.

In Zambia, women in the financial union (ZUFIAW) are competing favorably with men after nearly 20 years of trying to bring women into unions.

The Executive Committee also praised the Women’s Committee for the quality debates in their meetings. Members of the women’s Committee were also urged to reach out to fellow women across Africa and active their participation in all spheres of life.

According to the report of the Women's Committee that met in Dakar on 9 July, the women agreed to:

• prioritise education and the development of women as leaders;

• lobby for increased representation in union structures;

• promote succession plans that do not pull down but help women;

• and start mentoring programmes for young women in unions.