Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) 19th Pre-Summit

Mary Robinson today addressed the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) 19th Pre–Summit Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mary Robinson addressed on Wednesday 25 January the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) 19th Pre–Summit Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The meeting is addressing the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, adopted in July 2004 by the African Union and will discuss the theme of the upcoming Africa Union Summit, ‘Boosting Intra-African Trade’, and the issue of climate change and climate justice.

The overall objective of the meeting is to link the gender mainstreaming strategies on the African continent with the on-going struggles on the social, economic and political front, examine their impact on the efforts to promote intra African trade, and make recommendations to the AU Heads of State Summit. Participants include representatives from the 55 civil society organisations that form the GIMAC network.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the meeting, Mary Robinson said: “Climate change is a complex, multifaceted problem and it hits the poorest countries and people hardest. I know that this is not news to this audience, as it is African communities in particular who are at the forefront of the challenges that climate change is exacerbating.”

Mrs Robinson discussed the issue of women’s leadership and said: “if we are to find effective solutions to climate change, then we have to include all of those who can make a difference. Ignoring or undervaluing the contribution of women restricts the potential for innovation and our capacity to act.”

She said during COP17 she had worked with an “inspiring” set of women leaders to highlight the issue, including Bineta Diop of Femmes Africa Solidarité and President of COP17 and Minister for International Relations and Co-Operation, South Africa, Maite Nkoana Mashabane.