The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has held its 12th Conference in Midrand, South Africa.
A delegation of the network of Panafrican Women Journalists which is composed of 200 women journalists from the 54 African countries was invited for the first time to the conference to throw light on the objectives and works of the movement and especially on their work on migration and the displaced in Africa.
The Senior Editor-in-Chief of Radio 2M in Morocco, Madame Fathia Elaoum, the leader of the delegation, threw more light on the values and objectives of the network as well as the action plan for 2019 which dwelt on different aspects of migration. She also called on African countries to support members of the network as they go about their duties to help break prejudices and highlight the ills of society.
The conference discussed the rights of women as well as the issues of migration, refugees and displaced persons.
The participants expressed regret at the fact that women bear much more of the burden of poverty because of their limited access to decision-making, finances and means of production. They urged member states to include the concerns of displaced persons on the agenda of the African Union Peace and Security Council, regional economic communities and relevant bodies.
They also invited member states of the African Union to strengthen mediation and peace-building mechanisms, including the full participation of women in all peace-building activities and processes. Member states of the Pan-African Parliament were encouraged to adopt an inclusive approach and to promote the participation of women. They requested the African Union member states to provide access to business information, services, finance, ICT and market opportunities for women.
As regards the Decade of African Women 2010/2020, members of the African Union were urged to sign, ratify and incorporate in their national legislation the AU legal instruments on women's rights.
The media was also urged to lead the campaign for a change of discourse on African women's rights through advocacy, promotion of laws, policies and good practices.