In preparation towards the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW), women's rights groups are meeting to agree on presenting one voice.
The exercise is also to ensure that women organisations in West Africa engage and contribute effectively in the CSW processes, enhance their capacity to enforce policies and laws in favour of gender equality at country level and boost the capacity of the Sub- Region to effectively influence CSW outcomes and conclusions.
The two-day meeting convened by Network for Women's Right in Ghana (NETRIGHT) in collaboration with Association of African Women for Research and Development with financial support from the United Nations Entity for Gender and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), is being attended by women's organisations and groups throughout the country.
It is on the theme: "Strengthening the participation of West Africa Women’s Organisation in the CSW through partnership building between players."
Ms Akua O. Britwum of NETRIGHT said it was evident that the involvement of African women in the processes suffered from lack of a national consultation process making it impossible for a better coordination and participation of civil society.
She explained there was a clear lack of coordination framework making it impossible for African women to present a coherent and consistent voice; hence, the consultative meeting to agree on what issues to present at the next year's CSW meeting, which would be held in New York from February 27 to March 9, 2013.
The CSW is functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is the principal global policy making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women.
Every year, representatives of member states gather at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.
In Ghana, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs leads the Ghana delegation whilst the civil society groups are represented by members.
Ms Bernice Sam, Executive Director of Women in Law and Development in Africa, Ghana reiterated the need for the country to have one voice and agree on issues to be presented at the CSW meeting, saying, "the lack of one voice has caused us much in the past years and we need to correct our mistakes and make a positive impact in the coming year".
She noted that there were most times that participants who attended the CSW were not aware of government position on some gender issues to compel civil society to argue on them and lobby for better decisions to be taken to impact positively on the lives of women.
"If the foundation is weak, then, our involvement at the international level will certainly be weak as well and we need to build collaboration with the Women's Ministry to get the best of it," she added.
Mrs Afua, B. Ansre, National Programme Coordinator of UN Women urged the women to strategically position themselves in such a way that they would present issues that would give true reflection of the Ghanaian and African women.
The meeting will be discussing promotion of women's rights and gender equality in Ghana over the past decade, identifying efforts by actors in the struggle against gender- based violence, prepare a shadow report for the next CSW meeting, and review the status of women, elimination of and prevention of violence against women and girls throughout the year.