A four-day regional consultative meeting on women’s and children’s rights organised by ECOWAS Gender Development in collaboration with UNIFEM and the Association of African Women Lawyers, is underway at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

The meeting which brought together representatives from eight different countries within the sub-region is aimed among other endeavours to reinforce the commitment of West African lawyers, to work and advocate for good governance, the involvement of African women and girls in the decision-making process and their access to resources.

The theme of the meeting is ‘Enforcement and Promotion of Women and Children’s rights: Which Approach for Africa’.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, Dr. Ajaratou Isatou Njie Saidy, described the meeting as timely and relevant. She added that the meeting will provide the opportunity for participants, to reflect and dialogue on key legal issues affecting women, build capacity for women as well as develop modalities as to how West African lawyers, can actively contribute towards the harmonization of the national gender policies of ECOWAS member states.

“Having due cognisance of the pivotal role which the African Women Lawyers Association is playing in this important Regional Consultative meeting on women’s and people’s rights, I will strongly advise that, while you are presently in The Gambia, you seize the golden opportunity to contact and interract with female lawyers of The Gambia Bar Association, with a view to involving them in your framework,” Vice president Njie –Saidy said.

In his welcome remarks, Madam Aminata Dibba, Acting Director ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, said the ECOWAS gender centre which is a multipurpose institution is charged with the responsibility of building capacity through training, transfer of skills and technical support to member states, Civil Society, and the private sector to mainstream gender in the regional integration process.

He commended UNIFEM for its input in making this regional consultative meeting a success and for providing financial support.