Out of 53 members states of the African Union only 26 submitted reports on the Solemn Declaration. Among those who have submitted were Ghana , Mali, Ivory cost ,

South Africa, Nambia  and Senegal , madam Jeanne Flora Kayites, programme officer , women’s right(AUC) African Union commission , gender directorates was delivering a paper at a workshop on human rights education for west Africa in Banjul The Gambia.

Kayitesi , speaking on the second day of the  workshop on 15 April 2008, told participants that AU solemn declaration on gender equality in Africa is facing problems of submitting reports . At the AU level letters were sending to African leaders and also regional workshops were held for parliamentarian so that they can act as advocate but to submit their reports.

The commission of the African Union , in collaboration  with the African Commission on human and People’s Rights and Economic Commission for Africa , organize a workshop on women’s rights through  education , from 14^th -16^th  April 2008, in Banjul , The Gambia.

There is an  international consensus that human rights education makes a fundamental contribution to the  realization of human rights .Human rights education aims  at developing a common understanding of the responsibility to make human rights a reality in every community and society at large .

 On 10 December 2004, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the World Programme for Human Rights Education (WPHRE), which began on 1^st January 2005, with first phase running from 2005-2007. This programme is a follow –up to the United Nations Decade for human rights education which ran from 1995 to 2004.

The regional decade review of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action (7^th regional Conference o Women , Addis Ababa, October 2004), highlighted progress made in the last ten years in a addressing the human rights of women . The country reports noted that the legal framework for gender equality has been strengthened in many countries, by ensuring that de jure equality for women is institutional frameworks. Constitutions in many countries now include provisions guaranteeing equality between men and women. New laws have been adopted to bring civil, penal and family provisions into conformity with the Convention on the elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women.

At the Continental level , the Heads of States and Government Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa enshrine  numerous commitments of African leaders to the protection of the rights of women and girls , to gender equality and to women’s empowerments in all sector.

Measures protecting women against violence especially domestic violence are in place in several countries . However , the Regional Review indicated that despite these successes , the Beijing and Dakar Platforms for Action remain far from being fully achieved . Attitudes towards gender equality and empowerment of women among the general public have not changed at the same peace as policy, legal and institutional frameworks. In some countries discrimination in legislation continues to deprive women of their human rights in all spheres.          The coexistence of multiple legal systems remains a source of great concern, especially as they relate to customary and religious laws governing personal status and private life. Women continue to experience discrimination and are disadvantaged in owing and inheriting property, as well as in having access to economic resources and social services. In addition, they face different kinds of  violence , which inhibit them from fully  exercising and enjoying their human rights. In all countries , women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuses, whether in public or in their private life. Discriminatory social norms, violence and men continue to be major obstacles to the fulfillment of women’s human rights  in most African countries.

A number of strategies have been formulated to address the large gap between de jure and Dakar Platforms for action and most international and regional instruments pay attention to the role of education in promoting women’s rights . “Provision of human rights education is essential for promoting an understanding of the rights of women, including knowledge of recourse mechanisms to redress violation of their rights”(Beijing Platform for Action, Para.227). Schools are widely recognized as important sites for learning about gender equality, and education and can be a key for change towards a gender equality culture. Human  rights education and gender sensitization at all levels are a critical dimension of a rights-based approach. In many countries , there have also been sustained efforts to promote gender equality in the curricula .

The promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality, is an integral  part of the African Union Constitutive Act and the African Union has adopted various instruments , declarations and decisions on human rights. In particular , the Constitutive Act provides for promotion and protection of human rights accordance with the African charter on Human and People’s Rights and other relevant human rights instruments Act 3(h) . The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa provides for States parties to take specific position action to promote literacy among women; education and training for women at all levels ad in all discipline particularly in the fields of science and technology ; promote the enrolment and retention of girls in schools are other  training institutions and the organization of programmes for women  who leave school prematurely , Act . 12(2). The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the child provides that every child shall have the right to education Act.11(1).

In October 2005, the African Union , in collaboration with Economic Commission for Africa and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, organized in Kigali, Rwanda, a sub-regional workshop for east African  Countries on the “Realization of women ‘s Rights through  Human Rights Education” This was  followed by similar workshop for North African Countries. These workshops were attended by government officials, National Human Rights Institutions, Civil Society Organizations and UN Agencies . It is the African Union’s desire to organize a similar workshop in all the regions of Africa in a bid to build a culture of respect for human rights gender equality , security and peace on the Continent. It is therefore against this background that the African Union in collaboration with its partners organizes a Human Rights Education Workshop for its member’s states in West Africa.

His Excellency the President Alhagie Yahya Jammeh is expected to preside over the state opening of the National Assembly for the second legislative year 2008 tomorrow, Friday 29th March.

The occasion, scheduled to take place at the National Assembly complex in Banjul, will provide the President the opportunity to outline his government’s development plans for the year and the achievements of his administration.

In connection with the occasion, information from the office of the Speaker has it that delegates, led by four Speakers from sub-regional parliaments, will today arrive in the country from Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Sierra Leone to grace the occasion.

In retrospect, an in-depth analyses of the address he made on the 2007 state opening of parliament shows that President Jammeh is on record for emphasising that The Gambia’s relationship with any country would be based on mutual respect and interest, honesty, transparency and non-interference in the internal affairs of each other’s affairs. He also said that such relationship would be guided by the cardinal principle of the equality of nations irrespective of size, economy or military might.

Highlighting his administration’s programmes and policies for 2007, President Jammeh expressed his government’s commitment to the revitalisation and improvement of the agricultural sector with a view to ensuring increased agricultural output, availability of foreign exchange, as well as national food and income security.

He cited the creation of the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA) as a clear testimony to the departments restructuring. “NADA’s main objectives, according to President Jammeh, “include the effective and efficient generation, mobilisation and utilisation of human, financial and material resources for the sustainable development of the sector.”

On defence, the Gambian leader said his government would not relent in its resolve to execute necessary measures to preserve the peace and security enjoyed by The Gambia.

According to President Jammeh, six major programmes would be the centre of focus for the next eight years. “Among these,” he went on, “are basic, secondary, tertiary, vocational education and training as provided for in the National Education Policy.”

Commenting on Finance and Economic Affairs, the President noted that fiscal policy would be the principal instrument of consolidating micro-economic stability.

“The vision of the health sector,” President Jammeh added, “is the attainment of quality health care for all Gambians that would be a model in the African region by the year 2020.”

As usual bills and motions will also be presented to the National Assembly for enactment as well as treaties and agreements for ratification.

Central Bank Governor Jatta Gets ADB Job

By Pap Saine

According to reliable sources, Mr. Famara L. Jatta, Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), has been appointed by the African Development Bank (ADB) as the bank’s representative in Sudan.

Mr. Jatta, a trained economist, will hand over his current position as Governor of the CBG at the end of this month and is expected to go to Tunisia for orientation before finally leaving for Sudan to take up his new appointment.

Mr. Jatta was appointed as Secretary of State for Trade between 1997 and 1998. From 1998 to 2003, he served as Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs before being appointed as Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia from 2003 to date.

During his tenure, Mr. Jatta, together with his able staff at the Central Bank, did extremely well in revamping the macro-economic life of The Gambia.

Governor Jatta is expected to be replaced by the 1st Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Mr. Bamba Saho, our sources said.