The Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO), the first collective women’s organization in Africa, will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2022. On July 31 of each year, Africa celebrates Africa’s Women’s Day to honor and remember the Foremothers of Africa who valiantly struggled for the liberation and prosperity of this continent.
On July 7 the organization released the End of Term Review Report on the First African Women’s Decade on Grassroots Approach to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The report describes advancements made on the African continent in relation to the ten topics of the first African Women’s Decade, which was carried out between 2010 and 2020, as reported by the respective Member States.
PAWO has fought for the abolition of gender inequality, discrimination, and injustices against women as well as the liberation of the continent from colonialism.
The African Union Specialized Agency was founded in 1962 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a year before the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union. Since then, African women have been mobilized throughout the continent in significant ways.
The mission of PAWO is to ensure that women participate equally, fully, and effectively in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the continent.
This year’s month-long festivities are being held under the themes “Towards the African Women’s Decade: Realizing Women’s Human Capital via Accelerated Social and Economic Development; Addressing the Scourge of Violence, Food Insecurity and Good Nutrition on the African Continent.”
The report illuminates the successes and difficulties listed in the Member States’ comments, as well as their recommendations for following up.
The report builds on the conclusions of the AWD Mid-Term Status Update, which was created for the years 2010–2015, and offers suggestions for preserving and enhancing the advances made during the second African Women Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion, 2020–2030.
