Women’s empowermen, key for africa development

Abstract

From W.W. Rostow to Amartya Sen, through neo-liberals with Washington Consensus Decalogue, Neo-Marxist and neo-structural theories, different investigations regarding the development of the countries did not extend to the specific role of women in development. Due to the prevailing patriarchy in society in general, and in the world of science, business and politics in particular, until recently women were treated merely as an interesting object of study and not as a thinking subject. Thanks to the incorporation of the gender perspective as a new analytical category in Social and Human Sciences, there is ample evidence that there is no development without gender equality. Although it is true that development is not growth, it is even truer that any society can be considered developed while such an important group as that of women is still in marginality, exclusion and vulnerability situations. This shows how the issue of “gender and development” is of utmost importance today, both for the researchers and for the politicians in designing public policies. After diagnosing women’s situation based on the African Union (UA) Commission’s publication, we will outline the actions carried out by the AU leaders to combat gender inequalities and promote their full emancipation in all areas of society. In conclusion we will make a critical analysis that briefly evaluate the feasibility of the measures taken today, their efficiency and above all the real impact of these policies in member countries.