The Arusha forward- looking strategies for the advancement of African women beyond the United Nations decade for women

Abstract

The Arusha Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of African Women beyond the United Nations Decade for Women are long-term plans for the advancement of African women, principally as agents in development, up to and beyond the year 2000. They incorporate and elaborate on the Lagos Plan of Action's recommendations on women and development. However, it is obvious that the context in which the strategies were elaborated has somewhat changed from that of the Lagos Plan of Action, Africa is experiencing serious economic and social setbacks exacerbated by drought and famine. Thirty-five African countries, those south of the Sahara in particular, are affected by desertification resulting from severe drought that has caused loss of human life and large-scale population displacements. Resources must be channeled to a few critical sectors of African economies to propel them out of the abyss they have fallen into.