Assembly/AU/ Dec.355(XVI) Page 1 DECISION ON THE RECONGNITION OF WOMEN AS RESOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AFRICA Doc. Assembly/AU/15(XVI)Add.6 The Assembly, 1. NOTES WITH APPRECIATION the Proposal by the Republic of South Africa on the Recognition of Women as Resource for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth; 2. RECOGNISES the crucial role of women in the preservation of African values based on the principles of equality, peace, freedom, dignity, justice, solidarity and Democracy; 3. COMMENDS the efforts of Member States to ensure the involvement of women in sustainable development and economic growth in Africa; 4. RECALLS the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, adopted by the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Maputo, Mozambique, on 11 July 2003, in particular, Articles 13 on Economic and Social Welfare Rights, and Article 19 on the Right to sustainable Development; 5. FURTHER RECALLS the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, and its Implementation Framework adopted at the 3rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 2004, as an important African instrument for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment; 6. ACKNOWLEDGES that women continue to experience difficulties with respect to their full participation in the development and economic activities of the Continent; 7. CALLS UPON Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify/accede to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and those that have ratified/acceded to the Protocol to fully implement its provisions; 8. ALSO CALLS UPON Member States to fulfil their commitments and comply with their obligations under the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa; 9. REQUESTS Member States to redouble their efforts of ensuring the involvement of women in sustainable development and economic growth in Africa by promoting their participation at all levels in the conceptualisation, decisionmaking, implementation and evaluation of development policies and programmes;