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The fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in September 1995 raised hopes of a substantial improvement in women's condition across the world and particularly in Africa. The Beijing Declaration and programme of action considered by the United Nations' Secretary General to be "one of the most remarkable documents ever produced by an intergovernmental conference" commits States to taking concrete action in twelve priority areas in relation to women's autonomy. Ten years after Beijing and on the heels of the seventh regional conference at Addis Ababa, in evaluating the implementation of the platform of Action adopted there, where are we now? Have African women and girls really made remarkable gains in such essential areas as education, fundamental human rights, violence against women, their participation in decision making, health and the fight against poverty?

This special of Pambazuka News focuses on women's issues and has been prepared in association with FEMNET for distribution at the forthcoming Seventh Regional Conference on Women (Beijing + 10) and the Fourth African Development Forum (ADF IV) on Governance, being held from 6-15 October 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These two conferences mark an important step towards achieving gender equality and equity in Africa through national and regional action.