Africa: Women want gender issues top of the AU agenda

Top of the recent African Summit of Presidents in Abuja, Nigeria, were issues such as health, food security and environmental degradation. But a coalition of 19 women's groups under the banner of Solidarity for African Women Rights also highlighted the needs of women. In an interview with BBC, a member of the coalition - Ms Mary Wandia - of the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) – explained women’s issues were so important. "Our main message is that we need to see a demonstration of African leaders' commitment to women's rights and a commitment to their words; that when they promise that they want to ratify the women's protocol to ensure that it comes into force they mean what they say. For now they have not done that. We're waiting for the action."