In 2004, the African Union adopted an action plan at Ouagadougou that gave s...

In 2004, the African Union adopted an action plan at Ouagadougou that gave special priority to the empowerment of women, their access to the workplace, their effective participation in the adoption of poverty- reduction strategies, the mainstreaming of gender issues in all poverty-reduction programmes and policies and the promotion of employment and equal opportunities for men and women in the area of employment. That plan included the following proposals for implementation. First, women should be encouraged to participate in free enterprise activities through the provision of primary skills training and by increasing their access to credit and capital. Secondly, a culture of free enterprise should be supported by providing assistance to women entrepreneurs. Thirdly, support should be mobilized for the implementation of legislation that provides for equal rights between men and women with respect to land ownership, including guarantees for women's rights to credit, inheritance and ownership, counselling and services.