Linked with our presentation of Grace Antonia D’Almeida – Benin.
Linked also with our presentation of UNFPA.
REFAMP was created with a view to promoting greater access by African women to decision-making posts. Through this network, women ministers and parliamentarians decided to unite and form a pressure group to defend the interests of women and ensure the promotion and protection of their rights, improve their living conditions, and work towards sustainable peace and development.
REFAMP’s sub-regional conference on women’s role in the prevention and management of conflicts in West Africa was held in Conakry from the 24th to the 26th of January, 2000. The purpose of the conference was to give the women of the sub-region the opportunity to express their concerns, sharee their experiences and exchange ideas so as to devise strategies and co-ordinate their activities towards the prevention and management of conflicts. FAS and the AWCPD participated in the conference.
The outcome of the conference was the Conakry Declaration and Plan of Action. The Declaration recognised the need for the protection of civilian populations, re-establishment of public order and disarmament, social reintegration, repatriation, and re-adaptation of refugees and respect for human rights and democracy.
At the end of the meeting, they launched a sub-regional network known as UREFAMP/ECOWAS.
ECOWAS = Economic Community of West African States.