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Women's Rights and the Lagos Plan of Action

1986; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 8; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/762282

1085-794X

Jane L. Parpart,

Human Rights and Development

The Lagos Plan of Action is a development plan drawn up and signed by the leaders of the Organization of African Unity (O.A.U.). Responding to the current economic crisis in Africa, the Plan calls for urgent action to achieve the goals of self-reliance, self-sustaining development, and economic growth. It includes strong support for the full utilization of human resources, both male and female. Unlike most development plans, the Plan devotes an entire chapter to the needs, rights, and concerns of women. It advocates the full integration of women into development planning, recognizing that development that ignores women will fail.1 This paper examines the Plan's treatment of women, especially the rights and aspirations awarded to them, and compares these rights and aspirations with the reality facing women in Africa today.