Background
Mission
Objectives
Officers
Membership
B
a c k g r o u n d
AWLA is an African-based organisation,
with its regional secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, but its nationonal chapters
function autonomously and keep close links with the other regional chapters.
It functions through networking thus feeding and fed by its members on
current human rights issues as they affect women in the continent.
The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) with a membership of about forty (40) Ghanaian female lawyers was established in 1998. It became fully operational in 1999, having been recognized by the Ghana Private Voluntary Organisation (GAPVOD) as an NGO. AWLA is now one of the leading NGOs in the country that has adopted the rights-based approach for women's development in the region.
M
i s s i o n
AWLA
aims to promote networking among professional women lawyers on the African
continent to effectively enhance the status of African women. At the regional
level, AWLA has organised the following activities: disseminated laws
affecting women in Africa; advocated for legislation removing all forms
of discrimination against women and promoted equal rights of women in
Africa. ALWA Ghana in keeping with the mission of its parent organisation
organises activities on specific human rights issues that affect women's
development in Ghana.
O
b j e c t i v e s
AWLA's
vision of enhancing the status of the African woman is achieved by:
- Strengthening
networking between African woman lawyers;
- Sharing information
and lobbying for gender equality in Africa through legislative reform,
advocacy and research;
- Promoting the
principles and aims of the African Commission on Human and People's
Rights;
- Promoting the
rights of children generally and specifically handling issues of child
trafficking and children in conflict;
- Doing other things incidental or conducive to the attainment of any or all of the above objectives
O f f i c e r s
The organisation is run
by an eight-member executive:
Chairperson - Betty Mould-Iddrisu (is also the African regional chairperson)
Executive Director - Edna Kuma
Secretary - Julie Amonoo-Neizer
Financial Secretary - Susan Donkor
Public Relations Officer - Joyce Opoku-Boateng
Projects Convenor - Fitnat Adjetey
Welfare Officer - Lisa Quarshie
Legal Assistant - Aba Opoku
Welfare Secretary - Mrs Lisa Opoku
Membership is open to all African female lawyers irrespective of the number of years at the Bar. Presently there are 40 members, most of them based in Accra, the capital of Ghana. A membership drive is to be embarked to ensure that the Organisation is represented in all the regions in Ghana. It is interesting to note that very few female lawyers are in the other regions.
With the call of the new lawyers to the Bar, AWLA hopes to increase its membership. A programme is being drawn up in that direction.
©September 2003; African Women Lawyers
Association; Website designed by
Joyce Opoku-Boateng
OFFICE LOCATION:
H/NO C663/3, CRESCENT AVENUE
(NEAR DUA CLINIC)
ASYLUM DOWN
POST OFFICE BOX CT4198
CANTONMENTS, ACCRA
GHANA
TEL: (233-21) 251 296, 236686
(233-20) 818 1161; 818 1162
Fax: 233-21 236686
E-mail: awlafric@gh.com
Website: www.awlaafrica.org