K.Y. Amoako, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said here Tuesday that development in African women's lives has witnessed advance, particularly at the high political level, 10 years after the world conference on women held in Beijing.

"A commitment to 50 percent representation in the African Unioncommission, the presidency of the Pan-African Parliament, nearly 40 percent of Rwanda's parliament and rising numbers in others.. women have been lobbying pretty effectively for a seat at the political table," said Amoako at the opening ceremony of the Seventh African Regional Meeting on Women (Beijing+10) in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

He said that since the Beijing meeting, momentum has slowed at the global level, but in Africa at least, the regional picture is very different.

"We have seen real advances and a gathering excitement about what can be achieved," he said.

However, there is so much more to be done, he said, believing that in Africa, the conditions for making progress are promising, with a renewed conviction being widely shared that better governance and social justice have been under valued and must cometo the fore.

Amoako put forward three goals to achieve in the coming years, namely, the gender parity in elementary education, the empowermentof women at higher levels and the fighting against HIV/AIDS.

At the three-day meeting 43 ministers and other key stakeholders including parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, and representatives of international organizations will focus on highlighting achievements, constraints and challenges.

The meeting will identify a series of actions and measures to be implemented over a five-year period, in order to promote genderequality in Africa.