Cape Town, South Africa, 4 June 2008 – Top female and male leaders from across the continent have launched an Africa Gender Parity Group at the World Economic Forum on Africa. The group of business, government, media, academic and civil society decision-makers are collaborating on ways for companies and countries to eradicate gender inequality and better engage women in the economy.

“Women account for a sizeable portion of Africa's economies and could contribute considerably more if there were greater gender equality. The Africa Gender Parity Group believes both women and men need to work together to close the gender gap, and thus better leverage women's talents to increase productivity and prosperity in all of society,” said Saadia Zahidi, Head of the World Economic Forum’s Gender Parity and Women Leaders Programme.