African Women Lawyers Association

Membership

The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) translated into French as L'Association Des Femmes Africaines Avocates was founded in 1998. The need to create a grouping of African Women Lawyers crystallized after a meeting of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) meeting held in Accra, Ghana in 1996. It was identified at that forum that African Women Lawyers must network effectively to address issues affecting women and children on the Continent specifically, and to present a uniform voice to articulate those issues at the United Nations and at other international fora.

AWLA was registered in Ghana as a Non-Governmental Organization in 2000 and is duly recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and the Ghana Private Voluntary Organizations in Development (GAPVOD).

The Secretariat and Chair are rotational. Currently, the Secretariat is located in Nairobi, Kenya and the Chair in Accra, Ghana. The current Chairperson is Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, a Chief State Attorney and Head of the International Law Division of the Ministry of Justice. Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu is a former President of FIDA and a former FIDA Africa Regional President.