The African Union (AU) was established on September 9, 1999 by the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The objective was to accelerate the process of integration in the continent to promote Africa's role in the global economy while addressing the continent's social, economic and political problems. Human rights are a core aspect of this process and one aspect of the work the AU Commission is to implement the AU's gender programme that aims to achieve equality between men and women and the empowerment of women on the African continent.