Petronella Sibeene
14 August 2007
Windhoek — Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila has said women ministers and parliamentarians should create opportunities and platforms where less empowered women can voice their concerns.
Most societies have for many years deprived women of a platform where they can share ideas and dialogue with others.Amathila said efforts made to achieve equal access to available resources for all Namibians should include rural women who mostly bear the sheer brunt of poverty.
"They are affected by decisions made without them being consulted, especially those related to development," she said.
Amathila said this in a speech read on her behalf by the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Marlene Mungunda, during the seventh sub-regional workshop on capacity building of the Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NAWMP) on Advocacy, Leadership and Resource Mobilisation.
According to Amathila, the network should have a voice that encourages other women to participate in politics. "Women should not only be limited to lower levels of the echelon, but should also aspire to govern together with their male counterparts," she said.
The deputy prime minister said the network should include in its programmes initiatives aimed at addressing gender-based violence related issues and also HIV/AIDS.
"As we are deliberating on many issues and finally work on our strategic plan, we should not forget people who live with disability, the minorities in our countries and elderly people," she added.
Amathila also expressed concern over diminishing norms and traditions in society. She said respect for elders, the valuable practice of rearing children, and the African way of assisting each other are fast disappearing from most communities.
"As African women, we are in a better position to preserve some of the good norms a nation free of violence, human rights abuse and substance and alcohol abuse," she said.
She appealed to women ministers and parliamentarians to create supportive networks and friendship based on sharing and fellowship that go beyond difference and empowering women.
Thirty-two parliamentarians from seven SADC countries are attending the five-day workshop that started yesterday in the capital.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The parliamentarians and ministers are to discuss ways in which member countries can better implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action.
"The network's main focus is to share experience, disseminate information, and exchange news of innovations and successes concerning policies, programmes and legislation," the deputy premier said.
Amathila said the network has been operating without formal structure, except national networks.She added the time has come for the forum to have a formal structure that will serve as a platform where women at the higher level of decision-making could share experiences and create synergy for the region and Africa at large.
NAWMP was created to aid in the facilitation and implementation of recommendations of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt.
The network aims at the achievement of gender equality, equity and women empowerment as well as to advocate for the protection, promotion and advancement of the rights of women and children.
Participating countries at the workshop are Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 New Era. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
