IN an historic first, political parties that are contesting next month's presidential and general elections are to state their positions on gender equality and other issues important to women voters.

The forum, titled 'Women In Dialogue With Political Parties', will take place on Tuesday next week.

Political party representatives will engage with civil society leaders and representatives of women's organisations in the event organised by the Women's Leadership Centre.

"Women are still seen as second-class citizens," according to Elizabeth /Khaxas, Executive Director of the Women's Leadership Centre.

She said women still have less access to resources, income, land, decision-making power and personal freedoms than men.

"We are holding political parties accountable to adhering to all the national and international gender laws and policies our government has signed and ratified over the past 20 years," she said.

Political parties have been requested to give their views on

- the prevention of violence against women

- freedom from hunger and poverty

- access to affordable housing for all

- water and electricity for all

- access to land and water for the rural poor

- HIV prevention and treatment

- comprehensive health provision, including dental and mental healthcare

- quality education for all

- promotion of respect and dignity for all people (including lesbian and gay people), and

- the provision of safe and accessible abortion to save women's lives and curb baby dumping, among others.

Between the presentations of the political parties, women will give short testimonies on their lives, weaving together the personal and the political to expose the grave violations of women's dignity and rights.

"We have wonderful gender laws and policies, but these are only on paper and are not yet in the hearts and minds of our people. This needs to change for us to build a Namibia that takes care of all her people," /Khaxas said.

To prepare for the forum, participants of the Women Claiming Citizenship Campaign, who will come to Windhoek from all 13 regions of Namibia, will evaluate the implementation of gender laws and gender policies in their towns and villages, using their every-day lives as the yardstick for the effectiveness of these policies.

This will take place on Monday.

On Wednesday, participants will plan for women's participation in the regional and local government elections in 2010 to ensure that all levels of government implement national and international gender laws.