Commonwealth women to fund gender equality
Jun 11, 2007
FUNDING and enhancing resources for promoting gender equality will be one of the key issues to be discussed during the 8th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM).
By Carol Natukunda
FUNDING and enhancing resources for promoting gender equality will be one of the key issues to be discussed during the 8th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM).
The conference that opened yesterday at Speke Resort Munyonyo has brought together representatives from the 52 Commonwealth member countries, partner agencies and the private sector. The conference is convened to debate women’s rights and gender equality, under the theme: “Financing Gender Equality for Development and Democracy.â€
In his message prepared ahead of the meeting, Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said: “Resources must be allocated to gender equality and to women’s rights if real progress is to be made.
“Areas for our involvement include supporting civil society and the women’s movement and strengthening the structures and the capacity of those involved in promoting equality between the sexes.â€
Ann Keeling, Director of the Social Transformation Programmes Division at the Secretariat says: “To me, 8WAMM’s theme couldn’t be more timely. It reflects the growing awareness that women’s rights and gender equality are being overlooked in the quest for development.
“Our message is that there can be no sustainable development if women and girls are left behind – it is time we put our money where our mouth is and invest in gender equality,†she said.
Keeling regrets that over the past 10 years there is “compelling evidence†of low funding to NGOs championing women’s issues, adding that their ability to advocate for gender equality and call governments to account has been severely hurt.
A news release sent to The New Vision by the Commonwealth Secretariat, states: “Gender inequality is evident in maternal and infant deaths, rising HIV/AIDS prevalence among women and girls, more girls out of school than boys, the majority of people living in poverty being women and the low percentage of female parliamentarians.â€
But Keeling says that a recent recommendation to establish a new, independent United Nations agency for women meant that the tide was finally turning.
“The international community has recognised that there can be no development or aid effectiveness without gender equality,†she notes
Over 300 delegates at the four-day conference, will also address the progress made on the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015
The Plan reinforces the Commonwealth’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals in its approach to gender equality.
Recommendations from the Kampala meeting will be presented for endorsement to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in November.
The Commonwealth is an association of 53 countries. Its nearly two billion citizens, about 30% of the world’s population, are drawn from the broadest range of faiths, races, cultures and traditions. The Commonwealth Secretariat was established in 1965.
FUNDING and enhancing resources for promoting gender equality will be one of the key issues to be discussed during the 8th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM).
The conference that opened yesterday at Speke Resort Munyonyo has brought together representatives from the 52 Commonwealth member countries, partner agencies and the private sector. The conference is convened to debate women’s rights and gender equality, under the theme: “Financing Gender Equality for Development and Democracy.â€
In his message prepared ahead of the meeting, Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said: “Resources must be allocated to gender equality and to women’s rights if real progress is to be made.
“Areas for our involvement include supporting civil society and the women’s movement and strengthening the structures and the capacity of those involved in promoting equality between the sexes.â€
Ann Keeling, Director of the Social Transformation Programmes Division at the Secretariat says: “To me, 8WAMM’s theme couldn’t be more timely. It reflects the growing awareness that women’s rights and gender equality are being overlooked in the quest for development.
“Our message is that there can be no sustainable development if women and girls are left behind – it is time we put our money where our mouth is and invest in gender equality,†she said.
Keeling regrets that over the past 10 years there is “compelling evidence†of low funding to NGOs championing women’s issues, adding that their ability to advocate for gender equality and call governments to account has been severely hurt.
A news release sent to The New Vision by the Commonwealth Secretariat, states: “Gender inequality is evident in maternal and infant deaths, rising HIV/AIDS prevalence among women and girls, more girls out of school than boys, the majority of people living in poverty being women and the low percentage of female parliamentarians.â€
But Keeling says that a recent recommendation to establish a new, independent United Nations agency for women meant that the tide was finally turning.
“The international community has recognised that there can be no development or aid effectiveness without gender equality,†she notes
Over 300 delegates at the four-day conference, will also address the progress made on the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015
The Plan reinforces the Commonwealth’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals in its approach to gender equality.
Recommendations from the Kampala meeting will be presented for endorsement to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in November.
The Commonwealth is an association of 53 countries. Its nearly two billion citizens, about 30% of the world’s population, are drawn from the broadest range of faiths, races, cultures and traditions. The Commonwealth Secretariat was established in 1965.