''HeforShe'' campaign to promote women empowerment

By Francis Emorut

KAMPALA - A movement dubbed HeforShe, aimed at engaging men and boys to support women's course of empowerment, is to be launched by government.

This was revealed by UN Women gender and humanitarian specialist, Claire Hawkins in Kampala.

"A solidarity movement for gender equality initiated by UN Women to engage men and boys as advocates and agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women's rights will be launched in Uganda," Hawkins told UNDP officials, the Japanese deputy envoy to Uganda, members of African and Japanese civil society and government officials. 

Hawkins said over one billion men and boys including those in Uganda are to be mobilized to support women's course of empowerment.

She said the HeforShe movement will be launched during the International Women's Day celebrations in Kabale district on March 8.

"Gender inequality is not only a women's issue. Equality will benefit both women and men socially, politically and economically," she said.

Hawkins was speaking during a joint strategy meeting of African and Japanese civil society for the preparation of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development VI (TICAD VI) at Mosa Court Apartments in Kampala.

The meeting was organized by Japan Citizen's Network for TICAD and Civic Commission for Africa (CCfA) and Uganda Unit CCfA.

She said the 12 month-campaign is intended to bring together one half of humanity in the support of the other half for the benefit of all.
 

UN Women gender and humanitarian specialist Claire Hawkins addressing the meeting. (Photo credit: Francis Emorut)

Some of the participants during the joint strategy meeting. (Photo credit: Francis Emorut)

The deputy envoy of the Japanese Embassy Yutaka Nakamura (R) comparing notes with the program director for global health Africa Japan Forum Masaki Inaba (L) and the President Civic Commission of Africa (CCfA) Gustave Assah. (Photo credit: Francis Emorut)

The UN Women specialist outlined the six programmatic priorities for women empowerment as;
 

• women lead and participate in decision making at all levels

• women especially the poorest and most excluded are economically empowered and benefit from development

• women and girls live a life free from violence

• peace and security and humanitarian action are shaped by women's leadership and participation

• governments and national planning fully reflect accountability for gender equality commitments and priorities, and

• a comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality is in place and is applied through action by Governments and other stakeholders at all levels.

    
The Japanese deputy envoy to Uganda Yutaka Nakamura said the Japan's assistance package for Africa at TICADVI is aimed at boosting growth of Africa through trade and investment of private sector and promote human security.

The chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kyosuke Kawazumi said there is need to create inclusive society for growth in the areas of education, gender, health and water and sanitation.

On his part, the head of Asia and Pacific in the ministry of foreign affairs Uganda, Philip Odida, pointed out that Uganda appreciates values created by Japan in organizing TICAD which enabled President Yoweri Museveni to attend the Yokohama Declarations in 2013.

"TICAD process is viewed in Uganda as high value of unity between Japan and African countries for development," he said.