By Fortunate Masawi.
Hon. Amongi Betty, Minister of Gender, Uganda, leads African Women Ministers in Adopting a common African Position on Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment a head of UN meeting in NEW YORK, USA.
Today, 14th, Nov. 2023, at the UN HEADQUARTER in Addis Ababa, Hon. Betty Amongi Chaired the meeting of Women Ministers to adopt a position on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Below is her Speech:
THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION’S WOMEN, GENDER AND YOUTH DIRECTORATE (WGYD) IN COLLABORATION WITH UN WOMEN, UNECA AND UNDP REGIONAL SERVICE BUREAU AFRICA PRE- COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (CSW68)
UNDER THE THEMEAccelerating the Achievement of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls by Addressing Poverty and Strengthening Institutions and Financing with a Gender Perspective.”
THE 8TH AFRICAN UNION SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT (AU/STC/GEWE)
14TH NOVEMBER, 2023 FOR THE MINISTERIAL MEETING.
Your Excellences,
Member of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,
The Director, AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, Dr. Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya,
Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
Regional Director of UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr. Maxime Huanato
The Director, Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division of the UN ECA, Ms. Sweta Saxena,
The Director UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa, Dr. Matthias Naab
The African Union Special Envoys attending this meeting,
Representatives of AU Partners attending this meeting,
Member of the Secretariat,
Civil Society Fraternity,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning!
Excellences, I am privileged and honoured to address you at this meeting of the Africa Pre- Sixty Eight Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) under the Priority Theme on “Accelerating the Achievement of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls by Addressing Poverty and Strengthening Institutions and Financing with a Gender Perspective.”
And the Review Theme is: “Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (agreed conclusions of the sixty-third session)”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we acknowledge Members States efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment through the adoption of several international and regional normative framework. As women in Africa, we celebrate the 20 years of the Maputo Protocol; the gains made and the challenges encountered as footprint to inspire us into the future we want.
Most of our countries are struggling with the after effects of Covid 19 which have escalated poverty; inequalities; limited access to social services, unemployment and shrinking fiscal space.
Several AU Member States are engrossed in armed conflicts; increasing the number of refugees and displacements; climate change and gender based violence which are undermining the gains on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa. We must take strategic decisions that will accelerate economic growth and transformation; reduce poverty, inequalities and vulnerabilities; and have a common voice on issues that are affecting women and girls in Africa.
Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Commission on the Status of Women is an instrumental platform for the promotion of the human rights of women and girls. It provides an opportunity for accountability on the delivery of GEWE as well as defining the future of gender equality and women’s empowerment. We must therefore should commit to:
- Invest in improving access to quality services including reducing unpaid care work to enable women participate in productive work and contribute to the national economy meaningfully.
- Strengthen our National Gender Machineries to effectively coordinate Government Ministries and Agencies and other stakeholders on the delivery of gender equality and women’s empowerment in our respective Countries,
- Invest in the generation and utilisation of gender statistics to inform decision making and programmes.
- Working with the private sector organizations in scaling up the delivery of gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE).
- Strengthen the Women’s movement at all levels articulate gender and women’s concerns and demand actions towards positive change.
- Promote peace and human rights
- Mobilise domestic revenues and resources to finance gender equality. It is important that we drive our gender agenda.
As we discuss our Common African Position Paper and prepare ourselves for the CSW 68th, we must focus on issues that unite us as African women and girls.
I would like to the UN Agencies for the support extended to Members States in the formulation and implementation of programmes and our effective participation during the 68th Commission on the Status of Women in 2024.
Allow me Excellences to thank all our Partners for the support extended in developing the Common Position Paper that is going to inform our discussions. I wish you fruitful deliberations. We look forward to strategic recommendations that will enable all Member States to accelerate the delivery of GEWE in Africa.
Special appreciation goes to all Member States attending this meeting, the AUC, UN Agencies and Partners for organizing the Pre-CSW68 Consultations.
Excellences I declare the Pre- CSW open.
THANK YOU.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.
