Kenya will for the next three days host gender ministers from 54 nations for the 12th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers high-level meeting (12WAMM).
The meeting that starts on Tuesday is being held under the theme ‘From Commitment to Action: Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for Sustainable Development’.
The conference, which also brings together high-ranking government officials from Commonwealth member states, seeks to evaluate the success achieved since the first conference 34 years ago besides charting the way forward.
Public Service and Gender Affairs CS Margaret Kobia on Monday told the Star that all is set for the meeting that comes at a time when the country is bidding for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
"This meeting will help us raise the country's profile as well as showcase our contribution to the continent's peace and security," she said.
She emphasised the need for all stakeholders to work as a team to achieve gender equality by 2030 to ensure no one is left behind. Representatives from at least 26 countries had confirmed attendance by Monday.
A national stakeholders' meeting was held on Friday to curtain raise the forthcoming conference.
The Commonwealth Secretariat team from London, High Commissioners and development partners were present at the meeting addressed by the Commonwealth Head of Gender Amelia Siamomua.
CAS Rachel Shebesh and PS Safina Kwekwe attended the preparatory meeting.
Kobia said the meeting offers an opportunity for Kenya to showcase "tremendous progress in accelerating the realisation of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls".
Core to these is progress on equality and freedom from discrimination, provision for equality before the law, the right to equal protection and equal benefit.
Successes from affirmative action funds such as the Women’s Enterprise Fund, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund among others will be showcased.
A civil society groups' roundtable for a discussion on policy dialogue towards a Commonwealth position for 2020-30 is slated for Thursday, the last day.
Other conversations will be centred on affordable healthcare, Commonwealth priorities for gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as collective action to address cervical cancer.
Edited by R.Wamochie
