The
Thirteenth Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Conference on Women’s Rights, held
under the theme: “Women empowerment and inclusion in governance,” at the seat
of the PAP in Midrand, South Africa has ended.
The
two-day event was held on the sidelines of the ongoing First Ordinary Session
of the Sixth Parliament of the PAP ran from 3 to 4 November 2022 and afforded
women from across the continent the opportunity to discuss issues affecting
women and focused on women inclusion in governance.
Panelists
discussed such issues as women in decision-making positions and the role of
women legislators in addressing the existing gaps between policy framework on
women’s rights and actual realities of African women.
In
her welcome remarks, the Chairperson of the Pan-African Parliament Women’s
Caucus, Hon. Amina Tidjani Yaya, stressed
the importance of the platform in bringing the plight of African women to the
front burner.
She
highlighted how the Women’s Conference has over the past thirteen (13) years, provided
the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) with the opportunity to monitor and assess the
challenges faced by women and girls in Africa, discuss the economic development
of women in Africa, review the progress made by the African Union (AU) and the
PAP on gender mainstreaming, to deliberate on the planning, implementation and
monitoring of African Union and PAP programs, policies and activities that are
gender-focused and in relation to women African.
“The
Women’s Caucus is privileged to be hosting this event at the PAP plenary as it
gives us a platform to follow up on and assess difficulties women are faced in
Africa. The African Union (AU) has adopted many progressive legal instruments
to protect women and their autonomy. The PAP is providing a platform for
participants from different countries and organizations to discuss the
implementation of AU Legal Instruments on gender relating to women empowerment
and governance,” said Hon Amina Tidjani
Yaya.
“Remember
that the Women’s Caucus has a mandate to actively follow up issues focused on
gender-based violence, inclusion of women in decision-making roles, governance
and the promotion of women’s rights.”
“We appreciate the role that PAP is playing
with the Women’s Caucus in providing women with the opportunity to monitor and
address issues affecting women and youth across the African continent.”
Hon Amina also stressed that
the forum provided an opportunity to bring together parliamentarians from
African Union (AU) member states, PAP members, representatives of UA bodies,
the United Nations and its agencies, civil service, development institutions
representatives and partners development.
In
her opening remarks, the Third Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Lucia Mendes Dos Passos, paid
tribute to women Parliamentarians across the continent who are at the forefront
of promoting women issues. She congratulated female Parliamentarians for their
contributions in strengthening democratic and governance processes when
assigned key responsibilities.
Hon. Dos Passos appreciated female
Parliamentarians at the helm of leadership structures at the Pan-African
Parliament, including regional caucuses and permanent committees for their
various roles in bringing the Parliament back to full functionality.
In his goodwill
message, the President of the Pan-African Parliament H. E. Hon. Foortune Charumbira who attended the event to show
solidarity with the women, congratulated all women coming from outside South
Africa for showing their support and making the Conference a huge success.
“This
is the Thirteenth Conference and the mission and primary objective of the
Pan-African Parliament is to provide a platform that is important for African
women to come together and discuss issues affecting conti women.” not of the
world" said H. E. Chief Charumbira.
He
added that “If you want to reduce corruption and strengthen governance, appoint
more women in leadership positions.”
H. E. Chief Charumbira stated that Women’s
equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential
to strengthening governance and achieving sustainable development, peace and
security. He urged the participants to critically analyze and unpack the
concepts of “empowerment” and “inclusion” to move away from rhetoric and ensure
concrete implementation of commitments towards women empowerment.
Regional
Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Regional Office for
East Africa and Southern Africa (ESARO), Ms Lydia Zigomo, in her speech, read
for her, expressed her gratitude for being invited to the conference and acknowledged
the key role that the PAP and the women caucus play as a legislative body on
the African continent.
Ms.
Zigomo disclosed that UNFPA is working on the centralization of population
dynamics for sustainable development and inclusive socio-economic development.
“We
greatly value the partnership we have with members of Parliament across the
continent. We recognize that many of the results we have achieved for women and
young people are as a result of supervision, counselor, and consultation in spaces
like today's one. Today is scheduled to discuss the rights of the women".
She
also stressed the importance of recognizing the contribution of women to the
continent's gross domestic product.
“We
also know that your conversations will be much more centered around poverty
reduction, empowerment, women’s work and health education.”
Representing
the Regional Director of UN Women Regional Office for East Africa and South
Africa (ESARO), Mr. Maxime Houinato, and Ms. Maureen Shonge reiterated the full
support of the United Nations entity at the conference, as it also offers
programs, policies and standards for the defense of women's rights and ensures
that every woman and girl can reach their potential.
In
her presentation, the Head of Women & Gender Policy and Development -Women,
Gender and Youth Directorate at African Union Commission, Dr. Tapiwa Uchizi Nyasulu RWEYEMAMU highlighted the international
and continental commitments pledged by African Union Member States to address
gender inequality and implement women's empowerment.
She also spoke on the
expected role of women legislators in addressing the existing gaps between
policy framework on Women’s Rights and African Women Rights and the actual
realities of African women.
Dr. Tapiwa Uchizi RWEYEMAMU advocated for Women
ownership of the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of theMoputo Protocol and the role of Women
parliamentarians in lobbying for Universal Ratification, Domestication and
implementation of the Moputo Protocol on
Women’s Rights in Afica.
She
reported the progress made to ensure that the remaining 12 Member States (43
out of 55 ratified) ratify the Maputo
Protocol and that there is need for
Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other organizations to
report on progress made and challenges experienced in implementing continental
frameworks and decisions.
The
second of the event witnessed the presence of Rt. Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Speaker of the National Assembly
of the Republic of South Africa who was jointly received by the President of
the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Hon.
Chief Fortune Charumbira, the Third Vice President, Hon. Lucia Mendes Dos Passos and Chairperson of the Women’s Caucus,
Hon Amina Tidjani Yaya.
Ms. Sandzisike Madonsela, Policy Officer for
Women, Gender and Youth Directorate at the African Union Commission (AUC)
presented a paper on "Fighting poverty and promoting economic and financial
empowerment.” She underscored the importance of painting a true picture of the
situation in order to understand where interventions are needed.
She
said that the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) reported that millions of
Africans fall into extreme poverty which points to the urgency of pulling out
the majority of those living under the poverty line which are sisters,
daughters and basically our African peers.
Speaking
on the interventions by the African Union, she said that one of them is the
African Women's decade for financial and economic inclusion, which was declared
by Head of State and Government during the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the African
Union in 2020.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comment expressed do not reflect the opinion of African Parliamentary News