Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, has highlighted the importance of reinforcing efforts to combat all forms of discrimination against women in Parliament.

According to Katjavivi, during the opening of the three-day workshop on gender mainstreaming and responsive budgeting in Swakopmund on Tuesday, this issue is an ongoing struggle that should have been dealt with by now.

“This is a struggle that requires national institutions like Parliament at the forefront. Therefore, the workshop will be reflecting on gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive budgeting, aimed at reinforcing efforts to combat all forms of discrimination against women and empowering female parliamentarians,” he said.

He added that although Namibia has had over 30 years to achieve more in this regard, the efforts are ongoing, as the process has had to be continuously revisited in order to ensure the desired goals are achieved in this important area.

“The subject of gender mainstreaming is a key topical issue that transcends all sectors of our society, as it deals with the empowerment of women, the amplification of their voices, the realisation of their rights, as well as creating for them a justifiable space amongst the rest of the society to equally partake in all responsibilities like their male counterparts,” the Speaker said.

He however commended efforts taken so far by the country, which currently stands over 45 per cent in women representation in Parliament, placing it among the top African countries with the highest representation of women.

The workshop is taking place under the auspices of the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) and is being hosted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

External Relations Officer in Charge of Secretary General of IPU, Anda Filip, commended the Namibian parliament’s commitment to the realisation of the workshop.

“Initiatives such as the workshop are characteristics of agile institutions that wish to deliver equality and through it, sustainable prosperity from all the people they represent. We therefore cherish our relationship with Namibia and are committed to continue to grow for the future,” Filip added.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency