Kenya’s High Commissioner, Manoah Esipisu MBS, reports that Commonwealth Ministers agree to deliver on an equality agenda

COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS for women’s affairs have agreed to pursue an aggressive agenda to promote equality and to end discrimination against women and girls.

Ministers observed that gender equality by 2030 requires urgent action to eliminate the many root causes of discrimination that still curtail women’s rights in private and public spheres.  With enhanced action on gender equality, progress can be made towards sustainable development by 2030.

Ministers made these commitments at the twelfth Women’s Affairs Minister’s Meeting (12WAMM) held in Nairobi in September. At the meeting, Kenyaexpressed its commitment to the full realisation of the Commonwealth gender priorities, sustainable development goals (in particular Goal 5), and the Beijing Platform for Action.

At the meeting, ministers also agreed to continue to openly share knowledge of what has been effective in accelerating gender equality in their countries, and any partnerships that would work at the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women in March 2020, to encourage global leaders to accelerate action for gender quality.

They would also support their Heads of Government to account and report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, in June 2020 about the progress made in implementing their agreed actions. They also recommended that CHOGM2020 in Rwanda adopt a Declaration on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 2020-2030.

In the meantime, the Commonwealth Secretariat will consider establishing a Women’s Ministers Action Group to advance collective action to promote gender equality in the Commonwealth.

The Bahamasexpressed an interest to host the next Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers’ Meeting in 2022. Ministers adopted the 12WAMM Outcomes Document and the Draft Commonwealth Declaration for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 2020-2030.