Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Republican Vice President Inonge Wina says considerable progress has been made in some Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) members states in addressing gender issues.
Speaking when she officially opened the 8th COMESA meeting of Ministers responsible for women affairs and gender, Ms. Wina says despite the progress made, a lot still needs to be done stating that the journey towards gender equality and empowerment of women is still ongoing.
Ms. Wina notes that non inclusive growth is one of the most serious challenges the region is facing with high inequality still persistent in social, economic and political spheres of life, adding that lack of social protection has exasperated among other things hindering gender equality attainment.
She adds that there is no mechanism to access the depth and forms of exclusion and help African countries develop more inclusive policies.
The Vice President notes that in order to accelerate inclusive transformation in the COMESA region, the secretariat has focused this year on the review of the Comesa gender policy and gender mainstreaming strategic plan.
Ms. Wina says the overall objective of the review is to incorporate the new and emerging national, regional and global issues which might affect the attainment of gender equality and access the status of its implementation both at national and regional levels.
She however, says if the COMESA region is to succeed in its gender agenda, there is need to ensure that gender is thoroughly integrated in all its policies, programs and bargains at all levels stressing that the region should address limited access to productive resources such as finance, land, credit, education and employment by the women and youths.
And speaking earlier, Acting COMESA Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Kipyego Cheluget says it is their hope that development partners will continue supporting COMESA’s gender responsive programming as they enhance their efforts in the promotion of the regional integration agenda