DPM PART OF WOMEN AFFAIRS MINISTER MEETING
…… Kenya hands over chairmanship to to the Republic of Bahamas
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE- The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku yesterday joined the official opening ceremony of the 13 Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting(WAMM) .
The WAMM takes place every three years and provides ministers, senior officials, civil society, private sector and partner agencies with an important opportunity to discuss critical issues in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
It also contributes to the setting of Commonwealth priorities and the global agenda for sustainable and inclusive development.
The meeting was opened by the Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland.
Scotland congratulated the Republic of Kenya for holding the Chairmanship of the commonwealth for a period of four years. Kenya handed over the Chairmanship to the Republic of Bahamas.
Kenya handed over the position of Chairperson for the Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting a role it has held for the past five years.
Secretary-General Scotland stressed that accelerated action on gender equality is at the heart of the success of the Commonwealth in the face of the ongoing challenges and pledged her continued support to the ministers.
“It is time to demolish the walls of the old boys club,” said Prime Minister Philip Davis in his keynote address.
“Only when opportunities are opened up more widely, will we truly be making the most of the talent and ingenuity of all of humanity,” he said in addition.
Kenya officially passed the baton of the Chairperson position to Obediah Wilchcombe, the Minister of Social Services and Urban Development of the Government of the Bahamas
The 13th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (13WAMM) is held at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, the Bahamas, and will end today having started on August 21,223 under the theme ‘Equality Toward a Common Future.
Hosted by the Government of the Bahamas, the meeting serves as the principal decision-making body for Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers to review progress made towards achieving four Commonwealth priorities for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The outcomes from the meeting discussions will shape the gender equality agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled to take place in Samoa in 2024.
