Kenya is hailed for its compeling participation at the annual Commission on the Status of Women 2014 conference held in New York, USA.
Led by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, Ms. Anne Waiguru, Kenya hosted two side events at the CSW. Kenya's delegation comprised, among others, Hon Linah Kilimo-Chair, the chair of the Anti-FGM Board; Ms. Winnie Lichuma, the Chair of the National Gender and Equality Commission; Dr Ruth Aura, the chair of FIDA Kenya; Dr Ann Ndonga, the Gender Adviser in the Ministry of Health; Ms. Belinda Ochiel from the Commission on Administrative Justice; and Ms. Florence Gachanja, the Gender and Equality Programme Officer at UNFPA.
At one of the Kenya-hosted events held under the theme "Breakthrough: Enhancing the lives of women and girls through education", panelists discussed the lessons learnt thus far and made recommendations on how to strengthen capacities to enhance education for girls and women. Panellists also proposed an agenda for Kenya's Ministry of Education to promote girls' education, and the role of Parliament in safeguarding the gains made for women and girls within the education sector. In addition, panellists emphasized on the need to partner with Government in order to keep girls in school; and the role of NGEC in ensuring the implementation of these initiatives in the education sector.
Ms. Waiguru highlighted the progress achieved thus far and made special reference to the gains made in promoting gender equality in Kenya. One of these initiatives is the establishment of the Uwezo Fund by the Jubilee Government to help women, young people and persons living with disability to access credit and ultimately enjoy economic empowerment. In addition, a new policy guideline in procurement had been set that provided for 30 percent of all government funds be set aside for women-led enterprises to secure tenders in government ministries, departments and agencies.
The second side event was organised by the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association (KEWOPA). During this session, presentations made highlighted the progress made in Kenya in promoting and enhancing women's political representation in politics and positions of power. Presenters made elaborate references to the progressive constitutional provision on affirmative action entrenching the two thirds principle in both appointive and elective bodies. The panellists also informed participants of the country's progressive Constitution that spelled out specific provisions to reserve seats for women in the National Assembly.
Kenya was applauded for its progressive Constitution and for the milestones made towards the empowerment of women.
The Kenyan delegation held meetings every morning with the Cabinet Secretary at the Kenyan Mission prior to attending the CSW sessions, to share highlights from the various side events and meetings, to deliberate on Kenya's participation and to map out areas that Kenya needed to incorporate in its activities to accelerate gender equity and empowerment in the country.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a global policy-making body dedicated to gender equality and advancement of women. Every year, representatives of member states meet in New York, USA, to evaluate progress on gender equality, to identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide. The aim of CSW is to prepare recommendations and reports to the Council on promoting women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women's rights.
The theme of CSW 2014 is "Challenges and Achievements in the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls".
