A high power delegation of Ugandan leaders led by Gender Minister Janat Mukwaya is at the New York, U.S attending a UN meeting codenamed, “Challenges and Opportunities in Achieving Gender Equality and The Empowerment of Rural Women and Girls.”
The delegations comprises of Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Gender Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Pius Bigirimana, and Uganda’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, who are representing Uganda.
The conference that runs from 12th – 23rd March, 2018, is being attended by representatives of UN Member States, UN entities, and accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world.
While delivering a statement at the opening of the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) last week, minister Mukwaya called for enhanced women’s financial empowerment through availing affordable credit, market opportunities and institution of affirmative action measures for women to benefit from a fixed percentage of the tenders for the supply of goods and services in public procurement.
Mukwaya noted that women and girls form a larger portion of the population whose activities have a bearing on economic production, care and support to families as well as community management, and therefore their economic empowerment would greatly contribute to sustainable development.
Later the Ugandan representatives engaged several American students and other authorities in a session to condemn barbaric cultural practices include, child marriages, female circumcision and others.
Mukwaya had earlier noted that in an effort to economically empower women, government two years ago initiated the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), which has to date provided funding to over 44,000 women to invest in projects that generate income.
“Similarly, the Youth Livelihood Programme has since 2015, reached over 74,140 female youth (45%) as beneficiaries with skills training and capital for business enterprises.” She said.
She called for enhanced dialogue with women and girls to capture their needs from lived experience in policy formulation, planning and programming.
“They want to see themselves being consulted on issues that affect them and working closely with all stakeholders to effect the required actions.”
