November 9, 2004 - (New Era) WOMEN from the transport and allied industries convened a two-day meeting over the weekend under the flagship of the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Natau) to discuss issues and constraints facing women in the transport sector.

The meeting was aimed at improving women's conditions of service and their rights, as well as raise awareness on the setbacks that afflict women in this sector.

Women Action for Development (WAD)'s executive director Veronica De Klerk in her official speech encouraged women to believe in themselves, because if they can't, then nobody else would.

"We have to be bold, we have to be assertive, and we have to be courageous. Women need to be self-confident, and proud and dignified women," she said.

De Klerk, who has been lobbying for women emancipation and for their development, told participants that women do not need to sit back and wait for opportunities to come their way.

She said respect does not come automatically. It has to be earned.

The WAD director appealed to womenfolk to work hard so that respect could come their way. She further reminded them that in today's world, they need to focus more on their accomplishments than on their failures.

She added that women must start congratulating themselves on what they have achieved no matter how small, as they need to take up the challenges in order to succeed in life.

"But if you have set-backs, simply become a problem-solver, visualise success and mentally rehearse winning in everything you do before you do it," she advised.

De Klerk noted that there were highly challenging careers for women and only if women shake off their complacency and their lack of self-confidence could they get into some of the positions of power.

Natau's president Dawid Tjombe said there was a need to recognise the global trend towards gender parity in all spheres of life, a trend that is even more significant in parliamentary democracies.

Tjombe said that parliament reflects on social attitudes and trade unions must organise the female workers under their umbrellas.

"Women must be trained continuously in the dynamics of trade unions, parliamentary politics and the functioning of government, at both national and regional levels. The need for such training cannot be underestimated any longer," said Tjombe.

The unionist noted that it was crucial to have women in trade unions and in politics, adding that women need to be appointed in both managerial and political positions.

"There is a great participation of women today at all levels of decision-making and a greater policy commitment by governments and trade unions to remove gender discrimination from the system," Tjombe concluded.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200411090296.html