Gender Policy to Be Changed, Says Govt
By Brigitte Weidlich

October 19, 2006 - (The Namibian) The National Gender Policy will undergo changes and a reform process that will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare. The Policy was only drawn up and completed in 1997, but needed revision to better address existing gender inequality, persistent discriminatory norms and practices, the Ministry announced this week.

It held a workshop on Monday to map out the reform process. A special advisor to the Ministry from the Economic Commission for Africa, Dr Hilda Tadria, said the promotion of women's empowerment was of great importance to "strengthen mechanisms for development in which both women and men have equal access to and control over all resources and can equally participate in all spheres of life."

"The Gender Policy affirms that women's rights are human rights and that affirmative action is an important and necessary strategy for enhancing women's empowerment," Tadria added. According to Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Marlene Mungunda, the policy needed to be adjusted in line with the changing needs of women.

"We have to add mechanisms for policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation," she said at the workshop. "If Namibia has to develop faster and enjoy prosperity, then it must become a national priority to accelerate the development of women," Mungunda added.

The revised policy will provide for a Gender Commission, which will be a legal body to reinforce the implementation of the National Gender Policy and the envisaged National Gender Action Plan. The Commission will receive proposals and complaints from the public on policy implementation and will submit an annual progress report to the Office of the President.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200610190191.html