Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi on Wednesday contributed to the debates of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) underway in Kigali, Rwanda.
More than 1 000 parliamentarians from different countries are gathered there for a weeklong annual conference.
The IPU’s 145th annual conference which started on Tuesday in Kigali, is attended by more than 60 speakers of the national assemblies of different countries around the world under the theme ‘Gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world’.
Katjavivi, who is the head of the Namibian delegation to the IPU, said in his contribution to the debates on gender equality that the theme is fundamentally linked to sustainable development which is vital to the realisation of human rights in all spheres, and which would promote a society where women and men would enjoy equal opportunities.
Katjavivi stated that the representation of women to positions of speakers, deputy speakers and chairpersons of parliamentary standing committees amongst others, should increase at the national assemblies of the IPU member states.
He said Namibia has so far achieved about 47 per cent of women representation in its National Assembly.
“Therefore, we Namibian parliamentarians are interested in improving our capacities in components of gender-based budgeting and engagements towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
He encouraged the IPU itself to also see to it that the number of women occupying a considerable number of seats at the IPU, as well as at the national assemblies of other member states of IPU, also improves since they are the drivers of change towards achieving this gender equality.
Katjavivi further told the IPU member states present at the meeting to strengthen efforts towards the eradication of child mortality rates at birth, as well as child marriage and exclusion of women in employment opportunities.
The IPU will continue to host several debates and discussions on various topics related to gender equality before coming to an end on Friday.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
