Mbumba: Namibia committed to gender equality
NAMIBIA is fully committed to gender equality and empowerment of girls and women, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba said at the launch of the International Women’s Peace Centre in Windhoek on Saturday.
Investments in gender equality have far reaching catalytic effects on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the AU Agenda 2063, and the Women Peace and Security Agenda forms part of an integral comprehensive approach towards preventing and resolving conflicts, he added.
“The protection of women’s rights and the prominence of their participation and being at the forefront, providing leadership in conflict prevention, resolution, peace building and post- conflict reconstruction cannot be overemphasised. Therefore, putting women at the helm of peace building, conflict resolution and prevention and mediation efforts while striving to increase the number of women peacekeepers, remains a key priority for our government,” Mbumba said.
He noted that women contributed greatly to the African and global peace initiatives and activism by Namibian women was indispensable to the rich history of resistance and liberation, as it marked an epoch of many fearless women freedom fighters who left their indelible mark on Namibia’s history.
Women played and continue to play various important roles, sometimes even under life threatening conditions, but their warrior instincts and boldness of spirit stood out to be counted, said Mbumba.
“Namibian women have often formed part of the national contingents, be it under the African Union (AU) or the United Nations ( UN) peacekeeping missions to advance the noble objective of peace and security in the world.
They have served with distinction as is evident in the reports of the UN and AU commanders, in which they have applauded them for their noteworthy contributions while operating in the field,” Mbumba said.
He said as societies grapple with complex security issues and challenges, the role of women within the peace processes and security nexus has become ever more paramount.
-Nampa