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| GGP III Re - Launch |
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She further said that although there are huge disparities in appointments at different levels of government, there is need for women to stand up as one and seek recognition of their right to equal participation in governance. She urged all women to vote for the proposed draft constitution at the referendum as it has entrenched numerous gains for women. Her sentiments were echoed by the UNIFEM regional director Meryem Aslan who said initiatives such as the Gender and Governance Programme (GGP) are indicative of the willingness to address disparities as well as respond to the women’s quest for justice thus such should be supported. She added that women’s leadership is a milestone to be celebrated. “Women’s leadership should be celebrated as a success and not a threat to the country”, said Aslan. She reiterated the need to raise awareness for women’s access to services and eradicate poverty regardless of their ethnic and economic background. The Norwegian ambassador Her Excellency Elisabeth Jacobsen while handing over the chairmanship of the GGP donor community called on all stakeholders in the fight for women human rights to join forces so that the government can live up to its commitments on affirmative action. Her counterpart from the embassy of Finland Her Excellency Heli Sirve, who also took over as chairperson of the donor community reaffirmed her country’s commitment in supporting the struggle of women in She noted that though it is 15 years since the She also challenged On the current constitutional reforms in Two of the programme’s implementing partners shared on the gains of the programme since its inception in 2002. The Executive Director of Caucus Ms. Debora Okumu lauded the programme saying it has had a great impact on engendering the political process in the country as well as the realization of women’s human rights. She added that the programme has been instrumental in increasing the participation of women in decision making and political processes at both the local and national levels. Another implementing partner, Community Aid International (CAI) through its Executive Director Mr. Joseph Kwaka said that although the programme has achieved its goals especially in terms of quantity, much effort needs to be done to improve quality so that women who are in leadership positions can fully be part of decision making processes. He added that as women celebrate quantity, they should struggle to achieve quality. He challenged stakeholders in the Gender and Governance Programme to consider quality in future. The GGP is funded by a basket fund from a group of development partners and implemented by a consortium of women’s organizations and alliances and the management of UNIFEM. The programme works with the government of The launch was attended by representatives from the GGP donor community, implementing partners, government officials, scholars and professionals from different fields among others. |
The Gender and Governance Programme has been re-launched. The third phase of the programme was launched at a Nairobi hotel on 2nd June 2010. The programme’s new logo was unveiled alongside the new slogan (USAWA ni haki, Answering to Kenyan women).The programme whose goal is to promote equal access to services and opportunities to both men and women was developed to address the need to include women’s issues in governance structures support transformative leadership across all levels of government and strengthen women’s leadership at national and local levels.Speaking at the launch,
Minister for Gender, Children and Social development Hon. Esther Murugi said the government is committed to the realization of gender equality and therefore seeks to increase women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes.