WNC third national conference for women: the way forward [Archives:2006/927/Front Page]
Nadia Al-Sakkaf
SANA'A, March 8 ) “From words to deeds” was the slogan the Women National Committee's (WNC) third national conference for women conducted between the 6th and 7th of this month. Under the patronage of the president, and inaugurated by Ms. Amat Al-Razaq Hummad Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, the conference was attended by an impressive gathering of activists from all around the country. The main demand of the conference was to secure a 30% quota for women in the local councils nation wide. Addressing the attendees Ms. Rashida Al-Hamadani chairwoman of the WNC praised the achievements Yemeni women has made so far especially with the support of the political leadership. Yet she said that there is a long way to come. “The importance of creating a ministry for women's development could not be emphasized enough. We believe that the coming ministerial structure should adhere to this demand in order to highlight and prioritize women's issues in the governments agenda in all sectors.” She said.
Mr. Hans Obdeijn, UNFPA Representative embraced the occasion and expressed the donor organisations interest in development of Yemeni women. Ms. Amat Al-Razaq Hummad Minister of Social Affairs and Labor on behalf of prime minister and chairperson of the Supreme Council for Women, Mr. Abdul Qadir Ba Jammal, concluded the inauguration by emphasizing on two main points: the preparation of second and third line female leaders, and the commitment of political parties to supporting female candidates in elections and assure the 30% representation of women in decision making positions in the various political parties.
Serious celebration
Although the occasion was a celebration of Yemeni women's overall achievements and requirements it was an opportunity for gender and development activities to share their knowledge and concerns regarding the progress of women's issues in Yemen. Sixteen working papers were presented during the two days of the conference. The working papers included review of gender mainstreaming in the third five-year poverty reduction strategy 2006-2010, women's health strategy, political participation of women, women's education, women and the media, women in agriculture women's role in syndicates and unions and women entrepreneurs.
The way forward
In the concluding session of the conference prime minister and chairperson of the supreme council for women gave a speech in which he again reiterated the government's commitment to women's development and promised to decrease the retirement age for women as per public demand.
The concluding recommendations of the conference were in the following aspects:
Increasing women's political participation:
Through continuous demand to promote women in decision making positions through the quota system and mainstreaming gender issues in government budgets, plans and strategies. Calling on political parties and organsiations to nominate female candidates in elections. And empowering women's organsiations and encouraging them to take up their responsibilities and promote women especially politically.
Economic empowerment of women
Increasing women's participation in the work force to reach at least 30% of the total labor market. And also to provide them with economic opportunities and adequate vocational and technical training as well as improve the working environment and infrastructure.
Education and training
Increasing the rates of enrolment in girls education and taking required measures to ensure the sustainability of their education so as to try and achieve the MDG by 2015 regarding girls education. To enhance the literacy system and support training and education of disadvantaged women as well as to promote females as decision makers in the educational system.
Health
Supporting gender strategies in the health sector and to mainstream them in all the ministries plans and strategies around the republic. Also to enhance reproductive health services and qualify more females in this field.
Violence against women
Endorsing the legal amendments recommended to eliminate discrimination against women in the legislations and laws and to provide the required guarantees to support divorced and widowed women in terms of accommodation and custody of children as per the personal status law. To expand the legal and psychological assistance to abused and violated women as well as to support the national campaign against the risks of early marriage.
Media
Increasing women's participation in all media tools and to enhance the content and media message about women and women's issues including in mass communication tools. Strategic wise, to develop educational and awareness programs that discuss women issues especially regarding development and to target the rural women.
Institutionalization of government mechanisms
Providing women with more authority and mechanisms to achieve their strategic goals and to provide them with the required technical and financial support. To provide technical and financial support to WNC branches around the republic and to translate the strategies into practical action plans.
Cooperation, networking and partnership
Develop relations and partnerships with governmental, non-governmental and international institutions and organsiations in order to enhance performance and exchange expertise. To support SHIMA network for combating violence against women, and to endorse the coordination between the various WNC branches and associations.
Honoring the brave:
More than 60 women were rewarded by both the Women's National Committee and UN for their distinguished roles in promoting women's development. These women are WNC's founders, active members as well as female activists in general. Prime minister Abdulqadir Ba Jammal presented the certificates of merits to the deserving brave women in the second say of the conference.
Women National Committee
The Women National Committee was created by an act from the Prime Minister (No. 97) in August 1996, and considered as technical committee affiliated with the Ministries' Council. Due to the commitment of the Government to highlight the different women problems and to define its importance in all life aspects, the committee was restructured and its framework was broadened according to the Prime Minister act (No. 68) in 2000 by establishing the Supreme Council for Women Affairs headed by the Prime Minister. The Women National Committee became part of the restructured Supreme Council. A female chairperson was appointed by a presidential decree leads the Women National Committee (WNC).
The Women National Committee is the technical committee of the Supreme Council for Women Affairs, and it is responsible for managing the daily activities and practicing a number of tasks and responsibilities.
The Committee Tasks and Responsibilities include proposing policies, strategies, plans, and programs related to women affairs, reviewing the proposals of the annual budgets and final accounts, and providing the needed suggestions to enhance the work of the Council and secretariat-general.
The WNC also carries out any other task assigned by the Supreme Council and coordinates with national, governmental and non-governmental bodies and the related regional and international organizations.
Among other activities also, the WNC carries out studies, researches, surveys and statistics and conducts conferences, seminars, and workshops related to women issues.
——
[archive-e:927-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-03-09-p:front]
