| Uganda was privileged to host the Eighth Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM) at Speke Resort and Conference Centre Munyonyo, Kampala. The meeting which took place from 11 – 14 June 2007 was held under the main theme: Financing Gender Equality for Development and Democracy. In the wings of the 8WAMM from 8 – 10 June 2007, a Partners Forum was held for representatives of women’s and gender focused civil society organizations and networks to discuss and report on critical issues relating to advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality based on the Commonwealth Plan of Action for gender equality for 2005 – 2015 (CPoA) within the context of the 8WAMM main theme. This Forum provided an opportunity for highlighting the voices of civil society on practical issues of financing gender equality work to enrich the discussions made at the 8WAMM. This event gave prominence the role of civil society in development particularly in advancing women’s empowerment and promoting gender equality.
The Partners’ Forum provided an opportunity for civil society organisations (CSOs) across the Commonwealth to network and share experiences and learning on the 8WAMM theme, report on progress with the implementation of the CPoA as well as reflect upon critical challenges and emerging issues from the CPoA to bring these issues to the attention of Ministers. Civil society opinion on the key issues was mobilised and presented to the Ministers in form of a communiqué (annex I). This process of engagement provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between civil society and governments on key gender issues of interest to the commonwealth countries.
The Partners Forum Main Focus
Within the context of the 8WAMM theme, the Partners Forum focused of three key areas namely;
1. Challenges of new aid modalities to gender equality work
2. Role of civil society in the implementation of the Paris Declaration
3. Gender in social transformation:
a. Democracy, peace and conflict
b. Human rights and law
c. Poverty eradication and economic empowerment
d. Maternal health and HIV/AIDS
e. Gender and education
Over 589 participants drawn from 53 countries attended the Forum. These include delegates from civil society organisations from around the Commonwealth as well as the magistrates, judges, parliamentarians, business women and development partners interested in gender equality issues especially the CPoA. A total of 11 workshops were conducted.More. Other activities included an exhibition and a social evening.
The Forum was officially opened on 8 June 2007 by the Prime Minister represented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for east African Affiars, Hon Eriya Kategaya. Advisor, Social Transformation Program Division, Gender Section, Commonwealth Secretariat (Dr. Auxilia Ponga) and Deputy Director Commonwealth Foundation (Vijay Krishnarayan) gave the welcome remarks. The opening remarks were given by the Minister of Gender, Labour ad Social Development (Hon. Syda Bbumba). The other speakers at the opening ceremony included Zawadi Nyang’o (Association for women in Development (AWID)) and Bernice Sam (Member of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee, Commonwealth Foundation). The Ceremony was chaired by the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women's Network, Marren Akatsa-Bukachi.
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