KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Young African Women’s Congress (YAWC) Has empowered thousands of young Women in Africa and the diaspora to be changed agents in their communities.
YAWC is an annual residential pan-African Women gathering that was birthed in 2016 and since then, it has been steadily progressing thanks to its different partners.
This year, the 2023 African Sub-regional session has been held at Makerere University, Kampala city Uganda.
The event which kicked off yesterday, Sunday, 2nd April 2023 will last for four days with a theme: – Women’s Empowerment for Sustainable Development: A Collective Responsibility.
The event has attracted powerful women from all over Africa like: – Kenya, Liberia, Zambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda etc.
While giving her remarks, the minister of gender labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi thanked all women for a collective voice in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
She said that in the case of Uganda, The Government of Uganda has been at the forefront of women’s emancipation. The Government has made significant investments in women’s empowerment over the years as exemplified by the current status of women.
“Today the 11th Parliament has a total of 175 women MPs comprising 34 per cent. The Cabinet has 37 women Ministers constituting 45%. Women’s Permanent Secretaries comprise 48.5 per cent. The Vice President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker are female. This is a strong force of women in decision-making positions who are expected to guide and serve the people towards sustainable development” – Amongi
Minister Amongi further noted that the policy and legal frameworks are in place. Constitution, Electoral laws for affirmative actions, mortgage law, economic empowerment programs, FGM, DVACT, DEFILEMENT ACT etc
According to minister Amongi, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in September 2015 by U.N. member states, set the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and helped frame political and economic policies.
The 17 SDGs build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and call for bold action to address a broad range of development issues including achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
“To achieve the SDG, we require collective actions and platforms like this one. This activism today, with various testimonies, exemplifies the global movement underway around women’s empowerment, which seeks to illuminate the continued struggles women face fighting for their rights, equality, and safety in the workplace, at home, and with respect to their own bodies,” Amongi said.
In her speech, she also made a hint at Women who fight these battles daily, battles that manifest quietly when a woman hesitates whether to go for that promotion or, more visibly and violently, when women are harassed or violated at work or home.
“Organization like this one exemplifies the collective power of women and men when they come together to demand change and inclusion. there is a lot that can be learned from grassroots movements that start with determined individuals and transform into powerful tidal waves of change:,” said Amongi.
Amongi also spoke about Leaders who are willing to be the first to make a bold commitment, invest in unlikely partnerships, or set wildly ambitious targets are our trailblazers, and for that, she applauds them.
“You have recognized that one can’t do it alone. You realized that the challenges facing young women today and those particularly related to women’s progress transcend any one-person organization, sector, or even a single government, it’s a collective struggle.”
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