Human Rights of Women
Namibia will celebrate International Women's Day tomorrow to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.
The event will to be held throughout the month of March worldwide with this year's theme called?'Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures', Namibia Press Agency reported.
Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Doreen Sioka said in a statement yesterday it is the responsibility of every leader to inspire female children for a better life through education and to empower women through the promotion of small businesses in the country including women in rural areas.
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women is an important milestone for Namibia to promote and protect the rights of women, said Sioka.
The Namibian government is committed to combat gender based violence, including human trafficking, and to address gender imbalances by creating an enabling environment safe for its citizens, Sioka said, adding that the government has acknowledged the challenges faced in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women.
On gender based violence, the government has enacted several acts, including the Domestic Violence Act, Rape Act and Child Care and Protection Bill.
The Gender-Based Violence National Conference was held in June 2007 to discuss the root cause of gender violence and ways of dealing with the issue.
International Women's Day will coincide with the launch of Namibia's National Gender Policy 2010-2020 to address existing gender inequality and discriminatory norms and practices.