The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr Elias Magosi, has said SADC Member States have played a key role in facilitating women participation in SADC’s peace and security decision-making, protection of women in conflict, and prevention of violence against women.
He was speaking during a virtual launch of the Republic of Namibia’s Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs Women’s Network Forum on 23rd September 2021.
The SADC Region is offering support to its Member States in efforts to implement and domesticate the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 through the development of the Regional Strategy on Women, Peace and Security which calls upon Member States to put in place measures to ensure equal representation and participation by both men and women, H.E Magosi said.
The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs Women’s Network Forum launch intends to bring female members together to address key challenges they face in the military environment.
The initiative, which was launched under the theme “Embrace Defence Women as Agents of Peace”, came about in support of the call by the (UNSCR) 1325 on Women Peace and Security (WPS) advocating for all nations to develop National Action Plans on Women Peace and Security (WPS). This also came on the backdrop of the launch of the Namibia National Action Plan (NNAP 2019 – 2024).
The Executive Secretary commended the Government of the Republic of Namibia for adopting and implementing the National Action Plans on Women Peace and Security and significantly increasing participation of women and incorporating gender perspectives in United Nations peace and security efforts.
In her address, the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs for the Republic of Namibia, Honourable Hilma Nicanor, said that Namibia was celebrating a milestone for women in Namibia, particularly those who played a pivotal role in supporting peace and security processes both regionally, continentally and at international levels. She stated that Namibia recognises the link between peace and gender equality because of many years of struggle for independence in which women fully participated.
The Minister said that since the creation of the United Nations in 1945, there has been increasingly vocal campaigns by women’s groups for the prioritisation of gender issues which consequently brought key advancement at national and regional space. Amongst many other legal instruments ratified by the Republic of Namibia, the Minister pointed out that her government’s efforts to promote gender equality and empowerment of women was concretised by Namibia’s pledge to the Beijing Platform for Action resolution adopted by the UN during the Fourth World Conference on Women, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, United Nations Agenda 2030, as well as SADC legal instruments.
She emphasised that the Government of Namibia at national level continues to implement laws and legislations which seek to close the gaps between men and women, including adoption of the National Agenda Policy and Plan of Action which has resulted in achieving significant empowerment of women and curbing institutionalised discrimination, particularly towards women.
The other speakers were the Acting Director of International Women’s Peace Centre (IWPC), Ambassador Morina Muuondjo, Deputy Representative of United Nations Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), Ms Hazel Goodings, and Chief of Human Resources for the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs for Namibia, Air Marshal Martin Kambulu Penehas. They all gave their accounts on activities and initiatives aimed at operationalising the concept of women having influence and assuming leadership roles in peace and security matters, including elevation of women’s full equal and meaningful participation in their own societies.
