The Women’s Manifesto Movement (Woman) Malawi is today holding a women’s assembly to develop a manifesto for advocating for women’s issues.
The assembly, to be held under the theme Time For a Focused Women’s Voice, will be held at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe.
Woman Malawi comprises various organisations, including the Women Legal Resources Centre (Wolrec).
Worlec executive director Maggie Kathewera Banda said in an interview the assembly will provide a platform for women to identify issues that affect them in their lives and find means of addressing them.
She said: “Issues of women have not been given much attention so we thought of raising the bar by coming together to draft a manifesto which will be used as an advocacy tool to lobby government and other duty bearers to address issues affecting women at all levels.”
Issues to be discussed during the assembly include women’s health, education, security and access to justice.
On her part, Non-Governmental Organisations Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) chairperson Barbara Banda described the assembly as a turning point in the handling of women issues.
“Let me appeal to all women in the country to utilise the platform and speak out on our concerns. Together we can change things,” she said.
Among the organisations that have sponsored the event are Oxfam, Hivos, Action Aid, 50:50 Management Agency, Tovwirane, Governance Gender Justice Development and IM Swedish Development Partner.
The assembly has come at a time when government, through the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, is championing for the equal representation of women in all sectors, through the 50:50 Campaign.
