No real progress without gender equality

This is an exciting period for the Secretariat as we prepare for the 8^th triennial Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM) in Kampala, Uganda, from 11 to 14 June 2007.

8WAMM is significant for a number of reasons. First, it is likely to be one of the biggest meetings on gender equality anywhere in the world in 2007. We expect the vast majority of the 53 Commonwealth member countries to be present, as well as major international and regional agencies.

The meeting will also feature a parallel Partners Forum for civil society and other professional organisations, young people and the private sector. Commonwealth associations – particularly those made up of parliamentarians, judges and magistrates, local government, business councils and networks – will also be holding events in the wings of 8WAMM.

Second, the 2007 meeting is of special importance as it will be taking place in Uganda five months before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held there in November. This gives us a significant opportunity to take gender equality and women’s rights issues from one meeting to the next.

8WAMM also presents a unique opportunity for member countries to reflect on progress made since the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015 was adopted at 7WAMM in 2004.

8WAMM’s theme of ‘Financing gender equality for development and democracy’ reflects the growing awareness that women’s rights and gender equality are being overlooked in development and democratization processes. In the Commonwealth, we see the impact of that neglect in a number of ways: different levels of access to services and resources for women and men, girls and boys; the feminization of poverty; high maternal mortality; girls being denied an education; widespread HIV/AIDS prevalence among women and girls; a low percentage of female parliamentarians.

Our message is that resources must be allocated to gender equality and to women’s rights if real progress is to be made. Areas for our involvement include supporting civil society and the women’s movement, and strengthening the structures and the capacity of those involved in promoting equality between the sexes.

The focus of 8WAMM is central to this year’s International Women’s Day theme of ‘Ending impunity for violence against women’. International Women’s Day this year reminds us that the journey towards an equal world is still arduous. The Commonwealth recognises women’s crucial roles in achieving development and democracy, as its Plan of Action shows.

Over the years, states have adopted international instruments for women, and passed national laws, while global and national campaigns have called for an end to all violence against women. Yet much more remains to be done. Many women are still subjected to violence. Most cases of violence remain unreported; and the majority of perpetrators continue to walk free.

If we are to make the world a safer place for women and girls, countries must be persuaded to devote adequate finances to fighting violence. Violence against women cuts across society and affects all aspects of governance. Without development and peace, we cannot have an equal world. Political will and sufficient financial resources

are the essential components for the achievement of that world.

Greetings to you on International Women’s Day 2007, and we look forward to seeing you at 8WAMM.