The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services has intensified preparations to implement key priority areas identified in the review of evidence from the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) implementation progress among member countries, signaling an important commitment towards achieving gender equality.
CS Hanna Wendot Cheptumo said in a statement that the move seeks to support government-led initiatives to address persistent gaps impeding the realization of equality across sectors. The Beijing+30 Action Agenda platform focuses on six priority areas namely: A Digital Revolution; Freedom from Poverty; Zero Violence; Full and Equal Decision-making Power; Peace and Security; and Climate Justice, all seeking to accelerate equality by freeing women and girls from poverty and increasing their voice, bargaining power, and safety.
The CS said that the Ministry will focus on ' Freedom from Poverty ' as a priority area noting that addressing poverty will directly and indirectly impact on the other priority areas. The government already is implementing various initiatives to strengthen the economic power of women through programs such as the Women Enterprise Fund, Uwezo Fund, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and cash transfer schemes, giving them access to credit, capital, and skills that enhance their capacity to generate income and sustain livelihoods.
“By accelerating gender-responsive strategies, investing in poverty reduction, and adopting voluntary action-oriented approaches, Kenya can significantly reduce violence—including femicide—while empowering women and girls to drive sustainable development”, the CS noted.
The statement was read during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting with government agencies, development partners and CSO representatives, to explore practical approaches of implementing existing commitments under the BpfA and the 2030 agenda, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, on the Beijing+30 Action Agenda platform.