Africa-Press – Seychelles. A group of stakeholders from government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations yesterday followed a training workshop to learn how to use Comesa planning tools and policy to facilitate gender mainstreaming in all their programmes and projects.
The objectives of this working and awareness training were to disseminate the gender policy and policy implementation plan; and the Comesa gender mainstreaming guidelines, checklists and indicators to raise awareness and application of these policy documents and tools by stakeholders in the public, private and civil society organisations.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) organised the session at the Savoy Resort & Spain partnership with the research and policy planning division under the aegis of the family department in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family.
The training was led by Comesa representative Beatrice SimwapengaHamusonde, Comesa director of gender and social affairs and the launch was done by the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Marie-Celine Zialor in the presence of the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry Devika Vidot.
In her remarks to launch the training Ms Hamusonde commended Seychelles for always taking Comesa programmes seriously.
“For instance, Seychelles is one of the first five countries that have signed the social charter. Seychelles always participates in the Comesa technical and ministerial meetings on gender and social affairs. Seychelles submits its annual progress report on the implementation of the Comesa gender policy. We commend Seychelles for this dedication and leadership,” said Ms Hamusonde.
Minister Zialor shared that the workshop will bring numerous benefits such as help to strengthen the capacity of the national gender management team.
“It will support the implementation of the national gender policy of the Seychelles, and provide gender planning tools. There is no use to having policies, laws and legal framework if they cannot be implemented. It will also help strengthen the strategic collaboration, networking and partnership between government, civil society and the private sector in order to strengthen gender competencies nationally as well as internationally,” said Minister Zialor.
Minister Zialor also stated that theComesa remains a very relevant and important partner in our endeavours towards the gender policy implementation and gender planning.
“We have variousexamples of collaborations, e.g. training on SGBV, Comesa financed the gender-based violence curriculum for post-secondary institutions, 50 million Women Speak Platform.”
The participants of the workshop were able to follow a brief overview of the Comesa gender programmes; discussed the Comesa gender policy, its implementation plan and the Comesa gender planning or mainstreaming guidelines, indicators and checklists for different sectors.
They also participated in group discussions on gender concepts and how to document the status of gender in Seychelles with focus on the public sector, private sector and civil society.
Ms Hamusonde noted that this meeting should position stakeholders at the same level in understanding the aspirations of Comesa on gender equality and empowerment of women and men. The workshop should lead to the direction of attainment of gender equality, consciousness on the situation and needs of women and men, girls and boys so that we do not neglect gender issues that may block the achievement of full potential for all.
“Understanding and consideration of gender issues that affect women and men, girls and boys in various sectors is critical to enable equal or equitable opportunities, a safe and friendly environment for all, where everyone, be it male or female, develop self-confidence, sense of responsibility, and promote all-round and coordinated socio-economic development. The Comesa will continue to deepen the advancement of gender mainstreaming across sectors based on the principles or aspirations of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, and disadvantaged groups depending on the context,” concluded Ms Hamusonde.
Seychelles is among the first countries to start such education programmes among the 21 member states of the Comesa.
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