Prioritisation Critical In SDG's Implementation- UN Tips Malawi

Mia Seppo

The United Nation (UN) office in Malawi says prioritization of short term goals in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) is vital for the country amid resource scarcity. 

Following the adoption of the SDG’s by the UN General Assembly in September this year, Malawi is expected to start a National Planning Process of implementation of the SDG’s.

Speaking in an interview, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mia Seppo said “There is need to prioritise short term goals because there are limited resources and there are so many priorities in Malawi.”

“What Malawi needs to do in its National Planning Process is to prioritise. To think through the short terms; what are the most important goal’s and medium and long terms, what is the level of ambition.” She suggested

Seppo also hints that since SDG’s includes unfinished business of Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), therefore, four unaccomplished goals in the MDG’s are obviously very good short term starting points for Malawi.

“So to really have an impact there has to be prioritization because otherwise you are going to continue to have what you have in some areas which is a very high level of fragmentation with a lot of small, small, small interventions that doesn’t really add-up and linkup to something that could have a greater impact.” said Seppo 

Alice Harding Shackelford (left)

Commenting on the same, Alice Harding Shackelford, a UN Women Country Representative agreed with Mia Seppo. Shackelford said Malawi needs to take advantage of current Malawi Growth Development Strategy 2 review and the process of the National Development Strategy as a very strategic platform to take course of prioritization.

“The Development Cooperation Strategy which was adopted more than a year ago really brings also an effort around development partners to work in a more coordinated manner which is also very important and all other ongoing processes are going to help also moving to the prioritization process” she added

President Mutharika's Mention of Women Empowerment in Parliament Excites UN women

President Mutharika

President Peter Mutharika's commitment on women empowerment and promote gender equality is attracting applaud from various institutions as UN Women in Malawi (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) says is pleased with his continued commitment in gender issues.

Alice Harding Shackelford Malawi's UN Women country representative says she is impressed that President Mutharika's State of National Address stressed that his government will continue with programmes that empower women and enforce as well as implement  Marriage Bill which he has recently assented 

Alice Harding Shackelford says such commitments from a leader are well come  and encourages other stakeholders to commit themselves in women empowerment issues.

Alice Harding Shackelford pose with
Speaker Richard Msowoya

“His Excellency highlighted the commitment of the government of Malawi to gender equality and women empowerment and I think that for him to reiterate that on regular basis in all his speeches he is so critical." She said 

"He also highlighted that he is the first Head of State in SADC region to sign for He for She campaign and that shows that himself, cabinet and parliament are strongly committed to this. So, I think we are the excellent entry point in this country at this moment to further advance the agenda and ensure that areas of discriminatory and negative attitudes towards women and girls are stopped and we look at enforcing constructive and positive attitudes on these areas.”

Harding further highlighted “I think he also touched on a very critical area, we know the critical legislation has been passed by parliament and he has signed it just recently, The Trafficking in Person Bill and Marriage Bill. But he also emphasized the focus on the enforcement of the law. And I think the enforcement, awareness and capacity building around that have key challenges but we have to work together with the government in the coming months.”

Malawi President Asks Malawian Men and Boys “Join Me in solidarity to achieve gender equality and women empowerment”;

Pres Mutharika Launch He for She Campaign

Mutharika

The Malawi State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has called all men and boys to be the champions for gender equality and women empowerment campaign dubbed ‘He for She Campaign’ which has been launched on Thursday at Parliament Building in the capital Lilongwe.

‘He for She Campaign’ a UN Women solidarity movement for gender equality seeks to encourage Malawian men and boys to support and empower women in all aspects of life in order to gender based violence.

Speaking at the launch marking the kick start of the campaign President Mutharika said the campaign has come at a right time because it will strength his “government drive and commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.” Adding that it also provides opportunity for resourcelization of men and boys to support and promote women and girls empowerment.

As he officially launched the campaign Mutharika called upon men and boys in Malawi to join him in solidarity to achieve gender equality and women empowerment

“I am calling upon all men and boys to be champions for ‘He for She Campaign’,” he said “I am Champion number one and I expect all men and boys in Malawi to join me” and later added “Real men should commit themselves by signing the He for She Campaign!”

The Malawi president has emphasized that women empowerment is not only a woman’s problem but it is a human rights issue which calls for full support and participation of “all men and boys”

He reiterated his government commitment to achieve provisions of the Gender Equality Act, SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and African Union Charter for the Rights of Women.

Mutharika

The Malawi leader who has labeled himself as ‘Champion number one’ for ‘He for She Campaign’ urged Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare to ensure that 2015 year of women be marked with number of activities which promotes gender equality and women empowerment and the rights as Africa moves towards achievement of 2063 African Union Agenda which aims at narrowing the gap between men and women.

Mutharika acknowledged with sadness the existence of gap between men and women in various sectors including education, employment sector and politics “It is also unfortunate that men and boys tend to strongly oppose the efforts being made to level the playing field for equal competition”

“I urge every Malawian man and boy in particular to reverse the trend and we should be the ones to encourage our sisters, daughters and mothers and aunts to carry the mantle and run ahead of us.”

He emphasized that gender equality and women empowerment is the tool for achieving the sustainable development of Malawi. He added that various institutions including parliament and civil society are the conduits for a conducive legal and policy environment for the effective efficient attainment of gender equality and women empowerment in Malawi.

Before making his speech President Mutharika, followed by his vice Saulos Chilima, Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera, male Cabinet Ministers, Legislatures and all men present at the event signed a campaign pledged which reads “I Promise never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against girls. I promise to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment”

Mutharika said for signing the pledge he is committed to promote gender equality and women empowerment “This gesture I face my zeal to ensure that women and men are equal” in all sectors of life.

Alice Harding Shackelford a country representative for UN Women in Malawi also emphasized that Gender equality is everyone’s and every government’s business for the

“Gender equality is a must for economic development, leaving 50% out of the cohesion is not a smart economy” she said, adding that women and girls be empowered and protected from any forms of gender based violence hence men should take lead.

The ‘He for She campaign’ is being represented with purple color for Loyalty and Peace, White color for Purity and Love and Red color for ‘no’ to gender violence.

ActionAid, UN Women, WOLREC Excited With Passing of Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill

ActionAid, UN Women, WOLREC Excited With Passing of Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill 

The passing of Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill by the National Assembly on Thursday evening has brought joy to civil society organisation particularly institutions working in promotion of rights of women, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls related issues.

Immediately after the house passed the bill, gender activists who attended the national assembly deliberations in the day were excited that finally "the battle is won"

"Am very happy that the bill has been passed" said Julie Juma Regional and Thematic Manager for Education and Youth at ActionAid Malawi "This is something that we have been fighting for since 2009 and it is going to bring a big difference to our advocacy work on child marriages and it will help us to end child marriages now that we have a legal backing" 

Alice Harding Shackelford a country representative for UN Women in Malawi also shared her happiness and how UN Women has received the development "Ooh! We are excited, we are excited!" she said, "We are crying with joy and we are happy that finally the parliament has taken this step. It has been a long journey for the civil society and for the ministry"

"We know this is one step but very important step" she continued and thanked parliamentarians, civil society which kept advocating on the bill and congratulated "all the girls who are keeping hope eye in Malawi"

In an email response Women's Legal Resource Center (WOLREC) Programmes Officer Gift Mauluka said "This is a very good news. It is one of the great things that this government will be remembered for. The passing of the bill is one of those things which shows that government has the interest  of the people as long as gender equality issues are concerned."

Commenting on legal technicalities observed in the bill particularly on raising of the marriage age from 15 to 18 years which is being considered as in gross conflict with Constitution provision in section 22 (7) "For persons between the age of fifteen and eighteen years a marriage shall only be entered into with the consent of their parents or guardians.", Julie Juma reacted that "The technicalities are always there" but Malawians should be happy that now there is a legal backing people can refer to and the other processes can be done from "now onwards"

Alice Harding Shackelford said on the same "There are many steps one is, we need the president to assent the bill, we need a bit of enforcement of the bill, we need to work with ministry of justice which is already in support of the bill and working on the amendment of constitution a package which is already in preparation" 

She also highlighted "We need to start working on distribution and dissemination (of the bill) to make sure that law enforcement, judiciary, traditional authorities and others are aware that this is now being enforced by peace of legislation. So we have a lot of work to do and a lot of efforts but I think this shows that if we work together change is possible"