On 19-20 September 2019, the 12th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in Nairobi gathered government officials from over 30 countries. The approaches agreed upon by ministers to accelerate gender equality are set out in the events’ outcome statement and are to be considered by country leaders at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Written by the Commonwealth Secretariat
Women’s affairs ministers have agreed on actions to accelerate gender equality to be presented to Commonwealth leaders when they meet in Rwanda next year.
The priorities are set out in the outcome statement made by the 12th Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The approaches agreed by ministers are being put forward for consideration by leaders when they meet for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The actions can directly benefit 1.1 billion women and girls living in the Commonwealth and include:
- increasing women’s participation in decision-making and leadership;
- ensuring access to at least 12 years of free quality education for girls;
- putting in place and upholding comprehensive sexual and reproductive health rights for women and girls;
- providing resources to enforce laws which protect women from violence in the workplace, public spaces and in their homes; and
- focusing on women and girls in national plans for addressing climate change and disaster.
