By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
A 10-member parliamentary delegation that recently completed a familiarization tour of the Otjozondjupa Region, is extending its visit to the Karas Region to familiarise themselves with gender issues and other social matters.
The parliamentarians are undertaking the weeklong outreach programme to Karas in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF.
The main aim of the visit is to increase dialogue and information sharing between Members of Parliament, government representatives in the regions, communities, civic organisations and vulnerable groups.
Members will specifically look at gender and gender-based violence, poverty, orphans and vulnerable children, reproductive health and HIV/Aids in the region.
The parliamentarians are all members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development, led by Chairperson Elia Kaiyamo. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Sirkka Ausiku said participants would benefit in a number of ways from the visits.
She said it would provide opportunities for communities and other stakeholders to recommend and suggest practical interventions to parliamentarians for joint implementation with regional or community leaders.
She said that although Namibia has made significant progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the so-called ‘Triple Threat’ undermined these efforts.
The triple threat comes from the HIV/Aids pandemic, intensifying food insecurity and what she described as the hollowing out of human capacity.
To address these challenges, the UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF in Namibia last year entered into a co-operation agreement with Namibia for the period 2006-2010.
The gender equality ministry is one of the implementing partners for the project called “Strengthening Commitment and Leadership of Government to Expand HIV/Aids Response, Gender Issues and Women’s Empowerment.”
So far the committee has visited the Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions as part of the programme. The parties involved are expected to compile a comprehensive report on the findings for submission to Parliament for consideration, and for direction on action to take.