By Staff Reporter
A 10-member delegation from Parliament will undertake an extensive tour of the Otjozondjupa Region to familiarise themselves with gender issues and other social matters.
The parliamentarians are all members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development, led by Chairperson Elia Kaiyamo.
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.
The parliamentary delegation will specifically look at gender and gender-based violence, poverty, orphans and vulnerable children, reproductive health and HIV/Aids.
The parliamentarians are undertaking the one-week outreach programme to Otjozondjupa in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF.
Permanent Secretary at 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.
Deputy Director for Gender Mainstreaming in the Ministry Rosina Mabakeng briefed members of the committee on some of the challenges the country faces on Friday.
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”.
“The overall goal is to address gender inequality that contributes to the spread of HIV/Aids,” she said.
Members of the Parliamentary Committee visited the Oshikoto Region last year as part of the programme.
Mabakeng said the parties involved would compile a comprehensive report of the findings for submission to Parliament for consideration, and for direction on action to take.
MPs travelling to Otjozondjupa are Elia Kaiyamo (Chairperson), Elna Dienda, Reggie Diergaardt, Peya Mushelenga, Eveline Nauses-Tayele, Royal /Ui/o/oo, Jurie Viljoen, Alexia Malombe-Ncube, Dr Chief Ankama and Dr Moses Amweelo.