Staff Reporter
Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Yvette Araes has cited the lack of women in politics as the major failure, resulting in women’s voices not being heard and taken seriously.
“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored,” Areas said.
She said this while delivering her maiden speech in parliament last week. Citing the 2021 edition of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Women in Politics map, Araes said despite increases in the number of women at the highest levels of political power, widespread gender inequalities persist.
“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants to be” is a quote by Coco Chanel. This shows how female empowerment is a must, and women should feel empowered more and more to do what they wish to accomplish in their lives, related to career, education or politics, she said.
“Female empowerment is important because it is essential that women are able to do everything they set their motivations on,” she added. She said when women are treated unequally to men in terms of rights and designation, it is called gender inequality.
However, she added, even in this modern era, this social issue exists. “Women empowerment is the process to empower women with their assigned rights and proper place in society,” she said.
Areas said as a part of God’s creation, women have the similar rights to live their life freely as anyone on the planet.
However, she said, since ancient times, they are being maltreated and deprived of their rights.
“Today, everything has changed, but this custom has remained unchanged,” she said.
She said it is extremely important to empower women in all spaces of society.
“Women deserve empowerment and equal treatment – not just because they are women but because they are capable to lead and deliver quality results just like men,” she stresses.
“When we empower women, we empower the entire Namibian nation. Women equally also need to take up leadership roles and cement themselves in spaces that are male-dominated in societies,” she added.
She further lamented in the existing parliamentary structure, which has eight parliamentary standing committees, only one of it is presided over by a woman, saying it is unbalanced.
“Out of all 11 political parties within this August House, there are only two female chief whips. We need urgent and proportional representation in leadership roles to comply with the Affirmative Action Act,” she added.
Araes is part of six new PDM members of parliament who were recently sworn into the National Assembly.
Charmaine Tjirare, Araes, Maximalliant Katjimune, Reggie Diergaardt, Mike Rapuikua Venaani and Lukas Hamata were declared duly elected as members of parliament by the Supreme Court.