By Ncaba Ntshakala
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has emphasized Eswatini’s commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment during her address at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The DPM was speaking on the country’s progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
She highlighted the strides Eswatini has made in increasing women’s representation in leadership and Parliament, as well as investments in policies and programmes aimed at empowering women economically.
“The Government of Eswatini has taken deliberate steps to ensure women’s inclusion in decision-making spaces, and we are witnessing the results of these efforts,” Dladla said.
She emphasized that legal reforms have been enacted to enhance women’s access to justice, ensuring that legislative frameworks are responsive to their needs.
RELATED: Women entrepreneurs to reignite their energy
Dladla also informed the global gathering about a landmark development in Eswatini which is the declaration of a national public holiday dedicated to women, known as Lutsango Day, which will be observed annually in March.
She noted that this initiative, proclaimed by His Majesty the King, serves as a significant recognition of the role women play in the country’s development and the need to continue promoting gender equality.
“This day is a celebration of the resilience, strength, and contributions of women in Eswatini, and it symbolizes our ongoing commitment to gender parity,” she said.
The CSW conference commenced with an official opening in which the United Nations Secretary-General, along with other high-level speakers, acknowledged the global progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration.
However, they also stressed the need to strengthen partnerships and collaborations to further advance the commitments outlined in the declaration.
The gathering culminated in the adoption of a Political Declaration that reaffirms the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
RELATED: Over E4.5 million loans issued by Women’s Business Start-Up Microfinance Revolving Fund
The declaration emphasizes the obligation of nations to respect, protect, and champion the rights, equality, and empowerment of women and girls.
The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), which runs from 10 to 21 March, is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world and shaping global standards on gender equality and empowerment.
Last year, CSW68 was attended by 100 world leaders and 4,800 civil society participants.
This year’s session will review the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly as well as the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995.
