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Kenya signs deal to advance gender parity

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government on Wednesday signed a joint communique with China, Denmark and Mexico to advance gender equality in line with international declarations.

Anne Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, said the communique, dubbed "Working Towards Safeguarding the Beijing Declaration and Post 2015 Gender Agenda", seeks to rejuvenate women empowerment.

"Twenty years ago in China, 189 governments adopted Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action to ensure women and girls have equal rights and privileges like their male counterparts. Two decades later, the Beijing Platform for Action remains a powerful source of inspiration," Waiguru told journalists in Nairobi.

She met delegations from China, Denmark and Mexico in Nairobi to review progress achieved in gender parity ahead of a two-day meeting that is to kick off Thursday in Nairobi to discuss progress in the implementation of global declarations on women empowerment.

The Nairobi conference will be attended by African gender ministers, scholars and campaigner to commemorate 30 years since Kenya hosted the 3rd global conference on women.

Kenya sent a high powered delegation to attend the 4th International Women's Conference in Beijing in 1995. Waiguru noted the Beijing meeting made far-reaching commitments to advance gender parity globally.

"We have made remarkable progress in the realization of women's right to education, health, employment and dignity two decades after the Beijing conference," Waiguru remarked.

China has been instrumental in galvanizing the international community to support empowerment of women and girls in the last two decades. Waiguru revealed China, in conjunction with UN-Women, will co-host a global leaders' meeting on gender equality and women empowerment in September at the UN Headquarters in New York.

"Governments will renew political support to accelerate implementation of programs that advance gender equality in line with sustainable development goals," said Waiguru, adding that Kenya will share knowledge and experience with China, Denmark and Mexico to empower women and girls through education, jobs and political participation. Endit