The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has advocated for greater inclusion of women in decision-making process as a way to increase their power to tackle critical challenges such as poverty and improved health.
Speaker Kadaga argued that greater women representation corresponds to better chances of addressing the challenges of poverty, poor health and climate change.
Kadaga made the remarks while attending the Fifth Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia Regional Conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, that was held between July 29 and August 02, 2019.
The Speaker’s participation in the regional conference was a key part of her ongoing efforts to engage with other sister Parliaments and Parliamentarians within the commonwealth.
The Speaker’s presence at the event was also seen as a key moment to draw attention among participants mainly from Asian countries for the forthcoming 64th CPC conference that is scheduled to take place in Uganda next month.Speaker Kadaga urged participants to use Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the lives of people in developing countries.
“We have a challenge to end poverty, ensure healthy populations, equality, combat climate change, promote energy efficiency and provide quality education among others,” Kadaga said.
Kadaga added that those challenges are key obstacles faced by African and Asian countries.
She called on Asian countries to increase women representation in decision-making positions.
Citing statistics in the Commonwealth, Kadaga said that Asian countries have low levels of women representation in decision-making positions.
She revealed that in Asia, Nepal ranks highest with 33 per cent women representation while Sri Lanka trails at six percent.
The Speaker however, was happy with the progress made by countries in Latin America and Africa in as far as women involvement in key decision making in government organs is concerned.
“In Bolivia and Cuba, women representation is at 52 per cent while in Africa, Rwanda leads at 61 per cent,” Kadaga added.
Pakistan President Dr. Arif Alvi who attended the opening ceremony said that inequality is increasing worldwide.
Dr. Arif added that governments are responsible for equalizing society by taxing the rich to provide services to the common people.
