The former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, has advocated a gender-responsive Election 2020 manifesto towards achieving the goals of Agenda 2030.
She explained that “for our nation to achieve set goals of the Agenda 2030, political parties must ensure through their manifestos with clear commitment, determination and dedication towards implementation”.
Nana Oye Lithur was speaking in connection with the marking of the International Women’s Day on March 8, which is on the theme: ‘I am generation equality: Realising women’s rights’.
Ghana Women Agenda 2030 re-invigorated in Beijing Declaration was christened at the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the status of women at New York in 2015.
The theme is aligned with United Nations women’s new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Nana Oye Lithur noted that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would not be possible without gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls saying “we in Ghana must take a leap through political commitment, dedication and determination as the nation prepares for landmark elections in December.
“There is the need for comprehensive approach to implementing all 17 SDGs through integration of gender perspectives across all government policies and programmes which can be achieved if political parties determine, dedicate and commit to their manifestos.
“Political parties must explain plans and strategies towards eliminating all forms of gender-based discrimination and removal of any statutes still permitting discrimination since our country has made tremendous progress towards gender empowerment, although comprehensive approach is still needed to increase women participation in power and decision making.
“Agenda 2030 is not fight against men, or struggle to dislodge men from any position, importance of women’s equal participation in decision making is to achieve transparent and accountable government for sustainable growth and development,” Nana Oye Lithur stressed.
She appealed to political parties to use Election 2020 manifestos to outline robust set of actions for translating ambitious growth and development roadmap into reality for women and girls and recounted how world leaders pledged measurable actions to tackle structural barriers in achieving gender equality.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations Member States in September 2015 are universal roadmap for people and planet, addressing key challenges of the 21st century, such as poverty, inequality and climate change. -GNA
