Namibia

NAMIBIA’S COUNTRY REPORT ON THE AFRICAN UNION SOLEMN DECLARATION ON GENDER EQUALITY IN AFRICA

MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY AND CHILD WELFARE

Directorate: Gender Equality and International Affairs Division: Research, Legal and International Affairs Juvenis Building, Independence Avenue Private Bag 133159, WINDHOEK Tel. 061-2833114/9 or 2833154

Email: genderequality@mgecw.gov.na

2006

LIST OFABBREVIATIONS ADB ADF AFHS AIDS ANC ARV AUWC AU AWCPD CEDAW EFA FAO GDP GEMSA GTZ HIS HIV ICTS IMCI ITN LAC MAWRD MGECW MILOB MMR MoHSS MWACW MOD NAMBAT NDF NDHS NEPAD NGO NACOP OVC PMTCT PSS SACDBRIG SADC SARDC SRH African Development Bank African Development Fund Adolescent Friendly Health Services Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome Antenatal Care Anti-Retro Viral African Union Women’s CommitteeAfrican Union African Women’s Committee on Peace and Development Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women Education for All Food and Agriculture Organisation Gross Domestic Product Gender and Media Southern Africa Deutsch Gesellschaft Für Technische Zusammenarbeit Health Information System Human Immune Virus Information Telecommunication Technologies IntegratedManagement of Childhood Illnesses Insecticide treated nets Legal Assistance Centre Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Military Observers Maternal Mortality Rates Ministry of Health and Social Services Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare Ministry of Defense Namibian Battalion Namibia Defence Force Namibia Demographic HousingSurvey New Partnership for African Development Non Governmental Organisations National Aids Co-ordination Programme Orphans and Vulnerable Children Policy Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Psycho Social Support Southern African Development Community Brigade Southern African Development Community Southern African Research & Documentation Centre Sexual & Reproductive Health

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TBA TFR UNUNAM UNAVEM UNAIDS UNDP UNESCO UNFPA UNICEF US WHO WSIS

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Traditional Birth Attendance Total Fertility Rate United Nations University of Namibia United Nations Angola Verification Mission Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS United Nations Development Programme United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization United Nations Fund for Population Activities United NationsChildren Fund United States Women’s Health Organisation World Summit on Information Society

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INTRODUCTION Namibia, like many other African countries has a history of gender inequalities, be it economic, social, cultural or political. It is from this experience that the Namibian Government decided to adopt the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa at the 3rd Ordinary Session ofthe Assembly of Heads of States and Government in July 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The adoption of this Declaration was to join hands with other African states to bring about gender equality on the African continent. Apart from this declaration, Namibia has ratified and adopted so many international and regional legal instruments that will help to bring about gender disparities to an end. Asstated in the Namibian Millennium Development Goal of 2004 as well as in the Vision 2030 gender equality, women empowerment and the fight of HIV/AIDS are some of the priorities of the country. HIV/AIDS is a burning issue to the Namibian society as it is victimizing more women and children. Namibia will continue to initiate legal reform, policies, programmes as well to promote gender equality, aswell as to discourage all factors that are contributing to the subordination of women. The Namibian Government through the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare in collaboration with other African countries, development partners, non-governmental organizations and civil society joined hands in making gender equality a reality and it is through these assistance in kind or financial that our...