UN Women Kenya, in collaboration with its partners, is ramping up efforts to empower young women and adolescent girls, recognizing them as key drivers of long-lasting societal change.
To accelerate meaningful progress, UN Women Kenya is advocating for the swift implementation of the not more than two-thirds gender rule, the National Care Policy, and the recommendations of the Gender Sector Working Group on gender-based violence, including femicide.
“The Government of Kenya has been providing unwavering support for gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is evident through its commitment to the two-thirds gender rule, the National Care Policy – currently under cabinet review – the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy, the Women’s Charter, and the recent establishment of a 42-member task force to tackle gender-based violence and femicide,” said Ms. Antonia N’gabala Sodonon, the UN Women Representative in Kenya.
The initiative aligns with the UN Women’s global campaign marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, themed “For ALL Women and Girls.” The campaign’s call to action is focused on three key pillars:
- Advancing women’s and girls’ rights by fighting for their full range of human rights and challenging all forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation.
- Promoting gender equality by addressing systemic barriers, dismantling patriarchy, transforming entrenched inequities, and amplifying the voices of marginalized women and girls.
- Fostering empowerment by ensuring inclusive access to education, employment, leadership, and decision-making spaces, particularly for young women and girls.
Despite the numerous challenges faced by Kenyan women and girls, significant progress has been made. “We can attest to the incredible milestones that have been achieved, catalyzed by strong political will and a supportive policy and legal framework, particularly the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” said Ms. Anne Wang’ombe, Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It works globally to accelerate progress in achieving gender equality and supports UN member states in setting and implementing policies and programs that benefit women and girls.
The organization focuses on four key priorities:
- Ensuring women’s equal participation in governance.
- Promoting women’s economic security and autonomy.
- Eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
- Enhancing women’s contributions to sustainable peace and resilience-building.
As part of the broader UN system, UN Women continues to advocate for gender equality as a fundamental component of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a more inclusive world.
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