Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Action Group (CWAMAG) Inaugural Meeting.

On 10th May, 2021, Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Margaret Kobia chaired a Virtual Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Action Group (CWAMAG) inaugural meeting.

At the Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting meeting held in September 2019 in Nairobi, Ministers requested the Commonwealth Secretariat to consider establishing an Action Group for Ministers in charge of women and gender affairs to advance collective action to promote gender equality in the Commonwealth.

Following the virtual meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic held in September 2020, it became even more urgent to establish the Ministerial Action Group.

The meeting held on 10th May sought to provide the opportunity to discuss Commonwealth priorities including women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence with a view to sharing good practices and lessons learned towards recovery processes from the pandemic and rebuilding efforts that involve women’s leadership and girls’ interests.

During the meeting, the Action group adopted the updated Gender Declaration which was favourably welcomed by member countries in the context of increased gender inequality during the pandemic. The Declaration will help guide the Ministerial Action Group Terms of Reference and Agenda.

By Jacqueline Kirimi