A SIGNIFICANT LANDMARK ON THE PATH TO WOMEN’S EQUALITY
of the economy to the delivery of social services through the not-for-profit or private sector provides new challenges for women. The inclusion of a session on social enterprise highlighted this change and also linked into the theme of opportunity for women entrepreneurs.
The Outcome Statement from the Forum incorporated specific recommendations that provide the path for future change required if women are to achieve equality through the opportunity to ‘be all that you can’. While the Forum recognised the need for women to take and develop the opportunities available, those opportunities often require changes in policy, laws and resource allocation that require commitment from political leaders and in particular Heads of Government.
The Minister Helena Dalli from Malta presented the Outcome Statement to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers’ meeting. She noted that the Forum had stressed the importance of women’s economic, social and political empowerment and the need to leave no women behind, including women with disabilities
and women with different choices.
I noted the contribution of women with disabilities and LBT women was apparent in the various sessions that emphasized the inclusive nature of the Forum. Minister Dalli also added that the Forum reinforced the need to strengthen women’s access, participation and leadership in education, health, employment, technology, political and economic decision-making and the judiciary.
Finally her presentation called for the establishment of an independent Technical Working Group on gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to report the progress at subsequent CHOGM, together with the Commonwealth Women’s Forum to be a permanent forum preceding future CHOGM. As noted this recommendation has been accepted by CHOGM so there will be a continuing opportunity for women of the Commonwealth to meet to access what progress is made and what still needs to be
42 | The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue One
addressed.
The establishment of an independent Tactical Working will be essential to sustain both the work of the 10WAMM and the Gender Plan of Action Monitoring Group. The Outcome document will also inform the current End of Term Review of the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015. What was impressive about the Forum for me as a participant was the sustained work from the Commonwealth Gender Section and CPA-UK to develop and promote a long term strategy for change through the Commonwealth Secretariat and its constituent members. I have learnt over a long period of political participation within my own country that it is essential that women are organised and persistent in pursuit their goals. It is also essential that women engage those who have the power to make the decisions, hence the need for commitment from the Commonwealth Heads of Government. That commitment has to be expressed not only aspirationally but practically through the allocation of adequate resources to promote the interests of women
and the inclusion of women in all levels of decision-making. The Outcome statement from the Women’s Forum succinctly reflected the general and specific issues that arose in all the sessions. Overall the Outcome Statement reflected the urgent need for women to become part of main stream decision-making. This was reflected in the statement that the Women’s Forum be acknowledged as a platform “(i) to transform the mainstream processes with an effective monitoring process to be observed by member states and (ii) to ensure commitments to gender equality and women and girls empowerment takes centre stage and remains essential dimensions of sustainment development, and high on the agenda of Heads of Government.”
The Outcome Statement also recognised the changing nature of economic policies on the agenda of equality for women. The emphasis on women having financial literacy and independence was recognition of the essential pre-conditions of women’s empowerment. While education and health remain essential pre-conditions
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