By Fred Deya
There is an urgent need of gender disaggregated data that analyses the reality of the gender gaps, their challenges, and requirement, says commissioner Winnie Lichuma.
Addressing a number of, the commissioner said that the analyzed data is important in contributing to decision-making processes in regards to contentious two-thirds affirmative action clause in the constitution.
The conference that was graced by delegates across the African continent and beyond was organized to address and discuss the implementation of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) and African Union 2063 agenda.
According to Winnie, who is the chairperson of the Kenya National Gender & Equality Commission (NGEC) said that relevant gender disaggregated data presented the reality within the gender gaps and speed up of the implementation of various policy mechanisms.
“We must monitor and evaluate the numbers from a pro-active angle and seek to understand what the numbers are telling us and why, because data contributes to informed decision-making,” said Commissioner Lichuma.
“We need to go beyond the sex data that we have which only distinguishes the physical gender and collect data that represents the lived realities that explain further why the glaring gaps persist.”
The commissioner lamented the stalled implementation process of the two-thirds gender rule in Kenya that has seen it escalated to the Courts as an accountability mechanism, a delayed process that has been viewed as unconstitutional.
“With the right gender disaggregated data, we will be able to hold governments accountable to delivering on commitments such as the SDGs 2030 and African Union 2063 Agenda in this way really transform lives,” she said.
The Pan African Women’s conference organized by the African Women’s Development & Communications Network, FEMNET recently convened over 150 African women leaders, women’s rights advocates and development partners from 35 African countries to deliberate on an implementation strategy to compel African governments to fully implement the SDGs 2030 and 2063 Agenda. This conference, one of its outcomes key urged governments to go beyond mere talking but talk the walk.
The Conference was officially inaugurated by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Services, Youth & Gender Affairs Ms. Cisily Kariuki.
