The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations in Geneva (UNOG) and the United Nations in Nairobi (UNON) has organized a national exhibition to celebrate the 17 Faces of Action by Kenyan women toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Principal Secretary (PS) of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abraham Korir stated that the exhibition serves as a reminder of the important role that women played not only in achieving the SDGs but in every aspect of life.
“Showcasing their outstanding contribution shows our beliefs in the work they do, not only at the national level but also regionally and globally. This exhibition serves as a call to action inspiring us to reflect on our individual and collective roles in advancing the global agenda for sustainable development,” said Korir.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Director General Political and Diplomatic Affairs Amb. Lucy Kiruthu, Korir disclosed that gender inequality was a major barrier to alleviating poverty as it discriminates against women, denying them access to education, power, and decision-making opportunities in many societies.
Despite global challenges, the PS noted that society is working to alleviate gender inequity by increasing the representation of women in science, politics, and industry to help speed up progress towards the SDGs attainment.
He maintained that Kenya, as the only host of the United Nations Headquarters in the Global South, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the purpose of the United Nations especially in strengthening the functions of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON).
Additionally, Korir encouraged further collaboration among the UN hubs in working towards maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, and promoting sustainable development.
He stressed that the high-level political forum-SGD summit was a negotiated political declaration that reaffirmed that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls would make a crucial contribution to progress across all the SDGs and Targets.
Speaking at the event, Secretary of Gender in the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action Dr. Josephine Obonyo added that the strategy also provided a programmatic guide for all development stakeholders.
She said the Ministry has also developed and was implementing the strategy on SDG 5 to monitor the implementation of gender priorities.
“To the 17 champions, congratulations, and just to echo the great words of the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Sustainable Development is “Not Possible Without Equality for All Women and Girls’. I therefore call on other like-minded women of Kenya and all over the world to emulate the great job done by these champions for the sustainable development of our great nation,” expressed Obonyo.
By Michael Omondi
