NEWA is pleased to inform KENJIT's readers that it has launched a bimonthly forum called Gender Talk. The mayor of Addis Ababa was the first guest speaker at Gender Talk, a forum where NEWA invites native and expatriate speakers to give talks and lead discussions on a wide spectrum of gender-centered issues to members of NEWA and other organizations that work on woman related issues.
At this first forum held on at Desalgen hotel on November 28, 2003 Mr. Arkebe Equbay highlighted the city government's effort to tackle the gender gap in many spheres, particularly in the area of civil service, unemployment and health care. He cited that under the restructured civil service a conscious effort was made to empower women. As a result 30% of the decision-making post in the city's administrative structure are today held by newly appointed women. The mayor underscored that the city government has also given the problem of unemployment a high priority and cited that 50% of Addis Ababa's unemployed are women. The city's strategy, he explained, is to focus not on capital intensive investments but on developing micro economic activities. He pointed out that, the city plans to develop this area because it employs a higher rate of female workers than any other sector. The mayor identified food preparation, garment and textile production, and household goods handicraft as the three chief areas of micro economic activities in which a large segment of the working women tend to concentrate. Hence, the city, the mayor announced, has allocated a sizable sum to provide credit service credit, training program and facilitate market outlet to women engaged in this sector. On the other hand Arkebe Equbay stressed that the city government gives urgent and serious attention to the problem of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the city. He explained that the city's main approach to curb the spread of the epidemic is to work in partnership with the school system both by creating awareness and providing the necessary facilities to youth, the most exposed to the virus. The mayor wrapped up his presentation by pointing out that the city's plan to implement these changes through systematic, concerted effort and partnership primarily with the private sector, NGOs and other government departments. He expressed his appreciation for the form because, he said, such dialogue helps the city government to have intimate understanding and knowledge of women's concerns as it endeavors to create a dent in Addis Ababa's deep-seated and complex socio-economic and gender-related problems.
After animated discussion, the participants of the Gender Talk forum expressed their gratitude to the mayor for the city government's commendable efforts to empower women. They also let the mayor know of their desire and hope that the municipality would continue its effort to empower women and narrow the gender gap in all spheres. The meeting reached a broad understanding that ways must be explored in which the municipality's work and the activities of gender-based NGOs can be synchronized.
As anticipated, this first forum has proved that Gender Talk's objective to serve as a vehicle for: advocacy, networking, and source of first hand information can be realized. NEWA is confident that the second Gender Talk with the vice-minister of justice as guest speaker will be as informative, exiting, and productive as the first has been.
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