From Betfusile Street to New York

The Swazi delegation; Principal Secretary Khangeziwe Mabuza, Ntfombiyenkhosi Dlamini and Weekend Observer Editor Alec Lushaba

This week the Editor’s pen @ work is written miles away from my normal work station at Betfusile Street in Mbabane.

Technology has allowed me to write it in my temporary residence in 408 East 50th Street which is the Embassy of Swaziland under freezing temperature conditions in New York City, United States of America.
I am part of the Swazi delegation headed by the Principal Secretary in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Khangeziwe Mabuza for the 54th Session Commission on the Status of Women currently held at the United Nations.
For good measure, let me name the Swazi delegation, which has been funded by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and UNFPA. As already stated, the team is headed by the PS in the DPM’s office and comprises of Ntfombiyenkhosi Dlamini (Lutsango LwakaNgwane), Khetsile Malaza (gender officer at the DPM’s office),  Dudu Simelane (Director of FLAS), Cebile Manzini-Henwood (Director of SWAGAA), Lindelwa Nxumalo (LDS), Prudence Ngwenya (UNFPA), Bonginkosi Sengwayo (UNDP) and myself.
We arrived in New York on Sunday and the meeting started on Monday and finishes next Friday.

Day 1: March 1
This was the most hectic day for all of us, as we attended several meetings and side events meetings, starting with the official opening of the 54th Session Commission on the Status of Women. Coming from the opening session was the call to establish a women’s agency within the UN structure. The aim is to consolidate and strengthen the women’s voice both within and outside the UN systems and push for equality by 2015.
I then proceeded to the Parliaments take action on violence against women session: the role of Parliaments in enforcing legislation on violence against women organised by the Inter Parliamentary Union. Chaired by Namibian MP Margaret Mensah- Williams, the MPs call for stronger legislation that will end gender-based violence and further call for the sensitisation of the Judiciary. They felt it made no sense to have tougher laws but still have perpetrators of gender-based violence going out because the judge or magistrate felt the abuse does not warrant serious punishment.
MPs said they had been too quiet on the subject of women’s abuse and it is now time for them to stand-up and act even against their own.
They further called for the review of all legislation that discriminates against women. Education was highlighted as central to ending violence against women, starting from pre-school.
The MPs called for an end to the abuse of culture in perpetuating gender-based violence and highlighted the need for the media to also stop promoting gender stereotypes.
From this session, I proceeded to the GEAR-UP campaign, a lobbyist network of women organisation pushing for the transformation of the UN. They want the UN to establish a Women’s Agency that will push for their issues as the current status quo does not serve them well.
Women from several organisations around the world, in particular Africa, made a strong call for the change of structure within the UN system. They minced no words in pushing for a woman candidacy that will be appointed Executive Director and also become UN’s Under Secretary General. They want the agency to have grass roots systems and ensure that the community woman villager is empowered and feels the differences and not a structure that will be clouded in bureaucracy.
My last business on the first day was attending as session on how to make female condoms more accessible for women around the world.
The meeting recognised that male condoms are not helpful to women as they in most cases, depend on the male partner’s willingness to use or not to use it. They stated that women don’t have much of a say and have no choice in sexual matters. They say making female condoms more accessible increase woman’s choice and somehow give them an edge over sexual matters.
However, the UNFPA officer here corrected a misconception among women that female condoms will also help them against contracting transmittable diseases in cases of rape. She said rape is always forceful and proper care is not applied to ensure that the female condom is rightly positioned. She said whilst it is important to have it accessible to all, it must not be seen as a panacea for rape victims.

March 2: Tuesday
I attended the UNAIDS launch of the agenda for accelerated country action for women, girls, gender equality and HIV.
The five-year plan partners the UN with governments, civil society and development partners to address gender inequalities and human rights violations that put women and girls at risk for HIV infection.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidebe said at the launch was about creating a new movement around gender equality and HIV and AIDS issues and mobilizing people for urgent action.
This action was ailed by many African organisations and governments. However, sex workers wanted to know whether their rights are protected as in a number of countries they are still criminalized and once one is HIV positive, it means an end to her business.
March 3. Wednesday
I attended the launch of the International Women’s Day where the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was also in attendance.
Later in the day, the country’s head of delegation, PS Khangeziwe Mabuza read the country’s statement where she stated that the 15-year review process afford the country an opportunity to reflect on its achievement on women issues.
She told the UN Assembly that the country regards women as equal citizens and is committed to the promotion and protection of their human rights. She told the assembly that the country has translated CEDAW into Siswati, which is our local language for it to be appreciated by all.
Given the vast time zone difference between Swaziland and the US, let me end here for today. I still have two more days to spend in between meetings before we take our flight back home on Sunday.