By Jones Gadama

The Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mary Navicha, has reaffirmed the Government of Malawi’s commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Navicha made this pledge during a bilateral meeting with Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, on the sidelines of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York City.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the Government of Malawi and UN Women to promote women’s rights and economic empowerment.

Navicha highlighted the challenges facing programmes that support women and girls in Malawi, citing the low level of funding for the UN Women Malawi office.

“The low level of funding for the UN Women Malawi office is a major concern,” Navicha said,adding that “We need adequate resources to sustain programmes that promote women’s rights, access to justice, and economic empowerment.”

Bahous acknowledged the concern, saying UN Women is engaging with donors to mobilise more resources for its programmes.

“We are exploring new alliances and partnerships aimed at strengthening support for gender equality initiatives in Malawi,” she said.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation and partnership in promoting the rights and empowerment of women and girls. “Strong collaboration between governments and development partners remains key to achieving sustainable progress,” they noted.

The meeting underscores the importance of partnership in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Malawi.

With renewed commitment and adequate resources, the Government of Malawi and UN Women can drive meaningful change for women and girls in the country.

The CSW70 provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss critical issues affecting women and girls globally.

Navicha’s meeting with Bahous highlights Malawi’s commitment to addressing these issues and promoting gender equality.