Women Deliver 2023: Namibia's youth embrace inclusive future

Paving the way for gender equality
Namibian youth empowerment took centre stage at the Women Deliver Conference 2023 in Kigali in July.
Junior Kapofi
The Women Deliver Conference 2023, held in Kigali, Rwanda this month, served as a powerful platform for Namibian youth to shine brightly and to demonstrate their determination to dismantle barriers and foster solidarity in the pursuit of gender equality.

The conference aimed to catalyse conversations with stakeholders from around the world to break down barriers, address challenges, and identify opportunities for advancing gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), while also improving the wellbeing of girls and women in all of their intersecting identities.

Strong representation

Namibia was represented by Gift Malunga, a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative, and Frieda Stefanus, as well as Joyce Waandja – a #BreakFree from Violence ambassador focused on addressing violence against women within the One Economy Foundation, and Junias David, a consultant for the One Economy Foundation.

Together, they showcased an unwavering commitment to empowering young voices and advocating for gender equality.

This global conference, renowned for its advocacy efforts, united advocates from diverse backgrounds under the theme 'Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions', igniting collective action for a better world. The young representatives from Namibia emerged as champions of sustainable solutions for girls and women, celebrating and embracing their unique identities.

Namibia's First Lady, Monica Geingos, also attended the event and celebrated Namibia's remarkable progress in youth inclusion within decision-making processes.

Inspire each other

Emma Theofelus, the deputy minister of information, communication, and technology, made significant contributions to the conference by addressing proposed legislation benefitting the youth, including tax reductions on sanitary menstruation pads.

Joyce Waandja emphasised the power of women supporting one another, drawing inspiration from the empowering words of Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, a former United Nations (UN) under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women. Together, they declared that solidarity among women is pivotal for genuine empowerment.

The Women Deliver Conference 2023 emerged as a beacon of hope, showcasing the unwavering dedication of Namibia's youth representatives in their quest to build a brighter, more inclusive future.

Their mission transcends borders as they continue to uplift women and empower young minds, fostering a resilient and diverse gender equality movement that resonates globally. The Namibian youth exemplify the boundless power of the young generation, leaving no doubt that they are the vanguard of positive change.