Social Protection: Transforming the Social Economic landscape for Women, girls and other vulnerable Groups
Date of Meeting: March 11, 2019
Meeting Organizer: The Republic of Kenya
ISJC Staff Present: Major Victoria Edmonds
Reporter: Major Victoria Edmonds
Which SDG does this topic cover? 5, 8,16
Type of meeting: CSW Side Event
Brief summary of presentation of information made
This was a side event hosted by the Republic of Kenya. They shared the measures and steps taken to address challenges and remove barriers for women and girls’ access to social protection in order to ensure gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Kenya’s ultimate goal of social protection is to ensure that all Kenyans live in dignity and are given the opportunity to use their capabilities for social and economic development.
The government’s current approach to social protection is three pronged:
- Social assistance,
- Social Security
- Health Insurance
This event served as a platform for sharing best practices in other countries, including the Republic of Malawi, who have similar initiatives thus enriching the discussion.
The panellists for this Side Event were:
Prof. Margaret Kobia – Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs
Ambassador Ukur Yatani – Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
Honourable Cecilia Chazama – Minister of Gender, Children, disability and Social Welfare
Dr. Mohammed Kuti – Chairperson, Health Committee, Council of Governors
Honourable Johnson Sakaja – Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Protection
Gloria Ndekel – Kenya Private Sector Alliance – Better Business Practices (BPP) for children initiative
Representative – UNFPA
The Objectives of the Side Event:
- Demonstrate the importance of legislative and policy frameworks on social protection in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
- Showcase Kenya’s private sector’s best practices on successful initiatives towards promoting conducive workplaces which have enabled young women to equally participate in employment;
- Demonstrate the great and increasing opportunities of social security initiatives which promote women and girl’s equality and empowerment.
Discussion that took place during the event:
- Documentary film on Cash transfers
- What social protection means to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Kenya
- Social Protection Policies and empowerment of Communities
- Best practices of social protection systems
- The role of country governments in enhancing social protection for women and girls
- Public and private partnerships
- Making social protection integrated and responsive to the needs of vulnerable women and girls including in all settings.
What was of particular significance to share with The Salvation Army globally?
This was a good opportunity for the country to highlight what they are doing in social protection of women and girls, and for the Salvation Army to hear ways in which they are making an effort to work with women and girls.
This would give the Salvation Army an opportunity to partner with them in their Private Partner Partnership Program. In our programs of Women’s Ministries this would be a good opportunity for the government and The Salvation Army to learn from each other and share ideas on what we are already doing to help women in social protection.