As the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit unfolds in Kampala, Uganda has signaled its intention to host the NAM Women Secretariat. The country, taking over the 3-year NAM leadership from Azerbaijan, aims to coordinate issues concerning women within NAM member states, advocating for economic empowerment and addressing resolutions impacting women.
Betty Amongi, Uganda’s Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, highlighted the significance of establishing the NAM Women’s Forum Secretariat in Uganda during her address at the NAM Women’s conference in Kampala. She emphasized that the secretariat would focus on reducing poverty, ensuring women’s education, providing affordable capital, and offering skills development.
Azerbaijan, during its leadership since 2019, established the NAM Youth and Women’s Forum. Minister Amongi expressed Uganda’s readiness to harmonize these initiatives and further strengthen the role of women within NAM.
“We women of Uganda are saying we seek to establish the NAM women’s forum secretariat in Uganda,” said Amongi. She stressed the financial need, citing the United Nations’ estimation of requiring Shs360 billion to address the gender gap, especially for women in the poorest bracket.
Patricia Manaabi, Executive Director of the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), representing women in Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), called for a commitment to permanently establish the secretariat in Uganda. She emphasized the existing structure and mechanisms to support its functioning.
While NAM leadership is rotational among member states, Manaabi urged for a dedicated effort to establish the secretariat in Uganda, leveraging the opportunity presented during the country’s chairmanship of NAM. She encouraged collaboration among NAM countries to implement the outcomes of the 18th summit.
Sarah Opendi, Tororo District lawmaker, highlighted the need for gender parity even in executive roles. She sees Uganda’s chairmanship of NAM as an opportunity to collaborate with other developing countries, share best practices, and seek global support for women.
