Gender balance in positions of power and decision-making in government institutions: An assessment on the Implementation of the national gender policy in Namibia
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Date
2006
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Abstract
This study assesses the implementation of the National Gender Policy, with more emphasis on gender balance in position of power and decision-making. The topic, gender equality, was chosen on the understanding that equality and respect for Human Rights are major principles of democracy that the Namibian government has opted for. Namibia set herself a target of reaching 30 percent female representation in power and decision-making positions by 2005 in an effort to achieve an acceptable gender balance in national governance
Analysis of the available data reveals that the National Assembly has 29.2 percent female representation thereby putting Namibia in the top twenty of IPU countries with many women in parliament. In addition, the country's National Council boasts of 26.9 percent female representation, an improvement from 7.7persent representation in the previous Council. In Public Service, the female representation in the Management Cadre has also increased from 20.8 percent in 1999 to 29.2 percent in 2004. However, at regional government level women remain under-represented. Before the elections of November 2004, representation of women in Regional Councils was 7.9. percent It has since increased to 13.1 percent but still falls short of the government's 30 percent target. It is only at local authority councils' level where female representation accounts for 43.4 percent. The result can be attributed to the legislative quota that compels political parties to nominate a specific number of women to serve on the council
The study thus found out that of the three levels of government, namely central government, regional and local government, only at the local government level that the 30 representation has been achieved. National Assembly and the Public Service failed to meet the 30 percent target by less then 1 percent, while the National Council fell short by less than 3 percent. It is at regional government level and in parastatals where women remain seriously under-represented
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Personnel management, Civil service, Sex