| 3.0 |
GENDER POLICY GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
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| 3.1 |
POLICY GOAL |
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The overall goal of this policy is to mainstream gender in the national
development process to enhance participation of women and men, girls and
boys for sustainable and equitable development for poverty eradication.
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| 3.2 |
GENERAL OBJECTIVES |
| 3.2.1 |
To enhance and support national efforts towards poverty
eradication through equal participation in and benefit from the national
development process by women, men, girls and boys. |
| 3.2.2 |
To provide all key actors in national development such as policy makers,
the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and donors,
reference guidelines for recognising and addressing gender concerns, take
informed development policy decisions, and ensure that gender perspectives
are mainstreamed in all policies and programmes to benefit both men and
women equitably. |
| 3.2.3 |
To review and revise development policies, programmes and laws to make
them gender responsive, so as to ensure, the participation of both women
and men at all stages of the development process. |
| 3.2.4 |
To promote and facilitate equal access to and control over productive
resources, services and opportunities.
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| 3.2.5 |
To redress imbalances that arise from existing gender inequalities
including traditional, cultural and social attitudes that hinder equal
participation of women and men In development and put women in subordinate
positions.
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| 3.2.6 |
To promote the recognition and value of women's multiple roles
and responsibilities, their contribution towards national development and
as beneficiaries of the development process.
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| 3.2.7 |
To promote collection and use of gender desegregated data In planning
and implementation of development programmes.
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| 3.2.8 |
To clarify and establish an institutional framework with the mandate
to initiate, co-ordinate, implement, monitor and evaluate gender responsive
national plans and programmes.
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| 3.3 |
GUIDING PRINCIPLES |
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Underlying the general policy objectives are key guiding principles,
which will guide policy development and implementation in all sectors as
folIows:- |
| 3.3.1 |
The policy reaffirms government commitment to gender equality as enshrined
in the national principles of the Malawi Constitution of 1995. |
| 3.3.2 |
The gender policy is an intergral parts to eradicate poverty and sustain
social and economic development. Therefore, all development efforts should
ensure that gender concerns are routinely addressed in planning, Implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of programmes. |
| 3.3.3 |
The policy seeks to harmonise national policies with the International
and Regional Declarations and Conventions on the status of men and
women, that Malawi has ratified. |