UN involved in forging gender policy

UNDP Swaziland, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNIFEM and the World Bank, said in a statement on Friday that it intended taking an innovative approach to assist the country in examining gender issues and formulating a national gender policy. The initiative, known as ‘An Integrated Approach to Gender Equality in Swaziland,’ was launched in August with the endorsement and participation of the government and is already showing results, the statement said.

The initiative has led to a greater understanding of gender issues among government agencies and the importance of incorporating gender concerns in all planning activities. There is increasing use of culture as an entry point for addressing gender issues, since cultural norms often affect social practices and policies. The initiative has also developed a core group of trainers with skills in key areas, including social and economic gender analysis, gender focused responses to HIV/AIDS, gender and development communications, and rural communications.