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{
    "id": 32236,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/32236/?format=api",
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    "content": "rights are captured under Article 40; economic and social rights are provided for under Article 43; traditional harmful practices are captured under Article 44; family issues are captured under Article 45; matters related to children, persons with disabilities, youth, minorities and marginalised groups and other members of society are addressed under Articles 52-57. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, all these areas need to be worked on. Basically, the body which is going to work on these areas will be the National Gender and Equality Commission. In 2003, the Ninth Parliament felt that there was need of putting in place the National Gender and Development Commission. This was done after women felt that their issues were being swept under the carpet. When the new Constitution came into being, the National Gender and Development Commission had been able to even help the Government to prepare a gender policy. They were able to do a lot of advocacy. In fact, most of the gains contained in the new Constitution were spearheaded by the Gender, Equality and Development Commission. The functions of the Commission, as proposed under Clause 8, are to monitor, facilitate and advise on the integration of the principles of equality and freedom from discrimination in all national and county policies, laws and administrative regulations in all public and private institutions. The Commission will also act as the principal organ of the State in ensuring compliance with all the treaties and conventions ratified by Kenya, and relating to issues of equality and freedom. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya is a signatory to a series of international commitments, commencing from 1975 to date. Some of these include, but are not limited to the following: the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women of 1984; the Beijing Platform for Action of 1995; the United Nations Declaration on Violence Against Women of 1993; the International Conference on Population and Development of 1995 and, to cap it all, the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women of 1985. All this work cannot be done if we do not have a body to make sure that these things are accomplished. As we implement the new Constitution, it is important for us to note that women have played a very important role in this country. The new Commission is also going to handle the equality issue, especially where issues of disabled persons will be concerned. The Ninth Parliament found it very important to enact a law for disabled persons. However, it is the Commission which will make sure that the National Council for Persons with Disabilities is able to do what it ought to do. In order to track what the Council can do to change the lives of disabled persons in our country for betterment of their lives, the Gender and Equality Commission should be able to help and do that kind of work. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, after the next general election, we realise that we are going to have fewer Ministries. Even if the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development will continue to be there, most likely its mandate will be increased, and it will be too huge to cover gender and equality issues conclusively. When people talk about gender, there is the problem of us thinking that gender is only about women. I want to state today that gender is about men and women. It is about boys and girls. This is a very important Commission because it can make sure that most of the things which have been put in the new Constitution, especially in the Bill of Rights, are realised."
}