BLANTYRE JUNE 24, 2016(CISA) – The government of Malawi has commended Faith Based Organizations in their role towards realization of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015.
Speaking when she opened national awareness conference on the role of Catholic Women Organization (CWO) in the implementation of SDGs Dr Jean Kalilani, Minister for Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare said that “the role played by religious organizations in governance policies, peace and security, gender equality and women empowerment was very critical to the nation.”
“I am happy to learn that the conference has been organized to reflect and identify the role of the Catholic Women Organization in achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals for Malawi, with focus on Goal 5, which is Gender Equality and Women Empowerment,” AMECEA news quoted Dr Kalilani as saying June 23.
She said that the conference which was organized by her Ministry also aims at determining the opportunities of working with Catholic Women Organization in promoting the socio-economic empowerment of women in Malawi within the framework of the SDGs.
She said that the country was already preparing to host the African Region Conference of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations-WUCWO in August this year. Speaking on behalf of Bishop Peter Musikuwa, Chairman of the Lay Apostolate under which CWO falls, Acting National Pastoral Coordinator at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Fr Vincent Mwakhwawa said that the conference organized by the Ministry of Gender which targeted Catholic Women was timely as it was a platform for a successful WUCWO conference.
“I saw that the theme of your forthcoming Conference is: Women of Africa, Proclaimers of God’s Mercy. This is a very good and well-chosen theme since it reminds African women of their important mission and calls them to discharge it with seriousness,” he said.
The conference was also attended by First Lady of Malawi Madam Callista Mutharika and Dr. Mary Shaba who are all members of the CWO.
