Speech By His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., M.P., President And Commander-In-Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Republic Of Kenya During The Official Opening Of The Young Women’s Christian Association International Summit On Women’s Leadership On Hiv/Aids,

Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, 5th July, 2007

Your Excellency the Former President of the Republic of Ireland,

Your Excellency the First Lady of Honduras,
The General Secretary of the World Young Women’s Christian Association,
Distinguished Women Leaders,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of all Kenyans and on my own behalf, I warmly welcome you all to Kenya for the 25th and 26th World Young Women’s Christian Association Council Conference. I take this early opportunity to wish you fruitful deliberations and a rewarding stay in our country. I note that this Conference is being held in Kenya for the first time. I convey our appreciation to the Executive Committee of the World Young Women’s Christian Association for choosing Kenya as the venue of this Conference.

Let me also take this opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role that the World Young Women’s Christian Association has continued to play in promoting the welfare of women and girls. Today, the association reaches more than 25 million women and girls in 125 countries, providing them with the support they need to develop to their fullest potential.

I express my gratitude to all members of your Association for their contribution and I urge them all to re-dedicate themselves to the vision of a society where girls and women live fulfilling lives. Indeed, as you deliberate on the agenda of this conference over the next couple of days, you should also celebrate the successes that have been realized so far.

In recent times, women issues have taken center stage globally. Many countries are today implementing the Beijing Platform of Action on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Millennium Development Goals, all of which have positive implications for girls and women. Indeed, today more than at any other time in the world’s history, there are more women occupying key leadership positions. For example, Africa today boasts of its first woman President in Liberia.

In spite of the progress that has been recorded, 70 percent of people living on less than 1 dollar per day are women. The picture becomes more disturbing when we call to mind figures on HIV/AIDS and women. Recent data shows that women make up to 48 percent of all people living with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, 60 percent of all adults living with the virus are female, while among the youth, three out of four young people living with the virus are female. These facts testify to the challenging reality that must be addressed. They also remind us that much more work needs to be done, in empowering women and girls to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.

I am, therefore, encouraged to note that the theme of this year's conference is “Changing Lives, Changing Communities; Women’s Leadership on HIV and AIDS”. By emphasizing the leadership of women and the role of communities in HIV prevention, care and treatment, this conference will go a long way in strengthening the war on HIV/AIDS. I am optimistic that the emphasis on women leadership will also serve as a wake up call to all women and girls to take responsibility not only for their safety, but for the safety of others as well. This is because women are the foundation of the family and, indeed, of society. Women are peace makers. They know how to nurture, and yet they are strong, resilient and industrious. To invest in women is to invest in the development of society.

Similarly, the emphasis on communities will contribute towards sensitizing all community members on their moral duty to reinforce the social fabric around those in need by fighting stigma, taking care of affected individuals and families. Indeed, I wish to emphasize that the role of communities in fighting HIV/AIDS in all its dimensions can no longer be ignored. HIV/AIDS is not just a health issue that should be left to individuals or families. It is also a social issue that demands our collective responsibility as individuals, governments, civil society and the corporate sector.

As we seek to mobilize communities and increase women leadership in fighting HIV/AIDS, let us always bear in mind that gender inequality and the low status of women in society are two of the principal drivers of HIV/AIDS. Therefore, in tackling the problem of HIV/AIDS, we must also address those specific challenges that relegate women to a subordinate status and impede their empowerment. In this regard, I wish to call upon all country chapters of the Young Women’s Christian Association to redouble their efforts in helping women and girls to overcome the challenges that condemn them to a vicious circle of poverty, dependence and exploitation.

In particular, we have a duty to eliminate ignorance from our ranks, since this is one of the key causes of women vulnerability. We must do all that is in our power to ensure that girls go to school, while women acquire skills that will enable them to earn a livelihood and take control over their lives. Your Association should also serve as a voice for the girl-child by encouraging parents and communities to invest in girls’ education. In Kenya, we are providing Free Primary Education. The programme includes an aggressive campaign to parents to send their girls to school, which has helped us attain gender parity at this level. We are emphasizing education because it is only through the acquisition of knowledge that our children can be guaranteed a decent future. Besides education, you must actively fight negative social and cultural attitudes and practices that constrain the girl-child and women from realizing their full potential.

You should also be at the forefront in lobbying for legislation that will adequately prevent and respond to domestic violence and gender-based violence. Equally important, you should be at the forefront in lobbying for more women positions in leadership. In Kenya we have now made it mandatory that 30 percent of all new government employment opportunities are reserved for women. We intend to raise this percentage to 50 percent in order to attain gender parity. In addition, we have recently established a 2 billion shillings Women Enterprise Development Fund to enable women start-up or scale-up income generating enterprises.

I am happy to note that in Kenya, the Young Women’s Christian Association has consistently addressed some of the challenges facing women. The Association continues to be one of the Government's social partners in improving the lives of women and girls. I am encouraged to note that the Association now has a membership of 20,000 and has been able to make a positive difference in the lives of many girls and women.

In conclusion, I wish to invite our distinguished visitors to set aside time to tour various parts of our country and sample some of our very special tourist attractions. You are also welcome to visit our country again in the future and to enjoy Kenya’s unrivalled opportunities for adventure, holidaying, wildlife safaris and sightseeing as well as culture and sport tourism.

With these remarks, it is now my pleasure to declare this conference officially open and to once again wish you all fruitful deliberations.

Thank You and God bless you all.