DRC: Kalemie hosts forum focused on accountability and women’s empowerment

The ninth National Forum of ministers and provincial division heads responsible for gender affairs opened on October 26 in Kalemie, Tanganyika province. Gender, Family and Children Minister Micheline Ombae Kalama urged officials to turn their commitments into measurable action, including improving women’s access to resources, training, financing and decision-making bodies. She described women’s empowerment as a right and a driver of development, and stressed the need to challenge discriminatory social norms and support women affected by conflict. Provinces are to set priorities, assign responsibilities and deadlines, and establish monitoring mechanisms to assess results.