WINDHOEK, 18 September 2026 — National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has called for stronger institutional capacity within the Joint Women Parliamentary Caucus (JWPC), emphasising the need for women parliamentarians to work collectively to advance gender equality and responsive governance.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was speaking on Friday at the JWPC Conference held at Arebusch in Windhoek.
She said the gathering represents an opportunity for women parliamentarians to strengthen cross-party solidarity, shared leadership and their collective contribution towards equality in Namibia.
According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, women currently account for 42.3% of the National Assembly, while their representation in the National Council stands at 16.6%.
She said the difference demonstrates that more work is required to achieve gender-equal representation and gender responsive governance.
The Speaker described the two-day conference as more than a gathering, saying it serves as an important period for institutional consolidation and strategic capacity building within the JWPC.
The first day is focused on strengthening the institutional functioning of the caucus. Members are expected to review the implementation of the JWPC Strategic Plan and Annual Work Plan, examine activities undertaken and consider the financial position of the caucus.
A key item on the agenda is the proposed adoption of the JWPC Constitution, which Kuugongelwa-Amadhila described as a foundational framework for transforming the caucus into a formalised and sustainable institution.
She urged members to approach the process with seriousness and careful consideration, saying the Constitution would provide a framework for accountability among current and future women parliamentarians.
The conference will also focus on strengthening legislative capacity, particularly through discussions on SADC Model Laws.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the discussions provide an opportunity for parliamentarians to better understand regional frameworks and how they can be translated into national legislation.
She emphasised that lawmakers should move beyond acknowledging international and regional commitments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, and strengthen their ability to incorporate these commitments into national law and parliamentary oversight.
The Speaker said the workshop should equip members with practical tools to examine SADC Model Laws and identify ways of addressing national challenges affecting women, girls and persons with disabilities.
She also highlighted the importance of collaboration between Parliament, government stakeholders and civil society organisations, saying their experiences and insights are essential in developing effective strategies.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila acknowledged the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), as well as the contribution of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in providing expertise on the Model Laws.
She said the conference has four key objectives: strengthening the JWPC’s institutional functioning, improving members’ understanding of SADC Model Laws, enhancing their ability to translate those provisions into national legislation, and identifying practical opportunities to use their legislative, oversight and representative roles to advance gender equality.
She stressed that the impact of the conference would ultimately depend on the actions taken after the discussions.
“The success of this conference will be measured by the actions that follow through the policies we change, the budgets we influence and the lives of women and girls we improve,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
She called for sustained political will, adequate resources and active participation from members, urging women parliamentarians to see themselves not only as members of the caucus but as champions of gender equality.
