Today 11 March 2016, UN Women and the Gender Working Group have organized a gender jeopardy and a dialogue on ‘Planet 50:50…my vision for gender equality in 2030’ to mark International Women’s Day. UN staff UNEP, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN Women, FAO, UNFPA, UNON, and university students from Chuka University, the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Technical University, Multimedia University, Mount Kenya University and Catholic University joint in the event. There were 120 participants.

One of the activities was a gender jeopardy where two teams composed of students and UN staff competed on their knowledge of gender issues and the SDGs. The jeopardy was fun, an opportunity for staff and students to bond and very informative.

The interactive dialogue had 3 panelists; Zebib Kavuma (UN Women Country Director, Peter Mwangi – Law Student at Mount Kenya University and Mike Wachira, Deputy Director, Centre for Rights Education and Awareness.

Panelists Zebib Kavuma – UN Women Country Director, Peter Mwangi – Law Student at Mount Kenya University and Mike Wachira, Deputy Director, Centre for Rights Education and Awareness during the dialogue on ‘Planet 50:50…my vision for gender equality in 2030’(photo by Martha Wanjala)

During the discussion, Jeniffer Githu from the University of Nairobi emphasized the need to reach out and empower women in rural areas. Zebib Kavuma emphasized in the journey to gender equality, not a single persons should be left behind.

There was general consensus that; women in leadership should come forth and empower fellow women, the need for gender equality should be taken with a sense of urgency, that we need to be transformed in our minds by changing our attitudes and value systems and that men, should also take action to empower women.

Ms Zebib Kavuma UN Women Kenya Country Director makes her contribution during the moderated dialogue on ‘Planet 50:50…my vision for gender equality in 2030’(photo by Martha Wanjala)

After the event participants selected a pledge for parity which they committed to advance. They took photos with a placard that had a pledge of their choice.

There was a call on all participants for each of the participants to be gender conscious, to go out there and make a difference so that we have a world where men and women thrive.

Team members celebrate after getting a question right during the gender jeopardy one of the activities lined up during the dialogue on ‘Planet 50:50…my vision for gender equality in 2030’(photo by Martha Wanjala)