Women want their rightful place in unions

REALISING that women’s presence was lacking in the top echelons of the union, the Women’s Desk of the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) decided to hold a three-day workshop to advocate for gender equality in leadership.

Despite the union having more female than male members, only two women have positions in the seven-member national executive. In an interview with The Namibian on the sidelines of the workshop, PSUN First Vice President Meriam Nicodemus yesterday said it was high time that women were fairly represented in leadership positions within the union.She said women were not being elected into these positions because they lacked the necessary skills, adding that this was why the PSUN intended to teach its female members leadership skills.”It’s not to say we are oppressed but that we don’t have the abilities, hence the need for such workshops,” said Nicodemus.Participants were drawn from all of the country’s 13 regions and they were expected to pass on what they have learnt to other members in the regions, Nicodemus said.Topics to be discussed include defining leadership skills, effective communication skills and society’s perception of women and men.An official from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Spendu Onesmus – speaking on behalf of Deputy Minister Angelika Muharukua – commended the initiative and said such workshops complemented efforts being made by her ministry to ensure gender equality.The workshop ends tomorrow.In an interview with The Namibian on the sidelines of the workshop, PSUN First Vice President Meriam Nicodemus yesterday said it was high time that women were fairly represented in leadership positions within the union.She said women were not being elected into these positions because they lacked the necessary skills, adding that this was why the PSUN intended to teach its female members leadership skills.”It’s not to say we are oppressed but that we don’t have the abilities, hence the need for such workshops,” said Nicodemus.Participants were drawn from all of the country’s 13 regions and they were expected to pass on what they have learnt to other members in the regions, Nicodemus said.Topics to be discussed include defining leadership skills, effective communication skills and society’s perception of women and men.An official from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Spendu Onesmus – speaking on behalf of Deputy Minister Angelika Muharukua – commended the initiative and said such workshops complemented efforts being made by her ministry to ensure gender equality.The workshop ends tomorrow.