Bissau, 14 February 2024 - The Ministry of Women, Family and Social Solidarity, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), today reactivated Guinea-Bissau's Gender Thematic Group (GTG). The initiative aims to strengthen the coordination of efforts and actions aimed at promoting gender equality in the country.

The reactivation ceremony was attended by the Minister for Women, Family and Social Solidarity, Maria Inácia Có Mendes Sanhá, the UNFPA Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Dr Zalha Assoumana, and representatives of various state institutions, UN agencies and civil society organisations.

The main aim of the GTG is to optimise coordination between the different actors working in the area of gender, avoiding duplication of efforts and ensuring a more effective approach to tackling challenges such as gender-based violence, child marriage and female under-representation in politics.

"The reactivation of the Gender Thematic Group is a crucial step in strengthening our work to promote gender equality in Guinea-Bissau," said Minister Maria Inácia Có Mendes Sanhá. "We believe that by joining forces and sharing knowledge, we can achieve significant progress in guaranteeing the rights of women and girls."

Dr Zalha Assoumana, UNFPA Representative in Guinea-Bissau, reiterated the organisation's commitment to supporting the government and partners in implementing policies and strategies that promote gender equality. "UNFPA reaffirms its commitment to working together with the government and civil society to ensure that all women and girls in Guinea-Bissau have their rights respected and can live free from violence and discrimination," she said.

The Gender Thematic Group aims to consolidate data, monitor progress and strengthen the country's commitment to gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals. The platform will serve as a space for dialogue and collaboration, where different perspectives and experiences come together to build a fairer and more equal future for all women and girls in Guinea-Bissau.

Next steps and challenges

With the reactivation of the GTG, it is hoped that there will be a significant boost in the implementation of public policies and programmes aimed at gender equality in Guinea-Bissau. However, it is important to recognise that there are still challenges to overcome.

Among the main challenges are the need to strengthen coordination between the different actors, ensure adequate funding for actions and programmes, and promote a change in mentality and behaviour in relation to gender equality.

It is essential that the GTG continues to work in a collaborative and inclusive manner, involving all those interested in promoting gender equality, in order to overcome the challenges and achieve a fairer and more equal future for the women and girls of Guinea-Bissau.