On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Accra, the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) hosted a stakeholder meeting to review a draft gender-responsive lawmaking handbook. The event was organized under the umbrella of the Inclusive Legislatures for Gender-Responsive Policies (ILGRP) initiative.
The forum brought together civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Ghanaian Parliamentary Staff.
Speaking to the group, Ms. Sheila Minkah-Premo, the ILGRP Project consultant, said that when the Gender-Responsive Lawmaking handbook is finalized, it will be a helpful tool for staff members and Members of Parliament to refer to as they review and enact new laws that advance the rights of all citizens, particularly women and girls.
Details on international commitments and initiatives, the sources of Ghana’s legislation, formal legislative procedures, the function of parliamentary leadership, Members of Parliament, and the Parliamentary Service are all included in the guidebook.
To improve the ability of both male and female lawmakers to analyze and debate legislation, Ms. Minkah-Premo emphasized how the guide may support the discussion, revision, and passage of inclusive, gender-responsive laws.
“The goal of the handbook is to support Ghanaian parliamentary staff in providing Members of Parliament with essential knowledge and abilities on gender analyses during the legislative process,” the spokesperson stated.
