Secretary Outlines GESI Policy Implementation

Secretary Ms. Taies Sansan said, the Gender Equity & Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy is prioritized in the Public  Service.

Secretary Sansan said this when she appeared before the Special parliamentary Committee on Gender Based Violence at its hearing at the Parliaments State Function Room.

Secretary Ms. Sansan told the members of the Committee that mainstreaming of the policy has been implemented for the last 8 years.

“We have a GESI division who coordinate all GESI  activities and facilitates work plans with other stakeholders.  GESI is an important national and whole of Government agenda, she said.

Secretary Sansan also outlined that under the Public Service Management Act section 22A   Departmental Heads are        responsible for coordinating the  GESI policy within their respective departments.

Secretary confirmed to the Committee that GESI policy implementation is part of the performance indicators for Agency Heads as per the  Leadership Capability Framework which is included in their contracts.

She further outlined that the Public Service General Order 20 also highlights all the areas that relate to GBV in the public service.

Secretary Sansan provided to the Committee statistics on the implementation of GESI. She told the Committee that so far, the implementation of GESI has seen GESI positions created.

Provincial Health Authorities have created 15 positions, Provincial Administrations  created 9 positions, national agencies have created 22 positions.

In 2019 and 2020 a total of 358 public servants have undergone training on the  application of the GESI policy and have been certified with certificates.

Secretary Sansan also told the Committee that a new General Order 7 will be included in the 5th edition of the general orders which include issues around the GESI policy and will go before the Central Agencies Coordinating Committee soon.