The Department is responsible for promoting the rights of women in the nation. The Department shall also be for ensure compliance to national, regional and international instruments on women’s rights such as CEDAW, CRC and the African Charter on the people and the rights of Women. In addition, the Department will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Anti-Gender Based Violence (Anti-GBV) programmes. The Department performs the following specific functions:

1. Facilitate the development and implementation of affirmative action policies for the enhancement of the status of women and girls;
2. Coordinate the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence;
3. Provide secretarial services to the Anti-GBV National Committee;
4. Develop and disseminate standards for the establishment and management of shelters for survivors of GBV;
5. Establish shelters for survivors of GBV;
6. Manage the Anti- GBV Fund;
7. Promote social/cultural research that underpins gender inequality to enhance appreciation of gender and development;
8. Develop and Review appropriate legislation to promote women’s rights;
9. Monitor the compliance to regional and international instruments on women’s rights into national laws and policies;
10. Promote the realization and protection of the rights of women; and
11. Strengthen institutional capacities for dealing in women’s rights;

Gender Rights Monitoring and Standards Section The Gender Rights Monitoring and Compliance Section performs the following specific functions:

1. Promote the rights of women in the Country;
2. Facilitate the Development and Review of appropriate legislation to promote women’s rights;
3. Facilitate the development and implementation of affirmative action policies for the enhancement of the status of women and girls;
4. Strengthen institutional capacities for dealing in women’s rights;
5. Disseminate standards for the adaption and domestication of regional and international instruments for the promotion of women’s rights
6. Promote social/cultural research that underpins gender inequality to enhance appreciation of gender and development; and
7. Monitor compliance to regional and international instruments on women’s rights into national laws and policies.

Anti-Gender Based Violence Section The Anti-Gender Based Violence Section performs the following specific functions:

1. Coordinate the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence;
2. Coordinate the implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDs;
3. Coordinate the implementation of the (Provisions of the) Anti Gender Based Violence Act;
4. Mobilize resources for the implementation of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act;
5. Provide secretarial services to the Anti-GBV Committee; and
6. Disseminate standards for the establishment and management of shelters for survivors of GBV.