By KPC Reporter
Senator Essy Okenyuri has underscored the importance of democratizing knowledge and strengthening grassroots literacy.
Okenyuri shared her reflection after visiting the United Nations Bookshop during the ongoing Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
She described the bookshop—located within the General Assembly Building—as more than a retail outlet, saying it serves as a gateway into the intellectual and policy architecture that shapes the work of the global body.
“Through its publications and merchandise, the facility communicates key United Nations initiatives ranging from peacebuilding to gender parity and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she noted.
Okenyuri said the experience prompted her to reflect on the relationship between global knowledge dissemination and local educational empowerment.
She drew parallels between the work of the UN bookshop and grassroots literacy efforts spearheaded by her foundation through the Mchakato wa Usomi initiative, which distributes books directly to students in communities.
According to the senator, both platforms share a commitment to ensuring knowledge is accessible to all rather than confined to a privileged few.
She said access to information empowers people across generations to engage in meaningful conversations capable of shaping societies and influencing global change.
Her remarks come as global leaders, policymakers and civil society actors gather in New York for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the UN’s premier annual forum dedicated to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
During an earlier session, discussions focused on the critical role parliaments play in advancing gender parity in decision-making and strengthening access to justice for women and girls.
The conversation was convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women, bringing together legislators from around the world to exchange experiences and legislative strategies aimed at promoting gender equality.
“The forum provided parliamentarians with an opportunity to examine legislative pathways that can help address systemic inequalities, combat impunity and reinforce institutional accountability,” Okenyuri stated.
Participants emphasized the need for stronger policy frameworks that safeguard rights, promote equitable representation and expand the meaningful participation of women and girls within governance structures and justice systems.
Okenyuri noted that bridging global knowledge platforms with local initiatives remains essential in ensuring that ideas and policies discussed at international forums translate into tangible benefits for communities at the grassroots.
