UN, AU fight gender inequality

The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) have asked countries such as Malawi to step up efforts to break gender barriers and inequalities if development agendas, such as Malawi 2063, are to materialise

Speaking during the commemoration of International Women’s Day at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe yesterday, UN resident coordinator Shigeki Komatsubara said although political will plays a key role much needed to be done to break gender barriers and inequality.

He said the International Women’s Day serves as a platform to engage stakeholders so as to bring changes that can help women and girls to be treated equally.

Komatsubara said: “I urge you all to continue to raise voices and increase awareness of the challenges women face and call for action to liberate women.

“We have to break barriers and biases that limit women. So, let us challenge conventional wisdom and unleash the power of us all to make changes.”

He said the UN was ready to support Malawi in implementing various projects to support women emancipation and empowerment.

In her remarks, AU Commission Special Envoy of the chairperson on Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop, called for more efforts to liberate the Malawian woman.

She said: “This is a special day when we recognise the efforts of the African women and in particular the Malawi women. Without them, the food security agenda wouldn’t be realised.

“Today, we assess the progress achieved so far and see how far the women’s human rights agenda has been implemented.”

She said despite setbacks following the Covid-19 pandemic and Tropical Storm Ana disaster, the country can still celebrate the resilience of its women.

“Of much praise is the leadership shown by the Malawi leader President Lazarus Chakwera by increasing the number of women by 40 percent in both the Cabinet and the Judiciary,” said Diop.

She said positioning of women at the highest level as Malawi is doing is the path that all of Africa should follow if we are to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

On her part, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati said without proper attention on women and girls, many social problems in the country would not be solved.

“It is only by empowering women economically that the barriers and biases that are now prevalent can be broken. Most women are destitute and most girls have dropped out,” she said.

Kaliati further said women in power should be supporting fellow women.

This year’s theme is ‘Gender Equality Today for Sustainable Tomorrow.’