.WINA

By FLAVIOR  CHISHALA –

GOVERNMENT is committed to creating a safe, peaceful, secure and friendly environment in which women’s talents can flourish and enable them to contribute to national building, Gender and Child Development Minister Inonge Wina has said.
Speaking at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) where she officiated at a prelude to the commemoration of the International Women’s Day Ms Wina of said Government has recognised the exemplary service of the outstanding women who have contributed directly or indirectly to social development of the country.
This year’s Womena’s Day is being commemorated under the theme “inspiring change to bring social equality to be fully human and alive.’
Ms Wina commended the Daughters of Mary Immaculate DMI for supplementing Government efforts through the introduction of creative ideas that have opened realms of opportunities for empowering women.
She outlined some of the challenges and obstacles women face such discrimination and violence in their work place and society.
The minister said domestic violence and harassment has become the order of the day with women and children being trafficked and sexually abused.
She noted that gender equality has persisted in Zambia due to existing discriminatory statutory and customary laws and practices which deny women their constitutional rights.
“We are aware and we are concerned as Government with the number of issues our women are facing so we are looking for at various pieces of legislation to conform to international recognised human rights principles.” She said.
Ms Wina said the activities of the DMI are a source of inspirational to change women in terms of capacity building, promotion of livelihood, entrepreneurship and other income generation programmes.
DMI is a non-governmental organisation that offers skills training such as food processing, sausage making, tailoring and knitting among other things to widows and vulnerable women in society.
The programmes are currently benefiting more than 3000 women while 1200 others are involved in self employment.