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UNDP along with colleagues from WFP, UNICEF, ILO and UNFPA marched together with men and women from different Zambian government institutions, NGOs, the private sector and people from other walks of life to commemorate International Women’s Day in record breaking numbers in Lusaka.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th of March worldwide through different events to mark the economic, political and social empowerment of women. Zambia is among the few countries in the world that commemorate IWD with deserved prestige by deeming the 8th of March a public holiday. The festivities in 2010 commenced with a march comprising of groups from ministries, the armed forces, the police, different NGOs, the UN System and a number of companies from the private sector. The colourful costumed crowd made its way to the Mulungushi International Conference Centre were the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, H.E. Mr. George Kunda received the salute of the marches.
This year’s International Women’s Day celebrated the achievements of women as well as highlighted the inequality between men and women in all levels and sectors of society through the theme of “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”. The march, which has its humble origins over a hundred years ago in the United States of America, drew together today a record breaking estimated 10 000 marches from over 200 different companies and organisations to the streets of Lusaka.
The celebrations c  ontinued by the first speech given by the Chairperson of Non Governmental Coordinating Council NGOCC, Mrs. Marian Munyinda, who insisted that the government should take affirmative action to promote girls education, take action against gender based violence and demanded that women should be given access to means of production, as after all, the women provide more to Zambia’s breadbasket than men. She ended to huge cheers from the crowd by demanding equal representation of women in government, parliament and on all levels of society. The Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. George Kunda responded to the issues brought up by Mrs. Marian Manyinda and the speech by the Minister of Gender and Women in Development Honourable Sarah Sayifwanda, MP, by stating that the government had “taken note” and that they were a “listening government”. The Vice-President ended his speech by appealing to all political parties to involve women in the upcoming 2011 national elections.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia Mr. Macleod Nyirongo made the following speech to mark the International Women’s Day in Zambia;
Today is an exceptionally important day where we all reflect on how much we have achieved collectively as a system, family and as individuals (particularly men) in our endeavour to ensure equal opportunity, access and protection of our women in Zambia. As you may all agree our achievement has been mixed, because the challenge we face is not unilinear. It is one of a complex and deeply entrenched social, economic and political challenge. Hence, we have yet a long way to go to meet these challenges squarely in our march to ensure equal opportunity for women.  Your Excellency: Allow me to share some facts: women represent 51 per cent of the total population in this country. Zambian women represent 70-80 per cent of the labour force in farming, the main stay for over 70 per cent of the total population. This simple fact should encourage us that the fight for affirmative action for equal opportunity and women’s empowerment is worth fighting- for it is a fight to redeem the lost opportunity of more than half the society. It is a challenge worth overcoming at any cost without any delay for the price of in-action is dangerously expensive. Women’s empowerment and equitable development is not only for moral justice but also one of human rights and economic imperative.
(I quote) “Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. This is a matter of basic human rights, as enshrined in our founding Charter and the Universal Declaration. It is part of the Organization’s very identity.
But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals -- peace, security, sustainable development -- stand in jeopardy.
Fifteen years ago at the Fourth World Conference on Women, Governments pledged to advance equality, development and peace for all women everywhere. The landmark Beijing Declaration has had a deep and wide-ranging impact. It has guided policy making and inspired new national laws. It has sent a clear message to women and girls around the world that equality and opportunity are their inalienable rights. There are many examples of progress, thanks in large part to the resolute efforts of civil society organizations. Most girls now receive an education, particularly at primary level, and more women are now more likely to run businesses or participate in government. A growing number of countries have legislation that supports sexual and reproductive health and promotes gender equality.
Nonetheless,  much work remains. Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, too few women have access to family planning, and violence against women remains a cause for global shame. In particular, sexual violence during conflict is endemic. The Security Council last year adopted two strong resolutions on this issue and I have just appointed a special representative to mobilize the international community to address these crimes. My “UNite to End Violence against Women” campaign and the recently launched Network of Men Leaders are striving to expand our global advocacy efforts.
One key lesson of the past decade-and-a-half is the importance of addressing broader discrimination and injustice. Gender stereotyping and discrimination remain common in all cultures and communities. Early and forced marriage, so-called ‘honour killing’, sexual abuse and trafficking of young women and girls are disturbingly prevalent and, in some areas, on the rise. Whether looking through the lens of poverty, or in times of disaster, we see that women still bear the greatest burden.
Another lesson is that the United Nations must lead by example. Emphasizing that women are central to peace and security, we are working to deploy more women military and police officers in our peacekeeping operations. We have more women in senior United Nations posts than at any time in history, and we hope soon to have a dynamic composite entity within the UN system to provide more coherent programming and a stronger voice for gender equality and women’s empowerment. I urge the General Assembly to create this new entity without delay.
The Beijing Declaration remains as relevant today as when it was adopted. The third Millennium Development Goal – to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment – is central to all the rest. When women are denied the opportunity to better themselves and their societies, we all lose. On this International Women’s Day, let us look critically at the achievements of the past 15 years so we can build on what has worked, and correct what has not. Let us work with renewed determination for a future of equal rights, equal opportunities and progress for all.” (End of quote)
I thank you.
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