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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) is concerned that young women and girls are still held back because of their gender and has called on Government to invest in them to create long-term social and economic benefits for the nation.
This was said by ZGC Commissioner Tsungirirai Hungwe-Chimbunde at the recent first regional Adolescent Girls and Young Women Africa conference held both physically and virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Over 240 girls from 15 countries in East, Southern and West Africa participated in the three-day conference organised by a Zimbabwe-based non-governmental organisation, Tag a Life International (TaLI) led by Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe.
The conference discussed issues affecting young women’s rights in Africa before and after Covid-19, amid reports that women have suffered the most due to the global pandemic, prompting the need for leaders to deliberately consider allocating resources for rebuilding from the pandemic destruction.
Comm Hungwe-Chimbunde said: “In line with the focus of this conference, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission would want to add its voice to need for investing in adolescent girls and young women as this creates long-term social and economic benefits for all individuals, their communities, and the nation as a whole.
“Indeed, investing in girls and women makes economic sense. Despite commendable progress made in advancing gender equality, the Commission is concerned that young women and girls in this country are still held back simply because of their gender.
“They are disproportionately affected by discrimination, sexual gender-based violence, and exploitation. Too many are deprived the opportunity to education and to basic health care services. Many are taken out of school and forced to marry (and) girls who become pregnant are forced to leave school and are prone to high health risks, such as HIV, obstetric fistula, and complications during pregnancy.”
Comm Hungwe-Chimbunde added that by delaying teen pregnancies, girls are able to stay in school, invest in their future and have children when they are ready.
She said ZGC noted with concern that available youth-serving programmes were not reaching the most marginalised adolescent girls, “who continue to be left out or overlooked”.
“We need to make an effort to identify and reach the most vulnerable girls through programmes that are tailored according to their unique circumstances,” she said.
Speaking at the same function, Rwandan Ambassador to Zimbabwe Professor Emmanuel Mbennah said adolescent girls and young women have rights that must be recognised and understood.
“And, second, these rights are to be respected, protected and ensured. The two go hand-in-hand.
Without recognising and understanding the rights, there will be nothing to respect, protect or ensure.
“As human beings, adolescent girls and young women have dignity; you have a right to quality life; you have abilities and potentials for which you require space to exercise and to realise.
“You have the right to own and to possess. And you have a right to a good future, and one filled with hope,” said Prof Mbennah.
Online Reporter