peter
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has challenged Government and other institutions to be gender sensitive in their Covid-19 response as failure to do so can harm vulnerable societal groups.
ZGC said this in a statement to mark International Day of Women which is commemorated today.
The day which falls on March 8 annually is this year running under the global theme: ‘Choose to challenge.’
The nation theme is: “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world.”
ZGC yesterday said the international theme highlights the importance of challenging biases and misconceptions in the interest of creating a more inclusive and gender-equal world.
It said women and girls continue to be denied opportunities to take up leadership positions in socio-cultural, economic and political spaces despite constitutional guarantees.
ZGC said the day is being commemorated in the context of changes that have been brought about by Covid-19 which has left women mostly vulnerable.
“The theme recognises that the obtaining Covid-19 environment is the new norm which requires to be treated not just as a medical phenomenon, but one that starkly amplifies existing inequalities in terms of representation in gender dimension in decision-making, access to information, social protection, and personal security in the face of gender-based violence, responsiveness of the economy, education and health. As scarce resources are diverted to responding to the pandemic, it should be noted that unless this is gender responsive, there is greater possibility of doing harm to vulnerable and excluded groups,” reads ZGC statement.
“The theme thus encourages all stakeholders to become conscious of the gender discourse as presented by Covid-19. It is certainly true that the global pandemic has affected people disproportionately in response to existing social and gender justice and power relations. It is common cause that in any pandemic, the vulnerable groups of women and girls, the elderly and persons with disabilities, among others, are more affected as they lack voice, choice and control over their destiny.”
ZGC said it was important to observe milestones made by women in their efforts towards achieving an inclusive society.
“The Commission thus joins the world in celebrating various milestone achievements registered by women’s movements towards creating a more inclusive society as women and girls continue to demand their rights against a backdrop of inequality, discrimination and harassment. Key demands are for socio-economic, civil and political rights. Globally, systemic barriers to women and girls’ participation and representation in leadership and decision-making positions persist,” it added.
It said both international and national themes speak to dismantling everyday challenges faced by women as they strive for equality.
“The global and national themes are a clarion call for societies to transform legislative and other commitment towards a future free of all forms of gender inequality, injustice and discrimination in general and in leadership and decision-making positions in particular. This is also a time for institutions to introspect and consider meaningful ways of promoting women into leadership and decision-making positions. Guaranteeing the retention of gains also requires protecting the rights of those women in leadership so this IWD provides an opportunity to interrogate the gender equality narrative vis a vis the lived reality among women and girls,” it said.
“The untenable position in which women are deliberately excluded in the development matrix of the country becomes even more disheartening when read against a Constitution that is abundantly clear on gender equality and non-discrimination. Sections 2, 3, 17, 51, 52, 56 and 80, among others, are unambiguously clear on supremacy of the constitution, principle of gender equality, gender balance, dignity, personal security, gender equality and non-discrimination and women’s rights respectively. Zimbabwe is also party to regional, continental and international normative frameworks that expressly guarantee gender equality and women’s rights.”
ZGC challenged Government to outlaw any laws, practice, custom or conduct that prevent women from attaining gender equality.
“The obligations imposed by the Constitution are binding on every person, natural or juristic, including the State and all executive, legislative and judicial institutions and agencies of government at every level, and must be fulfilled by them’ declares the constitution,” read ZGC statement.
“It is in that context that the Commission calls upon Government to take advantage of existing opportunities to incrementally increase women’s representation across their diversity including at the highest levels.”
-@nqotshili
Online Reporter