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Address by His Excellency President Mnangagwa to the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Accelerating the realisation of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls
Your Excellency, Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, the President of the 75th UN General Assembly,
Your Majesties,
Your Excellences fellow Heads of State and Government,
Your Excellency Antonio Gueteres, the Secretary-General of the UN, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. Mr President, it is my pleasure to address this UN gathering on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the historic 4th World Conference on Women.
This occasion reminds us of the need to constantly review our global commitments with regards the achievement of gender equality and equity. The social economic conditions imposed by Covid-19, natural disasters and in particular illegal sanctions in the case of my country, have sadly reversed some of the achievements made towards women empowerment in developing countries.
There is, therefore, a need for a corresponding intervention to reverse this trend for the speedy implementation of the Beijing Declaration, its platform of action and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
Mr President, my administration continues to enact progressive legislation which outlaws the oppression of women across the socio-economic sectors of Zimbabwe.
The establishment of dedicated institutions and facilities such as the Women’s Microfinance Bank, the Women’s Fund, the Women in Mining Service Centre and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, among others, have also helped in promoting women’s rights and their participation in Zimbabwe’s economy.
Women in small and medium enterprises sector have also benefited from the economic stimulus package my Government availed following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy and women constitute significant proportion of the sector. We, therefore, continue to promote women- centred agro-processing and value addition initiatives in the agriculture sector with focus on women in export markets.
The implementation of policies and programmes to improve access to education and health to women and girls are ongoing. My country has deliberately used the national Budget as a tool to provide access to sanitary wear, as well as sexual and reproductive health for girls in schools and women in general.
Your Excellencies, the importance of science and innovation technology cannot be over-emphasised.
My Government has prioritised the impartation of these skills to girls and women in our national development agenda which leaves no one behind.
Under my leadership, my administration is facilitating the participation of women in politics, leadership and decision making processes. More women have been appointed into Cabinet and other senior positions in the public sector.
Zimbabwe remains committed to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and looks forward to greater synergies with partners to achieve this noble objective.
I thank you.
Online Reporter