admin
Trust Freddy Herald Correspondent
Parliament of Zimbabwe has partnered with UN Women and other key stakeholders in coming up with a handbook for parliamentarians which interprets the oversight role that the legislature should play in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
The handbook shall guide parliamentarians on how to support the domestication and implementation of the resolution as well as informing lawmakers about its applicability to Zimbabwe.
Officially launching the handbook on Friday night, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda described the Resolution 1325 as a valuable tool for ensuring the protection and promotion of women’s rights and gender equality in peace and security.
“What is important is that we must use it as a handy tool and not a handbook that will gather dust somewhere either in our homes or in our Parliament or finally in our archives,” said Adv Mudenda.
“It must be a handbook of lived experience just like we have the Bible or the Quran and it must create a lived experience in which those who use it must believe in it and practice what it says.”
Adv Mudenda further proposed that the handbook be translated into the 14 indigenous locally-recognised languages.
“The biggest challenge is that the consumers of the message of that handbook are women in the communities there and I said to myself how best can they follow and appreciate what is that handbook?” he said.
“I, therefore, challenge our caucus assisted by Parliament to ensure that the handbook is translated into the vernacular.”
Zimbabwe continues to show its commitment to gender equality in women’s empowerment and sustainable peace and security through it’s international, regional and national obligations.
In light of the 2023 harmonised elections, UN Women country representative, Ms Fatou Aminata Lo, implored Parliament to prioritise implementation of conflict preventive initiatives.
“The launch of this handbook is timely, especially as we approach the 2023 elections,” she said.
“We hope that you will use it in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 as a tool to promote a safe and peaceful environment where women can freely and peacefully participate in elections without fear of intimidation and violence,” she said.
Women played a critical role in contributing to and achieving peace and development as peace is inextricably linked with gender equality and women’s leadership.
Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said issues of women, peace and security were critical if the nation was to achieve inclusive growth in line with the leaving no one and place behind mantra.
“When women live in a peaceful environment and with their security guaranteed they are more likely to work towards the development of their families which also contributes to the development of the country,” she said.
In Zimbabwe, the adoption of Resolution 1325 buttressed Government’s efforts towards women emancipation and empowerment.
Although pockets of resistance to Government’s efforts towards gender equality remain in certain sections of the society, its policy on gender equality and women has achieved impressive results.
Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, commended UN Women for complementing Government efforts towards gender equality.
“Allow me to declare my unflinching and utmost support for this initiative by UN Women,” she said in a speech read on her behalf the Permanent Secretary for Defence Mr Aaron Nhepera.
“I therefore, urge the legislature to do its best in disseminating the information for the success of the domestication of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325,”
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 unanimously adopted in 2000, stresses the importance of equal participation and full involvement of women in efforts to maintain and promote peace and security.
Online Reporter