Lusaka, July 22 2011. Today marks the launch of the second edition of Zambia Women Celebrated, a publication which highlights and gives prominence to the contributions that Zambian women have made across all aspects of life in their country. The launch was performed by the Minister for Gender and Women’s Development, Honourable Sarah Sayifwanda.
This publication is a valuable contribution to the fight to empower women in Zambia and recognizes the achievements of the often forgotten gender. It also serves as an inspiration to other women across the country.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative, Duah Owusu-Sarfo said, “That women are equal members of society, entitled to equal access to education, health, social services, and economic opportunities, as well as entitled to equal say in the decisions that affect them and their communities, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights”. Women’s empowerment is also vital and necessary for the overall success of any efforts to achieve sustainable development. This is highlighted in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), where the empowerment, equality, and unique needs of women are recognized as targets for development around which policies should be formulated and interventions implemented. Indeed, women have made important and lasting contributions to almost every aspect of life in Zambia, from business and government, to science and the arts.
The publication of Zambia Women Celebrated recognizes the perseverance, dedication, and vision of women. The publication features women like Whitner Kapembwa Mutale Nalumango, a mother of four and a former secondary school teacher who became the first female Chief Government Spokesperson and later the first Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Jessie Chisi, whose contributions to the arts have been recognized in Zambia and around the world, is also featured. Overcoming the seemingly insurmountable challenges of being an orphan, Jessie has gone on to make films that have been celebrated at flagship events like the Berlin and Durban Film Festivals. Over fifty other women have been profiled in the book.
Undoubtedly, women contribute greatly to the betterment of Zambia. Yet, the reality remains that they face great challenges, at home, in the working environment, and in their communities. While Zambia has made great progress in achieving near-equality in primary education, too many of the nation’s daughters are forced out of school before the secondary level, pushed instead into the household to become wives and mothers with little or no say. As adolescents, Zambian women are the highest at-risk group for developing HIV and AIDS, with incidence and prevalence rates much higher than their male counterparts. As mothers, Zambian women face tremendous health risks: nearly 600 women out of 100,000 perish during childbirth; and only 46 per cent of deliveries are supervised by skilled health providers. Zambian women hold only 14 seats in parliament, less than half of the 2015 MDG target. In the working environment, women continue to face immense hurdles and barriers.
“Women and girls are one-half, if not more, of the ladder of development – without addressing their needs, communities and countries cannot excel to their full potential”, said Owusu-Sarfo. It is important therefore to provide them equal opportunities and access to positions of leadership and influence.
Zambia has a positive record of promoting women’s issues. The creation of a Ministry responsible for women’s development demonstrates this commitment, as does the ratification of numerous international agreements such as the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Working with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the United Nations system is a committed partner for advancing the rights and empowerment of women. Through the 2011-2015 UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the UN provides various forms of technical and financial support, such as the sponsorship of the Zambia Women Celebrated publication launched today, to contribute to the social advancement of Zambian women.
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