The South Africa Development Community (SADC) Envoy has challenged the women across the region to jointly act on tangible measures for fighting against gender oppression, violence and other challenges that still holds back the struggle for gender equality instead of speaking only.
Emma Kaliya Chairperson for SADC Gender Protocol Alliance and FEMNET said that there is a bright highlight where progress has been made, but no country has achieved gender equality.
The TGNP Mtandao Gender Festival is one of the most crucial points of reference in the East Africa region on consolidating the status for gender equality since 1996.
She added that the United Republic of Tanzania, just like a majority of Africa countries stands at a defining moment where the urgency for gender equality cannot be overlooked and therefore the sustained momentum on such events must be applauded.
The chairperson urge the government and other key partners to adhere to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the Global leaders in September 2015 at the UN post 2015 Summits commits to achieve prosperity, protect the planet and human rights of people.
The Agenda recognizes that sustainable development will only be possible if all women and girls are empowered to have control over the decision making process about all aspects of their lives, and barriers to their equality is eliminated.
“Am sure that, Tanzania still grapples with glaring gaps to gender equality like many of our countries and it is for this reason that platforms such as Gender Festival must be sustained and supported until the full realization of gender equality,” she explained.
According to her Tanzania is one of the countries in Africa that has fully signed in, ratified and deposited instruments of the Maputo Protocol in 2007 likewise the SADC Protocol on gender and development.
“However, the challenges of girl child of Tanzania are sadly similar to those of the girl-child in Malawi,” the Chairperson said.
Member states must look beyond the “aver-ages” to monitor the impacts and results of laws and policies for women and girls who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
Ends.
Emma Kaliya Chairperson for SADC Gender Protocol Alliance and FEMNET speaking during the Gender Festival 2017
