BY STAFF WRITER
THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) yesterday called for the creation of a more inclusive environment to allow women and girls to demand their rights against the backdrop of heightened inequality, discrimination and harassment.
ZGC said this in a statement to mark the International Women’s Day, which is held on March 8 every year, with today’s commemorations being held under the theme #ChooseToChallenge.
“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,” the ZGC statement read.
“Statistics show that women and girls continue to be denied opportunities to take up leadership positions in socio-cultural, economic and political spaces despite constitutional guarantees. 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 to leadership and decision-making positions.”
The ZGC said sections 2, 3, 17, 51, 52, 56 and 80 of the Constitution were abundantly clear on gender equality and non-discrimination.
“As scarce resources are diverted to responding to the pandemic (COVID-19) it should be noted that unless this is gender responsive, there is greater possibility of doing harm to vulnerable and excluded groups.
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“The theme thus encourages all stakeholders to become conscious of the gender discourse as presented by COVID-19. 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 identity.”
The ZGC also called on government in line with section 2 of the Constitution to outlaw laws, practices, customs or conduct that perpetuate gender discrimination.
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