Govt concerned with gender inequality

Gender Minister Inonge Wina says government is concerned with the existence of gender inequalities which have manifested in many areas across the country.

Ms Wina said it is for this reason that government is putting up measures aimed at reducing gender inequalities such as lower participation of women in decision making positions, high poverty levels among female headed households and women lagging behind in accessing tertiary education.

Ms Wina said some of the measures being undertaken include of legislation on the international convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and implementation of women economic empowerment programmes.

The Minister said this in a speech read on her behalf by Gender Deputy Minister Esther Banda during the official opening of a consultative meeting with Members of Parliament on Gender Equality bill.

Ms Wina stated that achieving the gender equality is one of the developmental priorities of government to ensure that women fully enjoy their rights.

She said her ministry is in the process of formulating the gender equality bill which will aims at promoting gender equality in accessing education, health services and development opportunities and enhancing participation of women in public life by equal integration of men and women in society among others.

She implored the Members of Parliament (MPs) to critically analyse the
bill and ensure that its provisions can contribute significantly to
reducing gender inequalities once passed into law in order to raise
the status of women in the country.

ZANIS /ENDS/PSM/MCM———————-PIX