GENDER EQUALITY NOT ABOUT POWER- DR MOLOKOMME Gender equality issues should not be about propelling women into power and leadership positions only but should include empowering girls and women at all levels. Speaking at the International Women’s day commemorations organised by the France Embassy in Gaborone, the Attorney General Dr Athaliah Molokomme said a lot remained to be done to achieve women equality, which is both a basic human right and an economic necessity. “Women’s day is about celebrating their contributions, their struggles, and their strengths, often against odds,” she said. Dr Molokomme noted that women’s day also called for governments, NGO’s and individuals to re-commit themselves and play their part in diminishing inequality. Empowering women, she said had a positive impact in the society especially in area of improved nutrition, better education and good health. Dr Molokomme stated that the world record in gender equality has shown a mixture of both promising achievements and regrettably disturbing drawbacks in different countries. “The levels of representation of women in political leadership positions are much too low and recent developments are not all encouraging…, we still face serious challenges in many fields at national and international level, these include unacceptably high levels of violence against women and girls” she said. She however expressed delight that Batswana women have demonstrated leadership capabilities as evidenced by some who hold senior positions in public service, private companies and parastatals. In her remarks the Ambassador of France Ms Anne de la Blache, observed that gender based violence was a global issue since it has been encrypted in culture over a long time and could not be easily addressed. Ms De la Blache stressed that empowerment of women was building the future because when women became empowered, the immediate results became visible on children, and on development. (BOPA)
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 05:21:34 +0000
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