International Women’s Day

• Her Honour the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, Mrs WK Nalumango
• All Cabinet Ministers

• Permanent Secretary – Gender Division Ms. Mainga Kabika
• Other Permanent Secretaries present
• Members of Parliament
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Heads of UN agencies and international organizations
• Representatives from Civil Society
• Members of the press
• Ladies and gentlemen
• Our dear women and girls

It is an honour for me to represent the United Nations family in Zambia at this very important occasion as Zambia joins the rest of the World in commemorating the 2023 International Women’s Day. This year’s theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for Gender Equality” draws our attention to recognizing the Women and Girls championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education. Progress on women’s rights is vanishing before our eyes and focus on women in science, technology and innovation is one area where gender-based stereotypes and historical bias need to be urgently addressed. 

Your Honour the Vice President,

We are gathered here to celebrate the achievements of women and girls across the country and beyond. Allow me, therefore, to first and foremost congratulate the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through your leadership, in supporting nationwide efforts to advance women’s inclusion, there has been an increase in the number of women and girls advancing transformative technology and digital education in Zambia.

Further, revision of the National Gender Policy and other policy documents targeting achievement of gender equality and women and girl’s empowerment, will contribute to addressing ongoing challenges such as the plight of women and girls in the digital space including online violence and cyber bullying that exacerbates other forms of GBV which threatens to undermine the many gains achieved.

The UN system in Zambia, has been working in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia on the GRZ-UN Joint Programme on GBV Phase II supported by Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, and on the Gender Equality and Women’s Participation Initiative supported by the Republic of Ireland. Both programmes will work to ensure multi-disciplinary management of GBV, a coordinated approach to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The Initiative also aims at enhancing the coordination role of the Government through the Gender Division.

Your Honour the Vice President, Ladies and Gentlemen

The UN system in Zambia has been supporting women and other marginalized groups to use technology for more creative solutions and attain greater potential for innovations. Through the GRZ-UN Joint programme on GBV Phase II, UN Zambia has been supporting girls and women with ICT knowledge and online Gender Based Violence (OGBV) information. More than 500 girls and women acquired skills in digital financial literacy, cyberbullying and digital footprint. Additionally, the UN has been working on the Revised Zambia Police Service training curriculum; training Zambian Police Service officers on the National Gender Policy, as well as the sensitization of men and boys on positive masculinity.

Your Honour the Vice President, Ladies and Gentlemen

The International Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate how far women have come in Zambian society across politics, business and other sectors. Equally important, this is the day to call for collective action from all of us, to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Let me, therefore, highlight five crucial areas of our engagement that the UN in Zambia will continue to support to strengthen our combined efforts for gender equality and the realisation of SDG5.

1. The UN System in Zambia will continue to fully support the Government of the Republic of Zambia to actualize the 8NDP and adoption of the finalized National Gender Policy.
2. The UN in Zambia with support from the Republic of Ireland, is committed to supporting the Government to submit its report to CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women)’s monitoring body through the Gender Equality and Women’s Participation Initiative. We believe that submission of the report will demonstrate the Government of Zambia’s renewed commitment to equality and women’s rights. 
3. The UN in Zambia will be part of the process providing technical support to the Government of Zambia to develop and adopt a National Action Plan (NAP) for implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
4. The UN in Zambia will continue to support the Government in ensuring the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) launched last year in March accelerates the active participation of women in leadership.
5. With support from Sweden and Republic of Ireland, the UN and the Government will continue to work together to prevent gender-based violence by creating a safe digital environment for women, to hold accountable both the perpetrators of online abusers, and the digital platforms that enable them.

Your Honor the Vice President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please allow me to take this opportunity to share with you a quote from the message of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for this Day:

“Women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved an estimated $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade — a loss that could grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action. Investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries. Let us work together – across governments, the private sector and civil society – to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere”. [End of quote]

Our efforts as the UN would not be possible without the generous support of our valued donors and cooperating partners. Let me, therefore, thank and acknowledge all our cooperating partners that include the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany, Finland, World Bank and Japan.

As I close my remarks, let me reaffirm the UN’s commitment to enhancing the status of women in the country and enhancing gender equality. Going forward, the UN in Zambia remains committed in its support and collaboration with the Government, other development partners, civil society, and the private sector to realize our collective vision to push the boundaries forward for women, girls and boys at all levels in Zambia, leaving no one behind. 

I THANK YOU.