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Zambia @ CSW60

Oxfam In Zambia Joined Government and CSOs In New York to contribute to theme,"Women In Empowerment & Sustainable Development" as well as the review the theme, "Ending Violence Against Women"

By Oxfam In Zambia

April 19^th, 2016

A Session on ending violence against women

NGOCC Executive Director Ms Engwase Mwale together with Oxfam In Zambia’s Media and Communications Coordinator Ms Misozi Tembo and Ms Madube Pasi Siyauya Head Communication & Advocacy at NGOCC attended a session on ending VAW. Ms Mwale challenged the UN on connecting the highly visible and well funded global campaigns such as the He4She campaign to successful interventions in country such as the I Care About Her Campaign. The response was that countries are at liberty to incorporate their male involvement initiatives into the He4She.

Zambian First lady discusses nutrition

Investing In Women’s Nutrition For Healthy, Smart and More Sustainable Societies Side Event

The event highlighted that half a billion women suffer from anaemia therefore, a sick woman cannot be an empowered woman and that donors and governments need to prioritise this issue.

UNICEF Chief of Nutrition Dr. Werner Schultink said that the impact of climate change on women and that countries like Zambia are already experiencing drought and the impact of Elnino therefore, there’s need for better policies to mitigate.

The discussion highlighted that a lot of information available discourages women from breast feeding. And that 30 per cent of women are anaemic, give birth to children with brain defects and stunted growth.

The First Lady Mrs Esther Lungu called for increased investment in nutrition stating that nutrition has huge dividends particularly around empowering women and girls through improvement of their health and helping girls to learn better in school. She said increased resources to nutrition can lift over hundred and fifty million people out of poverty.

Mrs Lungu said, “Mental retardation due to malnutrition has adverse effects on children therefore, collaboration with partners should be a priority because children as we say in Zambia are the future leaders, if we don’t take care of our children it means we are doing an injustice to the future”.

oxfam supported side event on women economic empowerment in zambia

The “Gender Equality: A Channel For Economic Development In Zambia” side event was held on 19th March in the UN Church Centre Building. The event was aimed to show the strides Zambia has made in empowering women and girls through government and non governmental initiatives the case of Oxfam, NGOCC and WILSA. The format of the event was a discussion with panelists including Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale, Oxfam’s Wormen’s Rights Programme Manager Gilbert Chanda, NGOCC’s Chairperson Sara Longwe and Executive Director Engwase Mwale and WLSA Programme Manager Womba Mayondi.

During the event, Gilbert Chanda highlighted successes in empowering rural women through the Rural WASH women in construction project, Soya, Dairy and Banana farming economic initiatives and girl child empowerment schools program. Gilbert called on government to be deliberate and practical in ensuring that rural women have opportunities to earn an income, get paid for their work and can access markets.

Engwase Mwale talked about NGOCC’s work in supporting the local women’s rights movement through capacity building, influencing policy and to some extent service delivery such as construction of mothers shelters in remote areas and working with women in mining. Ms Mwale also urged government to quicken the implementation of the 5th Sustainable Goal which is achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls” with the adequate commitment, accountability, concrete action and adequate resources.

Ms Mayondi talked about WILSA’s successes regarding legislation such as the implementation of the retry policy, the Anti GBV Act, work with the Zambia Police Service and providing on going legal counsel to victims of violence against women and girls. In response the PS, Mrs. Mutale said that government focus on infrastructure development particularly roads, schools and health centers would greatly benefit women especially those in rural areas. Women have walk long distances to access services In attendance were Zambia government officials and NGOs such as New Faces New Voices, World Vision, Oxfam America, UN Women, Anglican Council of Churches from the UK, Norwegian Church Aid to name a few.

I Care about Her Campaign side event

And on 24th March, YWCA hosted an Oxfam supported side event dubbed Innovative Approaches: Evidence of What Works in Ending VAWG by Engaging Men and Boys.

Panelists for this event included Gilbert Chanda from Oxfam In Zambia, Ms Pumulo Mundale Director of Social Protection at the Ministry of Gender and Raymond Hawala of YWCA Zambia. The event was moderated by the Executive Director National Legal Aid Clinic for Women Ms Mandy Manda.

Gilbert presented on Oxfam’s vision and focus on women’s rights. He also talked about the birth, significance and relevance of the I Care about Her Campaign and went on to show the I Care about Her documentary.

Raymond shared findings from the evaluation report and how organizations involved in the campaign compliment each other’s efforts as well as details on the campaign is implemented in the communities.

Ms Mundale talked about interventions and policies government has put in place to end violence against women and girls and called on continued support and collaboration with the NGO sector. Key guests at the event included Oxfam’s Kim Anderson, UN Women representative, Oxfam Canada, Zambia Legal AID, government officials among others.