‘Women empowerment key to development’
First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has said women should stop seeing fellow women as competitors and unite in efforts aimed at empowering women.
Mutharika said this yesterday during the commemoration of International Women’s Day in Lilongwe.
“Women should stand up and realise that it is high time the society regarded us as important and not mere housewives who are prone to abuse and all sorts of gender-based violence,” Mutharika said.
She said women and girls should be protected, instead of being exploited, urging women to fight against gender-based violence in the country.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Maria Torres Marshall, said countries continue to struggle to promote gender equality and women empowerment.
She said, to this end, women continue to be denied their fundamental rights.
“It is time for meaningful and lasting change in our societies and among our women,” Marshall said.
Marshall said if women do not stand up for themselves, the issue of gender equality will remain unfinished business.
Gender and Disability Minister, Jean Kalilani, asked traditional leaders to take part in efforts aimed at protecting women from abuse.
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