Pres Mutharika Launch He for She Campaign
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| Mutharika |
‘He
for She Campaign’ a UN Women solidarity movement for gender equality seeks to
encourage Malawian men and boys to support and empower women in all aspects of
life in order to gender based violence.
Speaking
at the launch marking the kick start of the campaign President Mutharika said the
campaign has come at a right time because it will strength his “government drive
and commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.” Adding that it also
provides opportunity for resourcelization of men and boys to support and promote
women and girls empowerment.
As
he officially launched the campaign Mutharika called upon men and boys in
Malawi to join him in solidarity to achieve gender equality and women
empowerment
“I
am calling upon all men and boys to be champions for ‘He for She Campaign’,” he
said “I am Champion number one and I expect all men and boys in Malawi to join
me” and later added “Real men should commit themselves by signing the He for
She Campaign!”
The
Malawi president has emphasized that women empowerment is not only a woman’s
problem but it is a human rights issue which calls for full support and
participation of “all men and boys”
He
reiterated his government commitment to achieve provisions of the Gender
Equality Act, SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and African Union Charter
for the Rights of Women.
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| Mutharika |
Mutharika
acknowledged with sadness the existence of gap between men and women in various
sectors including education, employment sector and politics “It is also
unfortunate that men and boys tend to strongly oppose the efforts being made to
level the playing field for equal competition”
“I
urge every Malawian man and boy in particular to reverse the trend and we
should be the ones to encourage our sisters, daughters and mothers and aunts to
carry the mantle and run ahead of us.”
He
emphasized that gender equality and women empowerment is the tool for achieving
the sustainable development of Malawi. He added that various institutions
including parliament and civil society are the conduits for a conducive legal
and policy environment for the effective efficient attainment of gender equality
and women empowerment in Malawi.
Before
making his speech President Mutharika, followed by his vice Saulos Chilima, Leader
of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera, male Cabinet Ministers, Legislatures and all
men present at the event signed a campaign pledged which reads “I Promise never
to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against girls. I promise to
promote gender equality and women’s empowerment”
Mutharika
said for signing the pledge he is committed to promote gender equality and
women empowerment “This gesture I face my zeal to ensure that women and men are
equal” in all sectors of life.
Alice
Harding Shackelford a country representative for UN Women in Malawi also emphasized
that Gender equality is everyone’s and every government’s business for the
“Gender
equality is a must for economic development, leaving 50% out of the cohesion is
not a smart economy” she said, adding that women and girls be empowered and
protected from any forms of gender based violence hence men should take lead.
The
‘He for She campaign’ is being represented with purple color for Loyalty and
Peace, White color for Purity and Love and Red color for ‘no’ to gender
violence.
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