Zambian commemorated the International Women’s Day on Monday with President Edgar Lungu stating that gender equality was vital in the development of the nation.

While acknowledging that the country has made some notable progress in promoting gender equality, the Zambian leader said more still needs to be done to ensure that both men and women have equal access to national wealth.

According to him, without the participation of both women and men, the country’s development efforts will be in vain.

The Zambian leader said the country has made strides in the last 25 years after the United Nations landmark Beijing Declaration of 1995 that affirmed that women’s rights were human rights.

He noted that the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights” calls on all stakeholders to promote and protect the rights of women.

But United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Coumba Mar Gadio said despite significant progress made towards realizing women’s rights both globally and in Zambia, many women and girls still faced significant unfulfilled rights and discrimination.

She said the year 2020 was an important year for achieving gender-equality as countries have commenced the Decade of Action for achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to her, there has been slow progress towards gender equality as there was still sexual and physical violence against women and girls while women were less visible in the economic sector than men.

Mary Mulenga, Chairperson of the Non-Governmental Gender Organizations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), an umbrella body of women organizations, said women still faced many challenges not only in Zambia but the world over.

She said among the challenges include fewer opportunities for economic participation than men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risk and less political representation.

She noted that securing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their potential remains critical not only for attaining gender equality but also for the country’s attainment of development targets. (Xinhua)