The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
DEVELOPMENT partners have urged Government to continue making significant strides towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the areas of healthcare, poverty reduction and human development by empowering women and engaging men, as these are critical to broader social and economic development.
This came out during a HeForShe Dialogue for diplomats and business leaders, which was held on Wednesday.
The dialogue was held under the global Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls.
United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon said gender inequality and violence against women and girls remain major drivers of poverty and under-development.
“Without the empowerment of women and engagement in productive sectors of the economy the SDGs cannot be achieved,” said Mr Kallon.
He added that SDG-5 on Gender Equality is that fine thread that weaves together the 17 SDGs.
“HeForShe campaign is an invitation for men and people of all genders to stand in solidarity with women and girls to create a bold, visible, and united force for gender equality.
“The objective is to change discriminatory behaviours, by building awareness of the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment and the crucial role men can play in their own lives, and at more structural levels in their communities, to end the persisting inequalities faced by women and girls,” he said.
UN Women Zimbabwe representative, Ms Fatou Aminata Lo said violence against women and girls is the most pervasive human rights violation in the world.
“Violence against women and girls slows them down on progress of social, economic, and political fronts, and threatens the attainment of national development objectives, the sustainable development goals and Africa Agenda 2063,” Ms Lo said.
“It is therefore of paramount importance that in the spirit of Leaving No-one Behind, we all unite and act to end violence against women and girls.”
According to UN Women, achieving gender equality requires an inclusive approach that both recognises men and boys as partners for women’s rights and acknowledges how they stand to benefit from greater equality.
