By Derrick SinjelaFinances will empower women says Zambia national Women’s lobby (ZNWL) Men’s coordinator, nelson Banda.A Banda also believes that a society free of violence against women and girls is possible. Banda, who is also ZNWL public Relations Officer, says attainment of a favourable environment for women and girls requires broad-based partnerships.Banda says developing policies that will economically empower women to sustain their livelihood, education, training, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, is key in ameliorating their current status.‘We would like to call on policy makers to recognize the untapped potential of women in eradicating extreme poverty. We therefore appeal for increased financing for gender programming. This an be achieved by developing policies that will economically empower women to sustain their livelihood, education, training, financial literacy and entrepreneurship,” advised BandaBanda says a committed leadership, multi-sectoral strategies, strong involvement of men and boys at every level because men and boys who are gender sensitive and supportive for the advancement of women and girls’ rights are key to the development of the violence free society.“A society free of violence against women and girls is possible. It requires broad-based partnerships, committed leadership, multi-sectoral strategies, strong involvement of men and boys at every level because men and boys who are gender sensitive and supportive for the advancement of women and girls’ rights are key to the development of the violence free society,” says Banda in a paper presented at a Young Women’s Christian association (YWCA) AND ZNWL Men’s Network Conference on Financing for Gender Equality in Support of the International Women.Banda says the debate on the role of men in combating violence against women has gained momentum since the 1995 Beijing Conference on women. “The issue has gained higher profile as it was chosen as a priority for action in many countries.This debate in Zambia has attracted the attention of men to start addressing gender violence and promoting equality, more especially targeting men since the 1995 Beijing Conference on women. We are privileged today that we have been joined by allies who believe in equality to demonstrate men‘s support for women empowerment,’ said Banda.Banda says the annual International Women’s Day presents an important opportunity for men to show solidarity to end violence against women and to demand for more financing on gender equality programmes by government, the donor community and the private sector“For a long time, women’s rights advocates have been working to place the need to end violence against women, but in many cases the voices of men as critical partners to eliminate gender violence and promote equality between men and women,’ said Banda. Banda says the YWCA and ZNML Men’s Network want to change the perception of gender as a women’s matter by encouraging community participation of both women and men.“The concept of gender equality has in the past been associated with women and girls, leaving the active participation of men and boys as key allies and advocates on women and girls’ rights. While there is overwhelming evidence pointing at men as the majority perpetrators of violence, it is important to recognise that there are men who are concerned about the suffering of women and girls,” explained Banda. Banda wants communities to harness the interest of these men to work for the enhancement of women and girl’s rights. Banda believes that the men in the women‘s movement serve as role models to influence other men in the community. ‘Violence is a key obstacle to the achievements of women’s personal aspirations and the goals of equality and development. Violence on women and girls by men and boys is a social norm in homes, schools, public and work places.We demand zero tolerance against violence on women and girls, offences such as child defilement should be non bailable and we further demand increased financing for gender equality programmes by government and all stakeholders to implement laws, policies and plans that can build consensus and align.Banda noted in his paper that despite Zambia encouraging international best practices and policies on gender equality and development, gender abuse cases were on the rise,” a hopeful Banda says.He points out that the increasing levels of violence limit the participation of women and girls in national development. ‘We would like to call on Government, the private sector and the donor community to invest in projects and programmes that are designed at promoting a violent free society,’ says Banda. Banda says the Men’s Networks of YWCA and ZNWL seeks to create space and opportunities for collaborative between men and women.‘We seek work to work with men and women who are committed to influence the community to end violence and start recognising negative attitudes against women and girls, and challenge male socialisation so that they can be in the forefront to create a society where oppression and violence will not be tolerated,” says Banda. He says when women are afforded equality of opportunity as their basic right, results for the economic advancement for women and society as a whole are encouragingly increased. ‘Economic estimates, over the past decade indicates that women’s work worldwide have contributed more to fuel the global economy.As men we know what is possible when women are recognized as agents of change and to realize this vision we must remove obstacles, such as discrimination, negative policies and attitudes so that women embark on economic empowerment, wealth creation and entrepreneurship. Women bear the brunt of violence and poverty and their voices are not valued when it comes to addressing their social- economic needs’ says Banda.The ZNWL Public Relations officer laments that most policies are male driven and tend to work against women and the girl-child. ‘it is sad that most economic policies are male driven and therefore tend to work against the economic advancement of women and girls. However, encouraging female participation will result in women and girls’ rights being elevated into a key which shall add value to national economic development and the attainment of a violence free society,” advised Banda.
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