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Today, in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the members of the #HeForShe Campaign Group of Diplomats officially welcomed the Head of Mission for the European Union Delegation, His Excellency Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann as the incoming Chairperson of the Group, while acknowledging the work of the British Embassy as the Outgoing Chair. Ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and fighting for equal participation of women and men in the social, economic, and political spheres are the goals of the #HeForShe campaign.
The #HeForShe Dialogue for Diplomats and Business leaders is being held under the Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls.
His Excellency Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, in his address at the HeForShe Diplomats and Business Leaders Dialogue, said gender inequality and violence against women and girls remain major drivers of poverty, destitution, and under-development.
“SDG 5, Gender Equality is that fine thread that weaves together the 17 SDGs. In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN works to support national development priorities, including ending poverty, improving health, and human development by empowering women and engaging boys and men.
“Without the empowerment of women and engagement in productive sectors of the economy the SDGs cannot be achieved. According to UN Women, achieving gender equality requires an inclusive approach that both recognizes men and boys as partners for women’s rights and acknowledges how they stand to benefit from greater equality,” Mr. Kallon said.
He said the 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 behaviors, 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.
“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. In so doing, we must pay special attention to those facing multiple and intersecting forms of marginalisation and discrimination.
“The #HeForShe Movement is one of the key strategies for fostering solidarity through engaging men and boys, as advocates and agents of change while calling out and addressing negative masculinities where they exist. 27 years ago, at the Beijing Conference on Women which I attended as a youth delegate, women showed up in full force but we were missing a key partner in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment. We were missing men and boys, luckily this gap is fading out fast thanks to each and every one of you here, out HeforShe partners,” Ms. Lo said.
Mrs. Virginia Muwanigwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission said the Zimbabwean Constitution has gender equality among the founding values.
“It recognises the equality of the sexes and prohibits sex discrimination. The Government has a national gender policy in place, which aims to promote gender equality and outlines how this will be achieved. Gender equality is also a priority of the National Development Strategy 1,” Mrs. Muwanigwa said.
