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Message of solidarity for gender equality and women's rights
Zimbabwe Women's Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN)
March 06, 2006

As we celebrate the 2006 International Women's Day on 8 March, the theme Women in Decision-making probes every one of us to take stock of their individual and collective contribution to a society that recognizes, protects and advances women's rights to equal opportunities and treatment.

In line with our vision to see women enjoying the benefits of actualizing their full potential in political, economic, social, public and private spheres, we advocate that national development policies and programmes incorporate the specific needs of women and girls. Advocacy, based on the collection or generation, processing and targeted dissemination of information, therefore remains our core business with programmes on gender, economy and public finance; gender and HIV and AIDS; and gender and information.

Challenges for us as a society, however, manifest in the continued wanton disregard for the right to enjoy rights guaranteed in the international instruments Zimbabwe is signatory to. Violence against women, increasingly ending in death, continues to negate all the efforts made to ensure that women become more actively involved in decision-making not only in the public sphere but at family level. There is therefore need for not only legislative but also social mechanisms to defend and protect the dignity of women and uphold their rights not only to life, but also to recognition as equal citizens of Zimbabwe.

As we take stock of progress towards achieving women's empowerment through gender equality, we call upon women, men, girls and boys to reflect on what they are contributing to a progressive society that values all its members equally.

Visit the ZWRCN fact sheet

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