SALUTATIONS:
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions this year joins the world in celebrating International Women’s Day, a very important day when we take stock of the status of women’s rights and gender equity in Zimbabwe. As part of the global community, the ZCTU celebrates women and their achievements. This year we call upon our government to accelerate initiatives or action that can unlock equality of rights, power and opportunities for all and empower women and girls ensuring that no one is left behind.
This year the ZCTU commemorates the event under the Theme: “Accelerate Action for all Women Workers’ Rights, Gender Equality and a Sustainable Future”.
The ZCTU theme is linked to the UN Global theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality and Empowerment”, which emphasises the need to take gender responsive action to achieve equality of rights, power and opportunities for all women and girls.
The theme also focusses on the upcoming UN evaluation of achievement of the twelve priorities of the Beijing Platform for Action of 1995. It is critical to note that as we evaluate our successes and failures as countries regarding the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, it is only 5 years away from the major evaluation of achievement of the SDGs under the 2030 Agenda. Thus we must learn from our failures and refocus our strategies to achieve more.
The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action also comes amid growing insecurity and compounding crises, diminishing trust in democracy and shrinking civic space.
Last year alone, 612 million women and girls in the Globe, lived amidst the brutal realities of violence and harassment including armed conflict; (unwomen.org - women peace and security facts and figures).
This year the global world is focusing on empowering women and the next generation—i.e. youths, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.
As we take stock of our own country context, women have been marginalised for so long, with the majority languishing in poverty in the rural, domestic, agriculture and informal sectors. There are also a greater majority of women who are mothers, daily burdened by care work, which is not recognized at law and not compensated.
These women are denied opportunities to gain economic skills and to access credit for better rewarding economic activities.
Women in the workplaces are also denied opportunities to take up positions of authority and are concentrated in clerical jobs, cleaning and other subordinate jobs where they earn far below the poverty line. As if this is not enough, comrades, women have suffered the brunt of sexual harassment and gender-based violence most of which can be attributed to power imbalances that include less economic power for women.
Women in trade unions face gender-based discrimination, denial of information, sexual harassment and patriarchal attitudes hindering them from accessing positions of authority. Those few women who are brave enough to fight for leadership positions, face resistance, name calling and sometimes insubordination.
Therefore, on behalf of the working women, the ZCTU demands the following from our Government:
1. Invest in Women through Economic Empowerment and ICT skills,
2. Gender responsive national budgeting that prioritises gender equality and inclusion.
3. Enforce Rights of All Women, including those working in vulnerable sectors and in digital spaces.
4. Enforce a culture of ZERO Tolerance to Gender Based Violence including Cyber Violence for A Violence Free Workplace
5. We Demand Ratification & Enforcement of ILO Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work and the recently adopted AU Convention on Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa.
6. National awareness & rehabilitation programmes for abused women and girls;
7. Free sanitary ware for women and girls;
8. One day off per month for all women during menstruation period.
9. We demand Recognition and compensation for unpaid care work.
10. Decent work and social safety nets for all workers including domestic and informal care workers.
11. Respect and enforcement of Human & Trade Union Rights,
12. An End to Child Abuses, Child Marriages and Drug Abuse.
13. The ZCTU demands a new social contract that: -
a). Prioritises equality, inclusion, peace and democracy;
b) Includes policies to equitably share care responsibilities and improve the care economy. The ZCTU Joins the UN Women’s global campaign to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, by calling upon the Government of Zimbabwe to: -
1 Advance women’s and girls’ rights: By enforcing and ensuring full enjoyment of human rights by women and girls including full protection from all forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation;
1 Promote gender equality and inclusivity: through addressing systemic barriers, dismantling patriarchy and elevating the voices of women and girls, youths, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
1 Prioritize opportunities for young women and girls to lead and innovate.
1 Foster empowerment: By Redefining power structures and ensuring inclusive access to education, employment, leadership, and decision-making spaces.
Zimbabwe is currently facing serious economic decline that is putting immense pressure on citizens. We urge government to embrace economic empowerment of women and young people, as a measure to secure a prosperous and just economy for Zimbabwe.
We owe this to our future generations.
Let us Engage the media, corporate leaders, governments, community leaders, civil society, women, youths, and others with influence to take action in our communities.
On behalf of the ZCTU Leadership, General Council and ZCTU Women’s Committee, I wish you all a fruitful commemoration.
I Thank You All.
Shinga Mudzimai Shinga: Count us in: Solidarity
Forever!!!!
