The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President Hon. Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira told African Parliamentarians during the commemoration of the International Women's Day in Midrand South Africa that women's struggle should be the struggle for everyone in order to develop Africa.
As a legislative organ of the African Union, the PAP joined the world is not only commemorating but also celebrating Women's Day. The day is celebrated annually and globally on the 8th of March, focusing on progress made on gender equality in all walks of life. This year's theme, *"For an Inclusive Digital World: Innovation and Technologies for Gender Equality"*, marks a paradigm shift to embracing and affording women opportunities in modern technology acquisition. The President said it was time to refocus the continental attention on empowering women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) which most African countries have adopted in order to accelerate economic development.
"PAP parliamentarians must, therefore, advocate for internet access as a basic right, the integration of ICT into education curriculums and zero tolerance towards discrimination against the girl child in pursuing education programs in the field of STEM. This day, should be a sobering reminder to all of us that the women's struggle is everyone's struggle," said Mr President. He also implored the member States to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, adopted on 21 March 2018, and empower women through the enactment of policies that better women's involvement in international trade, ICT and other forms of production.
Chief Charumbira also warned and reminded the parliamentarians that denying any woman or girl child any rights on the basis of their gender is a subversion of human rights accorded to everyone by merely being born human. Joining the PAP to give their message of solidarity were the Regional UNAIDS representative - Anne Githuku-Shongwe; UNESCO representative Remmy Shawa and the Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency, Ambassador Andre Nzapayeke.
During the plenary session, the parliamentarians spoke at length about the need for women to support each other in bid for higher offices in their nations. Issues such as early child marriage and cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality and abuse of women and girls were echoed by United Nations organs.
In his conclusion, President Charumbira invited all parliamentarians to an Annual Women's Conference held every October enabling PAP to bring out constructive engagement of African women to Africa's development agenda.
-Ends-
