Southern African regional body urges member states to accelerate gender equality, women's empowerment

James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) urged member states Saturday to accelerate gender equality and empower all women and girls.

"Let us take swift and decisive steps to achieve equality, addressing systemic barriers and biases in all spheres. Robust education and awareness-raising are needed to challenge stereotypes and empower women and girls," Elias Magosi, SADC executive secretary, said in a statement to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD).

The theme for this year's commemoration is "For all women and girls: rights, equality, empowerment."

Magosi said the region has continued to adopt reforms promoting gender equality and empowerment.

"While the SADC region remains committed to gender equality, barriers such as societal roles, legal frameworks, limited access to resources and discriminatory practices persist. Member states can achieve better results if all implement the protocols, legal frameworks and policies they have adopted as a region," he added.