The United Nations (UN) in Zambia says the appointment of the first female Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti demonstrates the country’s commitment to advance gender equality.
UN Resident Coordinator Coùmba Mar Gadio said this was evidenced through efforts been put in place to increase the number of women in key decision-making positions and female empowerment as a whole.
In her congratulatory message, Dr. Gadio said Zambia however needed to work at ending the underrepresentation of women.
“Congratulations to Zambia and all Members of Parliament in particular, on the election of Lusaka Lawyer Nelly Mutti as the country’s first female Speaker of the National Assembly,” she said.
Dr. Gadio said the country needed to make progress on national, regional, and global commitments including the African Union Agenda 2063 which called for ensuring the effective participation of women in decision-making.
She said Zambia also needed to make progress on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which advocated for 50/50 gender representation in decision-making positions.
She said with 2021 marking the 26th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which advocates for the inclusion of women in decision-making, it was hoped that Zambia would continue taking practical steps to ensure that more women meaningfully participate in politics and other sectors of society, especially as leaders.
