RURAL WOMEN’S PLIGHT HIGHLIGHTED
By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
A LARGE proportion of women in rural areas are employed in the informal agricultural sector of which many are unpaid family workers, Western Province Minister Richard K0a9p7i6ta79ha18s
Speaking when he officiated at this year’s International Women’s Day commemoration in Solwezi, Mr Kapita stated that according to the 2010 living condition survey data, over 90 percent of women in rural areas are involved in informal agricultural employment.
He said 45 percent of employed women in rural areas are unpaid family workers compared to 16.1 percent of men.
He said lack of infrastructure and services, decent work and social protection has left more women vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“Therefore, in order to make the promise of the sustainable development goals a reality to leave no one behind, we need to take urgent action in rural areas to ensure an adequate standard of living, a life free of violence and harmful practices for women in rural areas as well as their access to land and productive assets,’’ he said.
He said government with support from cooperating partners and other stakeholders who include traditional leaders would continue to implement strategies aimed at addressing gender inequalities across all sectors in the country.
He said government is consolidating efforts already made that are yielding the desired results in reducing child marriage in the country.
Earlier, organising committee chairperson Dr Nachilima Kaunda said this year’s theme “Time is now; rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives’’ has the goal of zeroing in on those that are at the battlefront of championing women’s rights.