Africa-Press – Mauritius. An animated cartoon related to women’s empowerment and gender equality created by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by the Direct Aid Programme of the Australian Government, was launched, this morning, at the Hennessy Park Hotel, in Ebène.
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah; the Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Dr (Mrs) Kate Elizabeth O’Shaughnessy, and the Head of the Socio-Economic Development Unit at the UNDP, Mrs Renooka Beejan, were present.
The cartoon adopts a conversational approach between a man and a woman. The man does not fully understand the concept of gender and gender equality which leads to the female character explaining to him what it is all about as well as deconstructing existing gender stereotypes, using the creole language.
This advocacy and educational tool aims to awaken women and men to gender issues in society that affect the family, workplace, and community. In her keynote address, Minister Koonjoo-Shah underlined that her Ministry has deemed it important to have recourse to innovative tools that would be easily used for their Information, Education and Communication campaigns on the gender concept.
She highlighted that the transformative role that new technological tools, such as animated cartoons/ videos as well as digital platforms can be maximised, in challenging traditional, social and cultural norms and attitudes regarding gender perceptions.
According to her, the conceptualisation of this animated cartoon on gender equality presents a new and revolutionary way geared towards reaching a far wider audience within the community as well as globally through the use of social media networks.
Speaking about the initiatives taken to ensure that rights of women are not flouted, Minister Koonjoo-Shah recalled that since the last two decades, appropriate legislative frameworks in favour of women, policy interventions aimed at empowering women and girls at the social, economic and political fronts, and relevant and appropriate institutional mechanisms, have all been enacted.
While acknowledging that significant gains have been made in uplifting the status and livelihoods of women and girls, she pointed out that they are still facing hurdles at various stages of their lives due to the deeply-rooted patriarchal norms and values that are exacerbated by gender stereotypes.
She underlined that her Ministry has intervened by constantly raising awareness on various perspectives of women’s rights. She also stressed on the need to put an end to discriminatory practices, hence allowing women to evolve in a conducive environment whilst at the same time, enjoy their fundamental rights.
She stated that awareness campaigns have yielded positive results in bringing about changes in people’s attitudes and behaviours. Significant changes, she stated have been witnessed, in terms of women joining the labour market, postponing their age of marriage, and being more assertive and outspoken.
Positive trends have also been observed, she said, on behalf of men, who are more receptive and agreeable that women’s rights are human rights and that discrimination can no longer be condoned.
For her part, the Australian High Commissioner underpinned the importance of gender equality. She stated that gender equality is when people of all genders have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities.
Everyone is affected by gender inequality and it impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, she added. She also underlined that gender equality prevents violence against women and girls and is essential for economic prosperity.
Societies that value women and men as equal are safer and healthier, she concluded. Speaking on behalf of the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Beejan, pointed out that the launching of the animated cartoon comes at an opportune time since the COVID-19 has intensified the existing gendered differences.
Women, she recalled, have carried the brunt of the pandemic in their different roles as wives, mothers, carers, frontline workers, business owners or sectoral workers. She added that against this backdrop of challenges, the UNDP will continue its development support towards gender equity.
