Africa-Press – Tanzania. ZANZIBAR First Lady Maryam Mwinyi has called for concerted efforts to address existing challenges that hinders gender equality and delays the development of women in the country.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Minister of State in the First Vice – President’s Office Dr Saada Mkuya Salum, the First Lady said that everyone has role to play to empower women and girls to reach their full potential.
“We all have a role to play to ensure that women and girls have fair opportunities and are able to reach their full potential. We must own this role and execute it to the best of our capabilities,” Ms Mwinyi said at the occasion to officiate at the one-day blue economy strategic workshop here on Monday.
The workshop dubbed ‘Blue Economy Strategic Workshop – ‘Realizing Women’s Economic Rights, drew participants from public and private sectors including women engaged in fishing and farming from rural areas as well as entrepreneurs, whereby a baseline study report on women economic empowerment in the fisheries in the Indian Ocean was launched.
“I would like to thank the government of Australia for the financial support for the publication of this report,” she said, while also applauding the UN Women for being at the forefront in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment across the globe.
“This is indeed a very important report, which examines the challenges and opportunities for their economic empowerment and provides a set of recommendations for key stakeholders,” she said.
The First Lady said that there is vast potential for women to thrive in the blue economy, if gender inequality is addressed and women are integrated in all areas.
Just as changes in policy are required, she pointed out, “We also need a change in mindsets, so that any obstacles that stand in the way of women’s economic empowerment in the sector, including discriminatory laws, norms, traditions and attitudes are removed.”
“Through the success of the blue economy in promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, we hope to see a significant increase in the participation of women in a way that benefits them, their families and communities,” she said.
The Acting Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries Mr Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga informed the participants that the government has been enough to ensure women and girls voices are heard and considered including having inclusive blue economy strategies.
UN Women Representative in Tanzania Ms Hodan Addou said the workshop aimed to increase knowledge, promote continuous learning, and explore important issues, address challenges, and identify opportunities as well as strategies for effective engagement of women in the sector.
Ms Addou thanked President Hussein Mwinyi for his efforts empower women.
“UN Women is very grateful for our continued cooperation with Zanzibar, and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership in the years to come. This workshop is indeed timely, as global leaders recently convened in Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference – COP26. In the context of the blue economy, we know that a healthy ocean is key for the sustainable future of both people and the planet,” she said.
She informed the meeting that President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the COP26 conference clearly illustrated the climate change challenges that the country is facing, many of which directly relate to the blue economy, and by default, greatly impact women and their communities dependent on the oceans, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water of this great nation.
“Gender equality and women’s empowerment must therefore be at the centre of the world’s response to the climate crisis, and in all strategies and plans relating to the blue economy,” she said, adding that “Women must be seen as part of the solution – and their economic empowerment is a large part of that solution.”
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