Ministry empowers women for economy

THE Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children is committed to women empowerment to fully participate in the industrial-powered economy in the country. The Permanent Secretary (PS) in charge of Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Sihaba Nkinga, has said the government was taking all possible steps to empower girls and women at all sections in the society. The PS was briefing reporters ahead of the International Women’s Day, annually celebrated every on March 8. She said in Tanzania, the event’s theme would be: “Tanzania’s industry, women are the basis of economic transformation” and would bring together state and non-state actors to deliberate on new ways to improve engagement of women in economic activities. “The event is part of the sustainable development goals agenda 2030 that aim to improve gender equality,” she said. According to the PS, the government had launched a blueprint involving private sectors, civil society organization and development partners to forge partnerships towards eliminating burdens facing women. As actors, she said, “We must come together to ensure all the challenges limiting active participation of women in economic development are eliminated.” To date, women and girl-children are facing excessive gender based violence. Despite community and national interventions women and girls face domestic violence in the form of beating, child marriage, female genital mutilation, rape and other related sexual abuse. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that one in every three girls are married before their 18th birthday. In rural areas, girls get married off as young as 11 years old. But Ms Nkinga said the government was working to improve household income capacity, improve safety for a woman and a girl child and amend legislations propagating gender violence. “We have outdated laws. Some cultural traditional practices and community involvement in most areas will have to be worked on to improve and empower women.”