International Women's Day Celebrations at EAC
The
East African Community (EAC) women led by Hon. Jesca Eriyo, Deputy
Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration (DSG F&A),
yesterday participated in a colorful march to the local market in
Arusha; ‘Soko Kuu’ in commemoration of the International Women’s Day
(IWD). Other key EAC women representatives among the front-liners of the
march included the Director of Social Sectors; Mary Makoffu and the
Principal Human Resource Officer; Ruth Simba
The
march also brought together a broad spectrum of women stakeholders from
various organizations such as women and men in support of women from
EAC, Germany International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the International
Labor Organization (ILO), the Arusha Municipal Council, Women’s
Organizations, Vision for Youth representatives as well as secondary
school students from the International School of Moshi and Arusha Day
Secondary School.
The market march orchestrated by
the Tanzanian Army Brass Band based in Monduli, Arusha, was organized
by EAC and the Arusha Municipal Council in collaboration with GIZ and
ILO, in a bid to offer material support aimed at improving the working
conditions of the market cleaners who are mostly women.
On
arrival at the market, participants engaged in a cleaning exercise of
the market’s environs before officially handing over the purchased
cleaning equipment to the market’s management. Witnessing this were
Council representatives including Acting City Director; Mariam Kimolo
and the Ward Councilor; Abdulrasul Tojo.
Speaking
briefly at the market, Hon. Jesca Eriyo urged women to work towards
taking up leadership positions at the work place, noting that there are
very few women worldwide in top positions within the labor force. She
also called for men’s support of women not only at the workplace but the
society at large and highly commended those present at the event for
taking time to participate in the IWD celebrations.
On
behalf of the market businesswomen was Mariam Okashi who particularly
thanked EAC and GIZ for their generous support in not only providing
cleaning equipment but for having a bigger picture in mind: a clean and
safe working environment for the market vendors as well, both men and
women.
Participants marched back to the EAC
headquarters where they gathered for the official IWD celebrations.
Gracing this momentous occasion as Guest of Honor was the East African
Court of Justice Judge President; His Lordship Hon. Dr. Emmanuel
Ugirashebuja.
In her official opening remarks at
the event, Hon. Jesca Eriyo highlighted that IWD can be an important
catalyst and vehicle for driving greater change for women and moving
closer to gender parity bearing in mind, article 5(e) in the EAC Treaty
which stipulates gender mainstreaming in all its endeavors and
enhancement of the role of women in cultural, social, political,
economic and technological development, whereas articles 121 and 122
emphasize the role of women in socio economic development and in
Business. She also encouraged men to support women at the workplace by
creating a conducive environment for them to thrive and fully unleash
their potential.
This year’s IWD campaign theme is
Be Bold for Change with a focus on ‘Women in the Changing World of
Work, Planet 50-50 in 2030. The theme aims at encouraging effective
action for advancing and recognizing women in all aspects of life.
The
theme was developed in cognizance that the global understanding of work
is changing with significant implications on the day to day lives of
women. While in most parts of the world, women have made tremendous
progress in building competencies to access decent work, there exists
huge inequalities, informality of labor, violence and environmental
impacts in other societies.
Also addressing
participants at the official opening was the GIZ Deputy Programme
Manager; Kirsten Focken, who began by stating that ‘the presence of both
men and women at the event was a symbol of unity, support and
solidarity to the gender parity and equality campaign which is
reinforced by the commemoration of IWD at EAC”.
She
particularly emphasized GIZ’s support towards women in small scale
cross-border trade adding that this is what triggered the development of
the Simplified Guide for Micro and Small Scale Women Cross Border
Traders and Service Providers within EAC.
Delivering
the keynote address was the ILO Director-East Africa Office; Mary
Kawar. She commended EAC for its efforts this year in engaging women at
different capacities at the event to consolidate their efforts towards
this year’s IWD theme. She also challenged EAC to set labor standards,
develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for women
for them to thrive in the work place within the region, reiterating;
“…for women to have equal opportunities, they have to be protected by
laws”.
Presiding over the official IWD
celebrations was East African Business Council Executive Director;
Lilian Awinja, East African Sub-regional Support Initiative (EASSI)
Director; Marren Akatsa-Bukachi, who gave a motivational talk at the
event and the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP)
Coordinator; Nancy Gitonga.
EAWiBP brings
together business and professional women from across the EAC region. The
Platform is taking proactive steps to increase women’s participation in
intra – EAC trade, EAC integration process and economic empowerment.
EAWiBP works towards achieving its goals through policy advocacy and by
linking business women to skills, information, markets, capital and
technical assistance.
The programme also included
presentations on opportunities for Women in the EAC-Case Studies of the
Incubator for Integration and Development in East Africa women
projects.At the closing, the Director of Social Sectors; Mary Makoffu
was pleased to give a vote of thanks to all the participants at the
event on behalf of EAC and later, together with the Hon. Jesca Eriyo and
the ILO and GIZ representatives, officiated the launch of the
Simplified Guide for Micro and Small Scale Women Cross Border Traders
and Service Providers within the EAC for dissemination.
International
Women’s Day is annually held on March 8 to celebrate women’s
achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as
the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
- ENDS -
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
Source:
http://www.eac.int/news-and-media/press-releases/20170309/international-womens-day-celebrations-eac
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