ZAMBIA: Catholic Students Launch Gender Policy Campaign

LUSAKA, MAY 8, 2018 (CISA) – The Pan Africa Coordinator of the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Mr Patrick Ochida has applauded Catholic students from southern Africa Sub-region for launching IMCS Africa Gender Policy.

“The IMCS Gender Policy is intended to promote equality in leadership and also promote human dignity in the world we are living,” he said.

Ochida noted that the move is one way of improving students understanding on issues of gender equity and equality in their respective countries.

“When it comes to issues of employment, education, there has to be equal opportunities irrespective of gender and also fairness between men and women having equal opportunities without discrimination but that is not the case in our countries,” he said.

In his speech he also lamented of how people view differently issues of gender whereby women and girls have remained victims.

“Human dignity is important and we all need to live in harmony respecting Gods word that we are all created in his own image,” Ochida said.

Speaking at the same function, President of the National Movement of Catholic Students in Malawi Tuntufye Simwimba, highlighted that the gender policy will be an eye opener for today’s leaders on issues of gender whether in education, politics and leadership positions.

“When we go back home, we will try our best to implement what we have learnt, we will work with different partners who are already implementing activities concerning Gender such as Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Ministry of Gender and other local commissions that deal with issues of Gender,” he said.

The launch which was held in Lusaka in Zambia brought together delegates from the Ministry of gender and International youth Chaplains from Zambia and Botswana and Catholic students from the Southern Africa Sub-region which comprises of Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Swaziland.

The Policy aims at guiding the Catholic students to relate well among groups and live in harmony, without the deliberate negative criticisms, endless complaints and useless comparison which are all destructive to unity.