EU has spent EUR32 million on assistance for Mozambican women – Kuenssberg

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EU has spent EUR32 million on assistance for Mozambican women – Kuenssberg

1:43 CAT | 09 Mar 2016

In File Club of Mozambique

The European Union has disbursed about EUR32 million so far assisting women and supporting gender equality in Mozambique.

Speaking to AIM in Maputo on Saturday during a Month of the Woman event, the EU coordinator on gender in Mozambique, Joanna Kuenssberg, said that the best use of funds was to invest in women’s future by spending on girls.

The Month of the Woman was launched by the First Lady, Isaura Nyusi, on March 8, International Women’s Day, and will come to a close on April 7, the Day of Mozambican Women.

According to Kussenberg, no country can fully realize its potential while half the population is marginalized in terms of the education system, formal employment and meaningful participation in public and private life.

“All around me today, I see many women who run their own businesses, earning livelihoods for themselves and their families,” she said.

EU data show that, globally, women do two-thirds of the work and produce half of the world’s food, but are paid only ten percent of the income and hold only one percent of the property.

Kuenssberg said more women must have access to good jobs, and pointed to education as the starting point.

“The more time spent in education, the less a girl risks sexual violence and early marriage. She can have fewer children and provide better for the children born,” Kuenssberg said.

Kuenssberg compared societies committed to achieving gender equality, saying that those which succeeded tended to be more liberal and fair, and that greater female participation in politics, social action and work is associated with low levels of corruption.

“This also applies both in conflict resolution and the promotion of stable societies through poverty reduction and human development,” she said.

Kussenberg said that, while women continue to be vulnerable to sexual violence especially, “we cannot fight poverty or promote development and gender equality”.

Mozambican deputy director in the Mozambican Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Sansão Buque, said that Month of the Woman celebrations form part of the government’s 2015-2019 Five Year Plan.

Buque told AIM that the main April 7th ceremonies will take place in the Zimpeto neighbourhood on the outskirts of the capital.

Source: AIM