Republic of

Z A M B I A

STATEMENT

BY

HIS HONOUR LT. GEN. CHRISTON S. TEMBO, MP,

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

AT THE

SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNGA ENTITLED "WOMEN

2000: GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

FOR THE 21ST CENTURY"

New York

June 6,2000-/jm

 

 

• MR. PRESIDENT

• THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

• EXCELLENCIES

• DELEGATES TO THIS SPECIAL SESSION

• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MY GOVERNMENT'S APPRECIATION THAT A NATION OF OUR SUB-REGIONAL GROUPING, SADC, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, IS PRESIDING OVER THIS IMPORTANT SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WE WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, FOR THE EFFICIENT AND ABLE MANNER IN WHICH YOU ARE GUIDING THE BUSINESS. OF THIS AUGUST MEETING.

MR. PRESIDENT, ZAMBIA HAS SINCE THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN MADE GREAT STRIDES IN IMPLEMENTING THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION AND HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ACCOMPLISHING SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS.

WE BEGUN OUR NATIONAL IIVIPLEMENTATION PROCESS BY TRANSLATING THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION INTO A NATIONAL PLAN FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN. THE STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD 1996 TO 2001, IDENTIFIES FIVE PRIORITY AREAS AND THESE ARE:

  1. PERSISTENT AND GROWING BURDEN OF POVERTY ON WOMEN AND THEIR UNEQUAL ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND LACK OF PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC STRUCTURES AND POLICIES;

  2. INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TAG;

  3. WOMEN'S UNEQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES;
  4. INEQUALITY BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN IN THE SHARING OF POWER AND DECISION-MAKING; AND
  5. THE RIGHTS OF THE GIRL CHILD.

IN ADDITION THERE ARE SIX UNDERLYING AND CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT IN ADDRESSING THE CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN. THE CROSS CUTTING ISSUES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  1. THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE MEDIA AT ALL LEVELS;
  2. THE NEED FOR GENDER DESEGREGATED DATA;
  3. ESTABLISHMENT OF EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS;
  4. PROMOTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN;
  5. CONSIDERING THE IMPLICATIONS OF CULTURAL, TRADITIONAL AND WESTERNISATION IN ALL AREAS; AND
  6. THE RURAL, PERI-URBAN AND URBAN TRICHOTOMY OF THE ZAMBIAN POPULATION.

MR. PRESIDENT,

I AM PLEASED TO INFORM THIS SPECIAL SESSION THAT THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS HAVE ENDEAVOURED TO IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL PLAN WITH CONSIDERABLE RESULTS. THE DETAILS OF THE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN, ACHIEVEMENTS MADE, AND OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED ARE REFLECTED IN A NATIONAL MID-TERM REVIEW REPORT WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY CIRCULATED AMONG UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES, MEMBER STATES AND OTHERS.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT CABINET ADOPTED THE FIRST NATIONAL GENDER POLICY ON THE 6TH OF MARCH, 2000. THIS IS A LANDMARK DOCUMENT THAT PRESCRIBES POLICY MEASURES THAT CUT ACROSS SECTORS, INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES AND ISSUES AND AIM AT ENHANCING GENDER RESPONSIVE DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE POLICY SHALL ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION.

MR. PRESIDENT,

GIVEN THAT POLITICAL WILL AND ENTHUSIASM EXISTS AT ALL LEVELS IN ZAMBIA, WE CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. WE, THEREFORE, CONTINUE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAINSTREAM GENDER IN ALL OUR POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES.

MR PRESIDENT,

IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES WHICH HAVE AFFECTED THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. THE ISSUES WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ARE CERTAINLY NOT NEW. THEY ARE IN FACT REFERRED TO IN THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION. THEY, HOWEVER, HAVE FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS ON GOVERNMENT'S CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION.

MR. PRESIDENT,

KEY OBSTACLES THAT HAVE HAMPERED OUR IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS ARE AND INCLUDE:

  1. HOUSEHOLD POVERTY;
  2. HUGE NATIONAL DEBT; AND
  3. HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC.

THESE THREE MAJOR OBSTACLES, AMONG OTHERS, POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE PLAN FOR ACTION. WE REQUIRE STRONG AND CONCERTED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN ORDER TO SURMOUNT THEM.

MR. PRESIDENT,

HOUSEHOLD POVERTY IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN ZAMBIA. CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE POPULATION LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, THE MAJORITY BEING WOMEN. WOMEN ALSO FACE OTHER FORMS OF EXCLUSION SUCH AS LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES; AND MARGINALISATION FROM THE MAINSTREAM OF S CIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL PROCESSES.

WOMEN AND MEN EXPERIENCE POVERTY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE FEMINISATION OF POVERTY IS LESS A QUESTION OF WHETHER MORE WOMEN THAN MEN ARE POOR THAN THE SEVERITY OF POVERTY, AND THE GREATER HARDSHIPS WOMEN FACE IN LIFTING THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF THE POVERTY TRAP. THE WIDE RANGE 00, BIASES IN SOCIETY AND THE UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN IEDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND ACCESS TO AND CONTROL OVER PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES (PARTICULARLY LAND) MEAN THAT WOMEN HAVE FEWER OPPORTUNITIES.

FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE RURAL AREAS, CONSTITUTE A PROMINENT CATEGORY OF WOMEN LIVING IN POVERTY. IT IS, THEREFORE, IMPERATIVE THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN THE HIGH LEVEL OF POLITICAL COMMITMENT AND RESOURCES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAS EMERGED AS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT WOMEN HAVE A DIFFERENT PATTERN OF VULNERABILITY TO HIVIINFECTION THAN MEN. A COMBINATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS MAKES WOMEN MORE VULNERABLE TO HIV INFECTION THAN MEN.

POVERTY AND HIV/AIDS ARE THEREFORE CLOSELY LINKED. POVERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE SPREAD OF HIV AND ACCENTUATES ITS IMPACT. POVERTY CREATES SITUATIONS OF VULNERABILITY TO INFECTION, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN.

THE EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS ON ECONOMIC CAPACITY IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT. ASSOCIATED WITH AIDS RELATED DEATHS ARE HUGE MEDICAL EXPENSES AND LOSS OF HUMAN CAPITAL. ESTIMATES STATE THAT WITHOUT FOREIGN CAPITAL INFLAWS INTO ZAMBIA, COSTS OF MEDICAL TREATMENTS, ATTRITION AND OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AIDS, WOULD RESULT IN A FALL OF GDP BY ABOUT 9% BELOW NORMAL PROJECTED LEVELS. WITHOUT UNPRECEDENTED INFUSION OF FOREIGN AID, OUR NATIONAL INCOME WOULD THEREFORE, BE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY.

MR. PRESIDENT,

ZAMBIA IS IN THE CATEGORY OF HIGHLY INDEBTED POOR COUNTRIES. IN THIS REGARD, THE DEBT BURDEN IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE PERSISTENCE OF HER UNDER DEVELOPMENT. ZAMBIA'S DEBT SERVICING OBLIGATIONS CONSTITUTE THE SINGLE LARGEST ITEM OF EXPENDITURE IN THE PUBLIC BUDGET. IT FAR OUTSTRIPS EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION AND OR ANY OTHER SECTOR.

DEBT SERVICING HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PUBLIC BUDGETS, THUS HAS SEVERELY SHRUNK RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND GREATLY REDUCED THE PROSPECTS FOR GROWTH. THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH REDUCTIONS ARE FELT DISPROPORTIONATELY. INEQUALITIES ARE PERPETRATED AND INCREASED BY DEBT NOT ONLY THROUGH INCOMES, BUT ALSO IN RESPECT OF GENDER.

MR. PRESIDENT,

EVIDENTLY, ZAMBIA HAS A LEGITIMATE REASON TO SEEK SIGNIFICANT DEBT RELIEF IF NOT OUTRIGHT DEBT CANCELLATION. SHE HAS RELIGIOUSLY CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT STRUCTURAL AND OTHER REFORMS. SHE REMAINS COMMITTED TO DEBT SERVICING ALBEIT TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR PRIORITIES IN THE SOCIAL SECTORS, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION. DEBT SERVICING ASSUMES AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DONOR ASSISTANCE. DEBT SERVICING, HAS IN THE MAIN, HOWEVER, DEPRIVED THE COUNTRY OF RESOURCES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHANNELLED TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT THE OUTFLOW, THROUGH DEBT SERVICING, FAR EXCEEDS INFLOWS THROUGH EXTERNAL AID.

THERE IS, THEREFORE, A NEED FOR FOREIGN DEBT RELIEF INITIATIVES TO GO BEYOND THE EXISTING FRAME WORK, IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE FINANCIAL FLOWS OF RESOURCES, TO HIGHLY INDEBTED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THERE ARE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WILL REQUIRE STRONG NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY GIRLS, IS A MENACE TO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC GLOBALISATION PROCESS ON OUR ECONOMY. THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMIES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM WHICH IS PRESENTLY BIASED IN FAVOUR OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. UNLESS THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM PROMOTES GROWTH IN LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES, SUCH AS THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION CAN ONLY REALISE MINIMAL RESULTS.

MR. PRESIDENT,

WE WISH TO EXPRESS SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS FOR CONDUCTING MEETINGS TO FOLLOW UP THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION AT NATIONAL LEVEL.

MR. PRESIDENT,

I WISH TO CONCLUDE BY REAFFIRMING MY GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTING THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION. THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY WE MUST OBLIGE FOR GENDER EQUALITY.

THANK YOU.