PRESS RELEASE

UN Country Team Malawi joins the MDG 3 Call for Action Campaign

“This torch must travel the country and this flame must symbolize the hope for millions of women trapped in poverty and unable to enjoy equality in rights, resources, and voice at the household and society level. We must raise the hopes of women in Malawi and keep the flame burning by committing “to do something extra.” Esperance Fundira, UNFPA Malawi Representative (right) upon receiving the torch from Hon. Anna A.N. Kachikho, M.P., Minister of Women and Child Development

15 October 2008 – United Nations Country Team has renewed its commitment to increase the momentum of efforts that ensure women enjoy equal rights in Malawi. Esperance Fundira, UNFPA Malawi Representative received the MDG 3 Torch on behalf of the UN Country Team from Malawi’s Minister of Women and Gender Development, at a national event marking the international Rural Women’s Day and Malawi’s Mothers’ Day.

The MDG 3 torch campaign aims to inspire genuine commitments to “do something extra” at different levels of political and social leadership and to raise awareness on the impact that women’s empowerment has to increase the country’s potential to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

On receiving the torch, Fundira recognised the achievement made after Cairo Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform for action, which include the passing of the Domestic Violence Bill in 2006, the adoption of a National Gender Policy and the recently launched campaign to achieve 50-50 gender balance in political leadership in anticipation of Malawi’s 2009 General Elections.

She however appealed for concrete and meaningful action because, on a massive scale, women cannot their basic rights, are denied access to resources and their voices largely unheard especially in the design and implementation of national development policies.

“As I receive this torch on behalf of the UN in Malawi, I reaffirm our commitment to do something extra for gender equality and women empowerment in Malawi.  I reiterate the UN will work with government and all development partners to ensure the success of these significant achievements. We will also work to ensure women and girls have adequate access to HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment services.”
 
Emma Kaliya, Chairperson of the NGO Gender Coordination Network also received the MDG 3 Torch and called for increased collaborative action across sectors to increase recognition of women as an important economic resource but also to ensure their rights are protected.

The torch campaign was launched by the Danish Government on 7 March 2008 marking the International Women’s Day. It calls upon governments, local and national leadership, academia, non governmental and civil society organisations, and the private sector to “do something extra” to realise a better quality of life for women globally.

Since March, the torch has travelled from commitment to commitment across the globe. The campaign culminated in the UN’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon receiving the one-hundredth torch and concluding the torch’s global journey.

The torch begun its journey in Malawi when the President, His Excellency Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika received the torch during the African Green Revolution Conference in Norway in August, 2008. Dr. Mutharika handed over the torch to three lady Ministers of Malawi - Minister of Tourism Callista Chimombo, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joyce Banda, MP and Minister of Women and Child Development Anna A.N. Kachikho, MP - who have pledged to “do something extra” for women of Malawi, in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.

The campaign will articulate the issues of gender equality in rights, resources and voice, and women’s empowerment within household, society, and the national economy.

Information on the torch campaign and tracking commitments and the journey the torch will take in Malawi can be found on http://www.unmalawi.org/mdg3/index.php.

For more information contact:
Susan Muguro, UN Communication Officer – susan.muguro@undp.org or +265 9 967 991
Helene Christensen, UN focal person for the MDG 3 Campaign, +265 5 484 952 or helene.christensen@undp.org