All Kenyans should demand gender equality and women’s empowerment, Kenya Meat Commission managing commissioner James Serian has said.
He said gender inequality, discrimination and violence against women harm everyone.
“We must join hands to make gender equality a reality for all. Our aspirations for a world of peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity for all depend on it,” he said in a statement. It was read by KMC sales and marketing manager Ruby Kivuva on Friday during International Women’s Day celebration at Kitengela Medical Hospital.
Serian said gender equality is a fundamental human right because there is no better path to a more peaceful and prosperous world than empowering women and girls.
He said the world will remain unbalanced until power is fairly shared. “Around the world, women and girls are calling out for the end to abusive behaviour and discrimination they face all the time,” Serian said.
He said investing in women is the most effective way to lift communities, companies and countries and evidence proves it.
Serian said women's participation makes peace agreements stronger, societies more resilient and economies more vigorous.
“Gender equality is the unfinished business of our time. We have seen significant advances since the first International Women’s Day in 1976 in our country through affirmative action. Harmful practices likeFGM and child marriage decline,” he said.
Serian said there is still need to break the structural barriers that women and girls face – unpaid care work, unequal pay, harmful stereotypes, discrimination and violence.
“When we look at the low numbers of women in senior roles in the private sector, academia, politics, governance and international organisations, we all have to say, we can and must do more,” he said.
Serian said at KMC they have gender balance at the top echelons. Half of them are women, he said. “I'm determined to maintain this momentum.”
