SPEAKER MUTTI RECOGNISES THE NEED TO SUPPORT WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, the Rt Hon Ms Nelly B. K Mutti, MP has recognised the need to support women’s rights aimed at enhancing the capacity of Members of Parliament and staff in gender related matters in order for them to perform their legislative functions effectively.

She said this when the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW) Board members paid a courtesy call on her on Monday, 15th November, 2021 at Parliament Buildings. She added that, as a member of the NLACW herself, she was gratified that the NLACW paid a courtesy call on her.

Further, Speaker Mutti indicated that the National Assembly of Zambia had implemented a number of activities that were aimed at enhancing the capacity of MPs and staff in gender related matters, in order for them to perform their oversight and legislative functions effectively.

The activities include, among others:

  1. A Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB) Training was conducted for both MPs and staff to equip them with skills to analyse the National Budget from a gender perspective.
  2. A workshop on safeguarding was conducted for MPs and staff to raise awareness on safeguarding to come up with modern institutional policies, guidelines and procedures that will effectively respond to current and emerging sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in institutions.
  3. The Zambian Women Parliamentarian Caucus (ZWPC) was established in 1997 to fortify women’s issues in the National Assembly following a SADC seminar on practical gender equality.
  4. The Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Governance was established to ensure among others the enactment of legislation that promotes gender equity and equality and amends or repeals legislation that is discriminatory to women and girls.

Speaking at the same meeting, the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women Board Chairperson Ms Pamela Pio congratulated Rt Hon Nelly B.K Mutti on being the first female Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia. The NLACW was established in 1990 and is part of the Law Association of Zambia which aims at enhancing women’s and children’s rights.