Professor Luo put the record straight on gender equality saying banning women from bars is against the Zambian constitution as well as regional and international protocols.
She explained that the SADC protocol on gender and development and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women emphatically allow gender equality between women and men the right to association and movement.
This is contained in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
“I don’t endorse the statement made by a named District Commissioner that women should be banned from patronising bars. This is against our Zambian constitution as well as regional and international protocols. I appeal to my colleagues in leadership at all levels to desist from making sexist comments that discriminate against women or men, girls and
boys,” Prof. Luo said.
She stressed that if women were going to be banned from patronizing bars, it means both women and men should also be banned.
The Gender and Child Development Minister appealed to those in leadership positions at all levels to desist from making sexist comments that discriminate against women or men, girls and boys.
She said her Ministry recognizes the abuse of alcohol by women, men and youths in bars which is destroying their morals and family life.
She noted that government through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has got laws and regulations to guide when bars should be operated but does not discriminate on basis of gender.
Serenje District Commissioner Charles Mwelwa early this month allegedly remarked and banned sex workers in the area from patronising bars and night clubs.
The commercial sex workers teamed up and stormed his office pressing and demanded for empowerment from government.
The Serenje District Commissioner advised the commercial sex workers to stop patronizing bars but venture into clean business.
Last month, Vice President Inonge Wina urged Zambians to avoid using sexist remarks.
Mrs Wina said any sexiest remark from any source is unacceptable.
She said men and women in the country should set an example of civility in various affairs that affect them.
Meanwhile, Gender and Child Development Minister Nkandu Luo has
implored the media to give women a human face by highlighting positive stories.
Prof Luo observed that women in the country were given negative
headlines showing nudity of women and girls.
Prof Luo encouraged Journalists to write good stories on women and girls as opposed to publishing pictures which are in bad taste.
She however, commended the media for joining hands with her Ministry in exposing defilers, rapists and those who commit sodomy and incest because the cases have educated the would-be-perpetrators from committing similar criminal offences.
Prof Luo said government is concerned by the raising cases of defilement, gender based violence and other related crimes in the country.
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