The event commemorated the history and fights that women have waged in achieving equality. It also brought to attention issues such as gender equality at work, sexual harassment at work, gender based violence, women in leadership and to show appreciation and acknowledge the greater participation of women in their professional and everyday lives.

Regional Director for Region F Irene Mafune said: “As women we need to build ourselves from within and always remember to be sensitive and kind to other women”.

She said women must appreciate themselves more and appreciate the crucial role they play in their communities. Women are going through a lot, let us listen more to others and acknowledge the role we play in the society.

Gladys Mabunda, a social worker in the Social Development Department dealing with women empowerment and skills development informed the women that the City has programmes like the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to assist in gender-based violence issues, sexual harassment, mental health and other issues.

“Women are not sharing because they are afraid of each other. Let us develop a culture of reporting these issues. There is no house that has not been touched by gender-based violence,” said Mabunda.

Let’s work on restoring what has been taken away from us as women, she concluded.

The speakers agreed that more should be done by institutions to raise awareness and address women issues. Women should work together and empower each other in the workplace. More could be achieved when women come together and lend a hand to one another.

The region will visit old age homes to celebrate women’s month with senior citizens in the region and to raise awareness on human rights issues on service delivery and other issues affecting senior citizens.