Women’s Rights, A Long History, A Long Way to Go

By Shingirai Vambe

As the world prepares to mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, the lingering question remains: how far have we truly come in achieving gender equality? Despite the progress made, the answer is clear: we still have a long way to go.

The United Nations has designated 2030 as the target year for achieving gender equality, but the current rate of progress is alarming. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, it will take another 134 years to reach gender parity. This staggering statistic is a stark reminder of the immense work that lies ahead.

The fight for women’s rights has been a long and arduous one, dating back to the early 20th century. International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911, and since then, it has become a global movement. In 1975, the United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day, and in 1996, it announced its first annual theme.

Despite the progress made, women and girls continue to face significant barriers to equality. The UN’s Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024 report found that none of the indicators for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which aims to achieve gender equality, have been met. This is a sobering reminder that the journey to equality is far from over.

One of the most significant challenges facing women today is the persistent political gender gap. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2024, only 22.8% of the gap has been closed. This means that it will take another 169 years to close the political gender gap at the current rate of progress.

To accelerate progress towards gender parity, the UN is calling on governments to take six key actions. These include enacting and implementing laws and policies that promote gender equality, investing in education and training programs that support women’s economic empowerment, and promoting women’s leadership and participation in decision-making processes.

The World Economic Forum has also launched its Global Gender Parity Sprint 2030, a platform that brings together governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to accelerate progress towards economic gender parity.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa, emphasized the crucial role of tax compliance among women entrepreneurs and business owners. This highlights the significance of women in business understanding and fulfilling their tax obligations to contribute to the country’s economic growth.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) acknowledges the vital role of gender equality and women’s empowerment in driving regional integration and development. As such, SADC commemorates the remarkable achievements of women across the region, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the social, economic, and political fabric of Southern Africa.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a monumental step towards promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment by launching the Network of Women Mediators in Southern Africa on January 28, 2025. This initiative, supported by the European Union, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), aims to strengthen mediation and peace-making processes in the SADC region. The network creates an opportunity for women to take leadership roles in peace processes, including conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction.

The launch of the Network of Women Mediators is a testament to the SADC region’s commitment to collective action in addressing conflicts. As emphasized by Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, Former President of the Republic of Malawi, women’s participation leads to more comprehensive and sustainable solutions in conflict resolution.

In Zimbabwe, the Ministry has been instrumental in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The country has made significant progress in recent years, including the adoption of a constitution that provides equal representation of women and men in all positions. However, despite this progress, women in Zimbabwe continue to face significant challenges, including high rates of child marriages, sexual violence, and limited access to education and economic opportunities.

As the country celebrate International Women’s Day in 2025, it’s essential to acknowledge the importance of accelerating action towards gender equality. The theme of this year’s celebrations, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” emphasizes the need for collective action to achieve gender parity.

In Africa, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, remains a critical framework for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. As we mark the 30th anniversary of this landmark agreement, it’s essential to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain ³.