Vice-President Inonge Wina arrives in New York

Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Wina, has arrived in New York, where she is leading the Zambian delegation to the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations (UN) Headquarters.

The Vice-President will deliver Zambia’s national statement to the 59th Session of the CSW, hold bilateral meetings with the Swedish delegation and speak at a high-level side-event on reproductive rights.

According to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Permanent Mission of Zambia to UN ,Chibaula Silwamba, Ms Wina will also deliver a lecture at Columbia University, one of the top universities institutions in United States of America (USA).

The Vice-President is scheduled to meet Zambians living in the tri-state of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Zambia UN Mission Charge D’Affaires ad interim Christine Kalamwina informed the advance party of the delegations that representatives of Member States , UN entities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world will attend the annual event.

She said Zambia would actively participate at CSW59 to champion gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“Zambia is one of the leading countries in the promotion of the welfare of women and girls; and this is an opportunity for us to highlight our achievements in this regards,” Ms Kalamwina who is Zambia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations said.

Ms Kalamwina said CSW59 was an opportune gathering to introduce Zambia’s female Vice-President to the world.

“We are proud that His Excellency the President Mr Edgar Lungu appointed Her Honour Mrs Inonge Wina to be our first ever Vice-President and assigned her to lead the delegation to CSW. This confirms his commitment to uplifting the wellbeing of women, and all Zambians,” Ms Kalamwina said.

The CSW59, dubbed Beijing+20, is taking place two decades after the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing that marked a significant turning point for the global agenda on gender equality.

The main focus of the session will be on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, including current challenges that affect its implementation and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The CSW59 will discuss opportunities to achieving gender equality and empowerment of women in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, currently being formulated.