At a recent meeting held by Swiss International Organization Crans Montana Forum, Maria da Luz Guebuza, first lady of Mozambique, called upon governments and the global community to look beyond statistics when considering the empowerment of women. Ms. Guebuza pointed out that statistical analysis implies, and may even encourage, competition between men and women, when the goal of women’s empowerment and development is that all “work [together] to develop the country,” as AllAfrica reports.

The 20th annual meeting of the Swiss organization focused partly on the theme of ‘The Increased Role of Women in Leadership of World Matters’. Representing the Mozambican delegation, First Lady Guebuza said that despite a significant number of women in parliament, there remains a considerable struggle for women’s empowerment in her native Mozambique: “We shall keep on struggling for women to be trained and able to participate in decision making.”

Former Ivorian Minister Ginette-Ursule Yoman spoke of the progress yet to be achieved, both within Africa and internationally: “The number of women in leading posts has been growing, but we still do not have women leading strategic development institutions.”

Mozambique: Emancipation Must Be More Than Mere Statistics-AllAfrica News