Maria Gustava, Ambassador of The Republic of Mozambique to China, attend the opening ceremony and delivered a speech
date：2023-12-25 10:01:35 hits：
The 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum successfully convened in Sanya, Hainan from December 6-8. Co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in China, and jointly organized by the People’s Government of Sanya City, the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, and the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Women’s Forum. Maria Gustava, Ambassador of The Republic of Mozambique to China, attend the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
I feel honoured to take part of this important event and join my voice in the discussion of this Forum under the Theme “Promoting Gender Equality and Health for All, Building a Society Friendly to Family.” Let me extend my gratitude to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for gracious invitation and warm hospitality in this beautiful city of.
Promoting Gender Equality and Health for all means full respect of the most fundamental human rights. It implies changes in the set up of our societies and acceptance that women and men deserves to have equal treatment without bias, gender stereotypes, prejudices and that their opportunities and responsibilities are not determinate on basis of sex or gender.
Unfortunately, our contemporary world is still faced with the old discriminatory mind set and deep-rooted inequalities that is affecting women in their daily life.
All this start in family, where there is a concept that the boys must be given better education and care as the future leaders in the families while the girls are only granted the role of being future mothers and housewives. Poverty and lack of education and cultures have even driven the girls for child marriage, depriving them to the better health care and living conditions.
Thus, girls and boys must be educated to understand that their differences need to be celebrated and not use as a tool to oppress one gender in detriment of the other. Indeed, gender equality forms the cornerstone upon which prosperous, inclusive societies must be built on. In fact, empowering women goes beyond moral imperative; it unlocks not only individual potential but also the collective strength of communities and nations.
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests
Mozambique, my home country, attaches great importance to the women’s empowerment and active participation in all spheres and life segments. In this context, women have equal rights, including the access to land, education, and health. This has positive impacts on the reduction of illiteracy rates from 88% in 1980 to 46% in 2021 and the reduction of maternal and child mortality.
The country increased political representation of women in governance bodies at all level. For instance, the percentage of women in the National Assembly 43%, and has a woman as President. Mozambique has gender parity 50/50 in the Council of Ministers, where women lead important ministries. At the level of justice administration bodies, women’s participation is substantial from top to the base and has a woman as President.
In economic front, efforts are being made to improve policies and strategies, to increase gender responsive services, access to land and control over means of production and enhance women’s sustainable livelihoods. As results in the agriculture where lots of women are involved there’s positive trend in the leadership and ownership of the production and business.
All these aimed at ensuring greater involvement of women in the economic, social, and political activities including in the prevention, managements, and resolution of conflicts. Also, in strengthening the society’s awareness of gender equality and women’s rights in all spheres.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Mozambique and China have long and deepen relations of friendship and cooperations in all spheres, including the women issues, which have been elevated to the strategic partnership by our two leaders in 2016.
China has succeeded in gender-transformative approaches which unleash the potential of women towards poverty eradication projects that took place at grassroots level.
Mozambique believes that based on this excellent bilateral relations the two countries, within the framework of Belt and Road, can further strengthening their cooperation and collaboration, exchange experiences on the training and business skills and promote investments that responds to the women needs including their health care.
Together, we can fight for fully respects of women rights and build a world where the resilience of women becomes the catalyst for a remarkable transformation. In fact, empowering women is not just a matter of social justice; it is a strategic imperative for sustainable development.
Together we can dismantle the gender norms and stereotypes that hinder women's progress. This necessitates transforming societal attitudes and creating an enabling environment that values the contributions of women and supports women’s participation in the decision-making process of families, communities, and workplaces. Investing in health and education for women and girls is of paramount importance in breaking the cycle of gender inequality and fostering their active participation in the labour market and betterment of the life in the families.
By recognizing and promoting gender equality and health for all, we can build inclusive societies, promoting harmony, harness the women immense potential and drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Let us commit ourselves to building a future where women's role in the family and community is not just an aspiration but a lived reality for fostering a more equitable and prosperous societies.
Let me conclude by saying that the promotion of equal rights and opportunities for both man and women in all aspects is the cornerstone for the building of harmonious, inclusive, happy and peaceful societies. The world cannot afford to leave more than half of our population behind the development processes. Let us join hands and work together in promoting gender equality worldwide toward building a community with a shared future
I thank you for your attention.
The theme of the forum, ‘She Power: Jointly Building and Sharing a Beautiful Life,’ reflects a focus on women’s unique contributions and empowerment within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the All-China Youth Federation, along with the People’s Government of Sanya City leadership, the forum brought together over 400 participants. These included the First Lady of Guyana, representatives from the United Nations, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine, and ambassadors from Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, Maldives, Switzerland, Nepal, Guyana, Uganda, Mozambique, and various other countries, along with national and international business representatives.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.
Maria Gustava, Ambassador of The Republic of Mozambique to China, attend the opening ceremony and delivered a speech
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
I feel honoured to take part of this important event and join my voice in the discussion of this Forum under the Theme “Promoting Gender Equality and Health for All, Building a Society Friendly to Family.” Let me extend my gratitude to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for gracious invitation and warm hospitality in this beautiful city of.
Promoting Gender Equality and Health for all means full respect of the most fundamental human rights. It implies changes in the set up of our societies and acceptance that women and men deserves to have equal treatment without bias, gender stereotypes, prejudices and that their opportunities and responsibilities are not determinate on basis of sex or gender.
Unfortunately, our contemporary world is still faced with the old discriminatory mind set and deep-rooted inequalities that is affecting women in their daily life.
All this start in family, where there is a concept that the boys must be given better education and care as the future leaders in the families while the girls are only granted the role of being future mothers and housewives. Poverty and lack of education and cultures have even driven the girls for child marriage, depriving them to the better health care and living conditions.
Thus, girls and boys must be educated to understand that their differences need to be celebrated and not use as a tool to oppress one gender in detriment of the other. Indeed, gender equality forms the cornerstone upon which prosperous, inclusive societies must be built on. In fact, empowering women goes beyond moral imperative; it unlocks not only individual potential but also the collective strength of communities and nations.
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests
Mozambique, my home country, attaches great importance to the women’s empowerment and active participation in all spheres and life segments. In this context, women have equal rights, including the access to land, education, and health. This has positive impacts on the reduction of illiteracy rates from 88% in 1980 to 46% in 2021 and the reduction of maternal and child mortality.
The country increased political representation of women in governance bodies at all level. For instance, the percentage of women in the National Assembly 43%, and has a woman as President. Mozambique has gender parity 50/50 in the Council of Ministers, where women lead important ministries. At the level of justice administration bodies, women’s participation is substantial from top to the base and has a woman as President.
In economic front, efforts are being made to improve policies and strategies, to increase gender responsive services, access to land and control over means of production and enhance women’s sustainable livelihoods. As results in the agriculture where lots of women are involved there’s positive trend in the leadership and ownership of the production and business.
All these aimed at ensuring greater involvement of women in the economic, social, and political activities including in the prevention, managements, and resolution of conflicts. Also, in strengthening the society’s awareness of gender equality and women’s rights in all spheres.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Mozambique and China have long and deepen relations of friendship and cooperations in all spheres, including the women issues, which have been elevated to the strategic partnership by our two leaders in 2016.
China has succeeded in gender-transformative approaches which unleash the potential of women towards poverty eradication projects that took place at grassroots level.
Mozambique believes that based on this excellent bilateral relations the two countries, within the framework of Belt and Road, can further strengthening their cooperation and collaboration, exchange experiences on the training and business skills and promote investments that responds to the women needs including their health care.
Together, we can fight for fully respects of women rights and build a world where the resilience of women becomes the catalyst for a remarkable transformation. In fact, empowering women is not just a matter of social justice; it is a strategic imperative for sustainable development.
Together we can dismantle the gender norms and stereotypes that hinder women's progress. This necessitates transforming societal attitudes and creating an enabling environment that values the contributions of women and supports women’s participation in the decision-making process of families, communities, and workplaces. Investing in health and education for women and girls is of paramount importance in breaking the cycle of gender inequality and fostering their active participation in the labour market and betterment of the life in the families.
By recognizing and promoting gender equality and health for all, we can build inclusive societies, promoting harmony, harness the women immense potential and drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Let us commit ourselves to building a future where women's role in the family and community is not just an aspiration but a lived reality for fostering a more equitable and prosperous societies.
Let me conclude by saying that the promotion of equal rights and opportunities for both man and women in all aspects is the cornerstone for the building of harmonious, inclusive, happy and peaceful societies. The world cannot afford to leave more than half of our population behind the development processes. Let us join hands and work together in promoting gender equality worldwide toward building a community with a shared future
I thank you for your attention.
The theme of the forum, ‘She Power: Jointly Building and Sharing a Beautiful Life,’ reflects a focus on women’s unique contributions and empowerment within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the All-China Youth Federation, along with the People’s Government of Sanya City leadership, the forum brought together over 400 participants. These included the First Lady of Guyana, representatives from the United Nations, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine, and ambassadors from Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, Maldives, Switzerland, Nepal, Guyana, Uganda, Mozambique, and various other countries, along with national and international business representatives.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.