Luanda – The minister of Energy and Water, Emanuela Vieira Lopes, Tuesday in Luanda, defended a major gender equilibrium, equal opportunities and rights between men and women, with a view to societies’ rapid and effective development.

The official said so during an event marking the celebrations of the International Women Day, March 8.

During the event, Emanuela Vieira Lopes stressed that only with the engagement of women and men can gender relation improve with the resulting fairer and fairer societies.

According to her, these societies must base their action on equality of rights and opportunities.

She said March 8 should not be looked at as a date of fight between men and women, but a moment of behavioural reflection for a combined action for the construction of a society where nobody feels superior or inferior.

 
As to gender equality in the country, she said Angola is an example to follow, due to its strategies of equality and opportunities between men and women, despite existing prejudices.

She recalled that illiteracy and the lack of opportunities seriously affected women, adding that the government is designing and implementing new strategies that are resulting in their gradual promotion.

The event was attended by workers of the various departments of the Ministry.

The International Women Day was proclaimed in homage to 129 workers of a New York (USA) textile company, who on March 8, 1857, demanded for the reduction of their daily working hours from 16 to 10, right to vote and equal salary to that of men.
 

The date was adopted by the United Nations in 1975 to remember the social, political and economic achievements of women and fight discrimination and violence against women.