AWOME Spice Up International Women's Day in Mzuzu

Association for Women in Media decorated the city of Mzuzu on Wednesday as the World commemorated the International Women’s day.

This year, it is being commemorated under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

**Police and Prison women officers also attended**

This year’s theme highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.

Led by Plan International and Association of Women in Media-AWOME, women in the city matched to the District Commissioner’s office to deliver a petition lobbying authorities to close digital gender gaps.

Speaking after receiving the petition on behalf of the M’mbelwa District Commissioner, the District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Naomi Mulwafu assured the the group that their grievances will be delivered to the relevant authorities and in time since she is also a woman.

“Together with various stakeholders in every sector we are working to solve lack of availability of content and access to opportunities for up skilling the level of digital literacy among women and girls for them to have relevant skills needed to participate in a modern and digital economy,” She said.

**The Message of the day was very clear**

Plan Malawi’s Programs Officer, Sailes Banda said his organisation’s collaboration with the Women in Media will help to reduce the violation of women’s rights online.

He then called upon government to remove barriers that are currently hindering girls from accessing the digital world.

“A digital literate and empowered girl-child has the potential to transform the economy therefore a crucial need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital technology to improve the level of digital literacy among women and girls for them to have relevant skills needed to participate in a modern and digital economy,” Banda said.

Later the Women went back to Katoto football ground where Cy Sister played MK in women’s football match.

Meanwhile the women are also lobbying for increased access to digital technologies for women and girls and raise awareness on cyber bullying against women and girls.