DUBAI, UAE – In a major stride toward advancing women’s rights worldwide, Eswatini’s Minister of Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, has been elected Chairperson of the Global Council on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5. Her appointment, announced at the ongoing World Governments Summit in Dubai, charges her with spearheading global efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in all spheres of life.

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A Global Platform for Change

As Chairperson of the Global Council on SDG 5, Minister Maziya will collaborate with an international network of policymakers, civil society leaders, and private-sector stakeholders to tackle systemic barriers facing women and girls. The Council’s key priorities include:

• Eliminating gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices.
• Advocating for equal pay and economic opportunities across industries.
• Ensuring inclusive access to education and financial services.

“This platform has the potential to create meaningful, lasting change,” says a spokesperson for the World Governments Summit. “Minister Maziya’s leadership will be instrumental in catalyzing global policy reforms and fostering solutions that directly improve the lives of women everywhere.”

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Building Upon Recent Accolades

Minister Maziya’s election continues a banner year for the ICT minister, who was honored with a Lifetime Award at the Africa Economy Builders Forum & Awards in Ivory Coast last July. This recognition highlighted her ongoing work in bridging digital and economic divides across the African continent.

“Her passion for innovation and social impact has not gone unnoticed,” noted an event organizer in Ivory Coast. “She is a true trailblazer, using her platform to advance both technological progress and human rights issues.”

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Addressing Global Crises’ Disproportionate Impact on Women

In her acceptance remarks in Dubai, Minister Maziya spotlighted the heightened vulnerabilities of women in situations of conflict and economic disparity. She lamented the plight of women as “innocent bystanders” in times of war and crisis, emphasizing the compound effect of gender inequality at home and in the workplace.

Minister Maziya: “We are innocent bystanders in most of these atrocities. We are unequal in places of work and in our homes, which seems to get more unequal every single day.”

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A Vision for Inclusive, Collaborative Leadership

Striking a hopeful tone, Minister Maziya urged global leaders, civil society, and businesses to join forces in redefining leadership through an inclusive lens. She called upon her peers to work closely with women to ensure equitable representation across all demographics, from boardrooms to local community councils.

Minister Maziya: “As we gather to share best practices through collaborations, let us create a new kind of leadership that is fully inclusive, eliminating all discriminations and ensure that women have a role to play in all the demographics.”

With this rallying cry, she set the stage for her tenure at the Global Council on SDG 5, positioning collaboration as the key to unlocking progress.

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A Blueprint for Women’s Empowerment

Looking ahead, Minister Maziya laid out an ambitious agenda centered on eliminating gender-based violence, establishing equal pay in the workforce, and facilitating women’s access to finance and education. These goals, she insists, should be non-negotiable pillars in any holistic approach to development:

Minister Maziya: “Please work with us to elevate our position in the world. Issues of sexual violence and domestic violence must be abolished. Equal pay for equal work must be a norm. Access to financial products and fair lending practices are critical. Access to education that is equal should be a right for women.”

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Stepping into a New Era for Gender Equality

With her election as Chairperson of the Global Council on SDG 5, Minister Savannah Maziya stands at the forefront of a transformative movement striving to make gender equality an integral part of the global agenda. As the summit continues in Dubai, international delegates are watching closely to see how her leadership and vision will translate into tangible policies, cultural shifts, and measurable improvements for women and girls worldwide.