Representation alone does not define equality – UN resident coordinator

United Nations resident coordinator Hopolang Phororo says representation alone does not define equality.
She says equality is realised when every woman has access to opportunities, economic power, safety and justice.

Phororo said this during the International Women’s Day commemoration in the Omaheke region on Friday.

Speaking at the event under the theme ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls’, Phororo acknowledged the country’s global recognition in advancing gender equality, but warned that genuine equality will only be achieved when women across the country can fully participate in the economy and live free from violence and discrimination.

Namibia has made progress in closing the gender gap, ranking eighth globally and first in Africa, according to the global Gender Gap Index for 2025. The country has closed 81.1% of its gender gap.

These achievements, Phororo said, reflect deliberate policy decisions and consistent advocacy to promote women’s participation in leadership and national development.

“They are reinforced by the historic leadership milestones the country has reached, affirming that leadership has no gender and that every girl in Namibia can aspire without limits,” she said.

She noted that although girls and women excel academically, education alone does not always translate into equal economic opportunities, adding that many young women continue to face barriers when entering high‑value sectors.

“Structural barriers continue to hold women back. Our responsibility is to ensure that education becomes opportunity, and opportunity becomes power. Breaking barriers in classrooms is progress. Breaking barriers in boardrooms, markets and emerging industries is transformation. And beyond being the right thing to do, inclusion is smart economics,” Phororo said.

Data from the 2019 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey shows that one in three women who have been in relationships has experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence.

“These numbers represent women with names, families, and futures. Violence is not inevitable, it is preventable. Equality becomes meaningful when representation turns into real power and opportunity for every woman and girl,” she said.

She called for stronger law enforcement, survivor-centred services, and long-term changes in social attitudes to address the problem and deliver justice.

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