The UN World Food Program (WFP) has highlighted the role of male to secure the global campaign of gender equality.

In a statement delivered to the press here on Thursday, James Morris, executive director of the WFP, said that "We men must aggressively support, encourage and partner with women around the world to achieve their rightful place, taking control of their own lives."

While ensuring that women are prioritized in WFP's food aid operations, the UN official highlighted the value of involving men in the struggle to achieve lasting equality.

"The involvement of women at all stages of feeding the hungry is essential. Agencies like ours must continue to be creative in our efforts to attain equality for women, through training and education, which are key to ending world hunger," Morris added.

In a fishing farming project in Uganda, it has given equal implementation and management roles to women and men, which is traditionally a male dominated industry.

Proceeds from the sale of fish are equally shared between the men and women family heads, nearly 50 per group. To date, 87 ponds are stocked with fingerlings. Each pond has an average harvest capacity of 900 kg every six to eight months.

In a mandate to further integrate gender issues in the programs, WFP Uganda has also initiated the Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Program, which is an important strategy to improve the nutritional well-being of a whole generation, through early interventions of preventing malnutrition in mothers and children.

"The program also enhances the capacities of caregivers through nutrition and health education and improved childcare practices," said Purnima Kashyap, WFP Uganda Program officer.

In a bid to stress the importance of the two sexes working together to improve women's lives around the world, has chosen the theme of "Partnering with Men to Achieve Gender Equality" for this year's International Women's Day.

Source: Xinhua