A better future for women
Today, as we celebrate the
International Women's Day, it is pertinent to reflect on some issues
affecting women and indeed, the wider society.
Although there has been remarkable progress in terms of women's
advancement worldwide, it is clearly not enough. Of 1.2 billion people
living in poverty worldwide, 70 per cent are women. Women own around
only one per cent of the world's land. Women are two thirds of the one
billion illiterate adults who have no access to basic education. Women
do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10 per cent of the
world's income. More than 530,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth
each year.
These alarming statistics show that the world has failed to ensure
justice for women, almost a century after the inception of the
International Women's Day. It is indeed a blot on the collective
conscience of Nations. The United Nations' Member States are keen to
address these concerns. In fact, five of the eight Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) directly or indirectly seek a better future for
women. These five goals are to: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty;
achieve universal primary education; to promote gender equality and
empower women; reduce child mortality and promote maternal health. These
MDGs cannot be considered in isolation. They are linked to one another
and success in even one can have a positive effect on the others.
As the statistics mentioned above show, women are bearing the brunt
of poverty worldwide, especially in developing countries.
Even in developed countries, women are poorer. It is clear that
poverty eradication schemes have to be targeted at women, who often look
after whole families with their meagre income. They are more likely to
succeed in poverty eradication initiatives, as shown by the success of
Samurdhi programs involving women.
Achieving universal primary education is essential to uplift girls
and women. Sri Lanka is one of the few developing countries which have
achieved success in this regard. Across much of the developing world,
the story is different. There are many societies which still shun girls,
who are seen as a burden. They are deprived of education and made to
work, sometimes as child labourers and even as sex workers.
They are physically and sexually abused, leaving lifelong mental
scars.
Parents need to be educated on the importance of schooling for girls
- it has been proved that educating girls is the single most effective
strategy for achieving economic growth. An educated woman can, and will,
make a positive contribution to the society and the economy.
- A lot of progress has been achieved in terms of gender equality and
empowering women. Nevertheless, women are still paid lower salaries than
men in many countries despite doing the same jobs. With more women
entering
previously male-only vocations, it is time that this issue is
addressed in earnest. Women are also not empowered politically and
otherwise.
Although almost all countries have granted the franchise to women and
there have been many women Prime Ministers and Presidents, the world's
Parliaments are overwhelmingly male dominated. Although the percentage
of women MPs has increased four-fold worldwide from 1945, it is still
not at a satisfactory level. Sri Lanka's track record in this regard is
also not impressive, despite producing the world's first woman Prime
Minister and later, an executive President. More political opportunities
must be created for women, especially young women.
Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health are also major
challenges facing especially the developing countries. Sri Lanka is
among the few developing countries which have achieved near-developed
world levels in these indices thanks to an excellent healthcare and
immunization program.
But the picture in the rest of the developing world is very bleak -
for example, pregnant women in Africa are 180 times more likely to die
than those of Western Europe. Diseases, including HIV/AIDS, are also
taking a heavy toll on women.
The projected investment for reducing child and maternal mortality is
a fraction of the world's defence expenditure. What the world needs is
willpower sand resources to tackle these issues. Millions of lives can
be saved if the developed world can divert more funds to the Least
Developed Countries for healthcare and education.
There are many more issues facing women that fall beyond the scope
and mandate of the MDGs. These include violence against women, sexual
abuse including genital mutilation, the use of girls as child labourers
and soldiers, the denial of equal opportunities in every sphere of
society and suffering as a result of substance abuse/alcoholism of their
guardians/husbands. These issues still have to be addressed by each
country, but international action can be useful in instances such as the
recruitment of child soldiers by terror groups. Where national laws are
inadequate to deal with these issues, newer, more effective laws should
be passed. Women deserve a far better future.
Governments and societies must rise to this challenge. |
