Zonta Rose Day:
'Take time to smell the roses'
Zonta Rose Day, which coincides with International Women's Day
(today) is a day to reflect on the voluntary service carried out by the
members of Zonta empowering and enhancing the status of women worldwide.
The Zonta Rose, a single yellow rose which is more than a beautiful
flower, serves as the symbol of Zonta Rose Day. On this day, thousands
of events are held by Zonta Clubs worldwide to inspire women and
celebrate the progress made to achieve women's rights and outline future
steps to improve women's equality.
Zonta Club III of Colombo is a member of Zonta International (www.zonta.com),
which is a service organisation of women executives and professionals
working together to advance and empower the status of women and children
world-wide.
The past two decades have witnessed a notable change in society's
views on the emancipation of women and women's equality. We have
witnessed female heads of state in Sri Lanka, women can work and have a
family and school girls are welcomed into university.
The growing number of females entering the workforce has notably
increased from 1,656,166 in 1995 to 2,068,667 in 2000 and 3,057,390 in
2014.
According to the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey, in 2014 females
accounted 34.8 percent of the employed labour force, as against 30.9
percent in 1995. With a higher number of women executives in the
boardroom, increased equality in legislative rights and a greater
visibility as role models in various aspects of life, one may conclude
that women have now achieved true equality.
Unfortunately, women do not have an equal presence in business or
politics and women's health, education and the violence against them is
worse than that of which is faced by men.
Women in Sri Lanka are not paid equally to that of their male
counterparts. Although Women constitute the bulk of the work force in
Sri Lanka's three leading foreign exchange earners which include tea,
garments and foreign remittances, making a valuable contribution to GDP
and overall economic development, a significant percentage of women are
employed at the lower end of the employment ladder as plantation
workers, assembly line operators and in overseas domestic service.
Women in Sri Lanka have longer life-spans but their average standards
of nutrition fail to meet their own needs and further obstruct their
efforts to ensure the health of their children.
Violence and abuse affect women from all kinds of backgrounds every
day. According to a UN Survey on Violence Against Women in Sri Lanka, a
woman is raped every 90 minutes.
Additionally, as identified by the group Women for Rights, 95 percent
of women who use public transport in Sri Lanka experience sexual
harassment.
To better prepare young Sri Lankan women for success and equality in
the corporate sector, the Zonta Club III of Colombo conducted the annual
Zonta Women of Tomorrow (ZWOT) Mentorship program which aims to enhance
and hone their employability and professional skills.
Zonta Club III of Colombo notes that great improvements in the
enhancement of the status of women have been made over time. The tone
and nature of Zonta Rose Day has, for the past few years, shifted from
being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
This Rose Day, the Zonta Club III of Colombo will spend time with the
elderly women at the Sarvodaya Elder's Home for women in Rathmalana.
Additionally, the Club will conduct a Health Camp at the Methsevana
state House of Detention for women in Gangodawila. The camp will provide
the inmates with general health check-ups which includes their BMI index
and a supplementary meal plan.
Zonta Rose Day presents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements
of women while calling for greater equality and emancipation.
You can make a difference by participating in local activities and
campaigns that raise awareness for gender equality and voicing your
support via social media.
Zonta Club III encourages you to take time to 'smell the roses' by
embracing the message of Rose Day and appreciate the progress we have
made in enhancing the status of women thus far.
You can make a difference and do your bit to ensure that the future
for women is equal, bright, safe and rewarding.
- Zara Mathew
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