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Women’s participation in decision making vital
2006-03-08 07:37:28
By Editor
Today is International Women’s Day (IWD), a day recognized by the United Nations for the purpose of taking time to remember and celebrate the many milestones marked by women’s achievements around the world, especially in the advancement of equality, justice and peace.
This day is basically a celebration of womanhood- the privilege of being a woman.
When women on all continents, divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, assemble to celebrate their Day.
Since its inception, IWD has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.
The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point for coordinated efforts to demand women’s rights and participation in the political and economic process.
IWD is a time to take stock of the status of women, identify gaps and celebrate achievements made in the struggle for gender equality and justice.
It is a time to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women’s rights.
To date women over the world have won many rights. It’s only through gender-based campaigns that women have won the right to work, own property, be educated, use contraception, vote and stand for public office.
Recently, we have seen women take up positions traditionally reserved for men i.e. we have women Presidents and Vice presidents.
The likes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Angela Merkel, Michelle Bachelet and Joyce Mujuru on the international scenario give us inspiration.
At home, we have seen quite a number of women take up powerful positions in the political arena, the likes of Education Minister Margaret Sitta, Foreign Affairs minister Dr Asha Rose Migiro and Finance Minister Zakia Meghji, just to mention a few. This is a remarkable achievement for the women cause.
It is worth mentioning that to day, Tanzania has managed to achieve the required 30 per cent women representation in Parliament, as required by the SADC Community.
IWD however reminds us that in spite of the success registered, these rights are still not enjoyed by many women in the world.
Health is of critical concern in developing countries.
Inadequate provision of health services has resulted in many women losing their lives.
Preventable diseases, maternal deaths and unequal access to health care still affect mainly women and girls especially those in rural areas.
HIV infection among women seems to be a critical problem despite several campaigns to curb the disease.
Women don’t seem to have freedom to make reproductive health decisions and as such remain vulnerable to such things as Sexually Transmitted Infections and unwanted pregnancies.
UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, in his message at the dawn of the new millennium emphasized that though some progress has been made, much remains to be done.
As we stand on the threshold of the new millennium, we are confronted by challenges both new and old.
At the forefront is the impact on women of globalization, liberalization, economic restructuring and privatization.
Poverty among women especially heads of households and older women appears to be deepening, he said.
The issue of gender equality must remain at the forefront of each society’s agenda and the international community until achievement is attained at every level.
As we commemorate this year’s IWD, it is important for us to remember that in this 21st century, women are still demanding equal treatment at workplaces and access to resources.
They are still fighting for childcare, reproductive control, freedom from violence and harassment, quality education and health care.
It’s time we realize that without women’s participation in decision – making in all spheres of life and at all levels of society, poverty will not be eradicated, nor will fully democratic societies be created.
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