6 February 2010
EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: PROGRESS FOR ALL - INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2010
More than nine years after the signing of the Millennium Declaration little progress has been made in achieving equal opportunities and rights for women and girls.
While more girls are starting school, many of them, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Arab countries, do not complete their primary education. In countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan, two-thirds of illiterates are women. Women in many countries cannot do paid work outside the agriculture sector. In South Asia and North Africa, for instance, only 18% of women have paid work and they are generally paid lower wages. Of the nearly one billion people with an income of less than one dollar a day, some 700 million are women.
Laws that discriminate explicitly against women remain in force around the world, putting the formal endorsement of the state on gender-based discrimination.
International Women's Day is celebrated each year on 8th March to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.
The theme for the 2010 celebration of International Women’s Day is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All” Despite a disappointing lack of progress the empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN’s efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.
While more girls are starting school, many of them, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Arab countries, do not complete their primary education. In countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan, two-thirds of illiterates are women. Women in many countries cannot do paid work outside the agriculture sector. In South Asia and North Africa, for instance, only 18% of women have paid work and they are generally paid lower wages. Of the nearly one billion people with an income of less than one dollar a day, some 700 million are women.
Laws that discriminate explicitly against women remain in force around the world, putting the formal endorsement of the state on gender-based discrimination.
International Women's Day is celebrated each year on 8th March to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.
The theme for the 2010 celebration of International Women’s Day is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All” Despite a disappointing lack of progress the empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN’s efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.
Comments:
Much have been achieved when we look back, which is being celebrated every year on this day March 8...but the struggle is indeed not over. What about the unequal wages, unequal representation (political, local administration etc. etc.) and unequal treatment even within the family. Wives are being ill treated for giving birth a girl child by husbands and family. Are girls not human? They are shun even by the family from the day they are born into this earth. ....Much needs to be done if the theme of this year's IWD is to be achieved. You and i together can make a difference.... to make our daughters, mothers, sisters and wives lives brighter, more secured and rewarding.
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