Reflection on Women’s Day celebrations

We have just concluded the Women’s day celebrations.

Why dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world’s women? In adopting its resolution on the observance of Women’s Day, the General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and 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.

For the Women of the world, the Day’s symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to see how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It’s also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change. (UN Women Watch International)

Why Focus on Gender?

We are focusing on Gender because there are Strategic gender needs, which are designed to challenge women's and

men's subordinate positions in society, and to transform their existing roles

and relations. Examples of strategic needs include reproductive rights, a

greater political voice, and action on violence against women. Such needs often

challenge hierarchical positions, and are usually long term.

What is Gender? Gender refers to the cultural and social distinctions between women and men. These include the different attributes, statuses, roles, responsibilities, opportunities and privileges accorded to women and men - as well as their access to and control over resources and benefits. All these distinctions can change according to time, place and the development climate.

The theme for this year’s Women’s Day celebration is: “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”.

This clearly shows that women are advocating for their position in society. They are advocating for their Rights. They are advocating for Equality. They are aware that there are gender specific issues that can be tackled. They are asking the Government and the Development partners to be gender specific and are challenging the status quo that only the male folks can manage.

If development programs do not take gender issues into account, they become gender insensitive or gender blind in as much as they fail to recognize the different needs of either women or men. If, on the other hand, a program takes gender issues into account, it becomes gender responsive.

It’s believed that the eradication of poverty and injustice will simply not be possible without securing equality and rights for women. The whole world understands that women living in poverty face double oppression because of their poverty and their gender. Causes of female poverty can be different to causes of poverty in general. For example, men may have property rights where women have none. As such, approaches to tackling poverty need to be gender specific. Many women in Uganda do not even know the true meaning of Gender Equality. To them Women’s Day means men cooking for their wives or girl-friends.

Empowered women believe that gender discrimination, which is all pervasive (persistent), must be removed before achievements of rights and end of poverty can be attained. But can poverty really be ended? Maybe it can be reduced but not ended. Women are particularly vulnerable. Most times they are denied their basic rights such as right to: bodily integrity and autonomy, vote, hold public office – to work, fair wages or equal pay, to own property, to education, to serve in the military or be enrolled, enter into legal contracts, have marital or parental rights and last but not least, right to health. In urban areas, the trend is shifting for the educated woman. What about a rural woman who has never entered class? Some do not even know the basics about their own reproductive organs and system and have never as much as seen the pictures of a reproductive system. I remember when I went for community outreach to talk about menstrual hygiene management and to distribute pads in one of the communities, when I showed them a picture of the female reproductive system, some even called me a liar that how can I be sure of something that is so hidden. I still remember the giggles up to today.

Women are still disadvantaged up to today. They may lose access to or control over land when their spouses die, or when their husbands take another wife or when they separate from their spouses.

In Africa, women don’t have inheritance rights and may never be allowed to have a say in how the family land is used or how the income it generates is allocated. Women may not know their rights, or they may not be able to enforce the rights they do have. Research has shown that addressing these issues can improve the lives of not only the women themselves but also their families and their communities. Landlessness remains one of the best predictors of extreme poverty around the world. Imagine a man who has lived happily with his wife and daughters and unfortunately dies all his wealth will automatically be transferred to his brothers without caring about his children and wife.

When we focus on Gender, we also find that the youth and women make up the largest part of the population and yet these productive people are most times discriminated against. They are left out without productive work. When the Youth are engaged effectively, we find a society with less criminal activities. Leave them idle and you reap rowdy youth, that’s why the cases of teenage pregnancies, child marriages and Gender Based violence are rampart and yet a lot of good can come out of the youth when properly guided.

Productive work weaves a society together. When people work, they have incentive to maintain a stable society. This gives the motivation to not only see the future, but plan for the future. People can build assets and invest in the next generation. Life then will no longer be just about survival. Work builds peace because work gives people roots, as well as allowing them to flower; it builds communities and it gives meaning and dignity to one’s life.

Most women want better lives for their families regardless from which part of the world they belong to. Most of the poorest people on the planet share three traits: they live in rural areas, rely on agricultural labor to survive, and don’t own the land they till.

Invest in women for a more equal, prosperous and sustainable world

Women are key when it comes to eradicating poverty, promoting prosperity and sustainability, and securing health and education for all, as well as all other human rights. All these goals depend fundamentally on improving the lives and mobilizing the potential of girls and women.

However, this can only be possible when the women continue searching and yearning for information to enable them unearth opportunities. They have to prioritize education if they want to be skilled and add value to the economy.

Development partners should therefore start programming that addresses some of the key issues on Gender specifically on Women’s Right and Governance issues.  This is must be done through trainings on economic empowerment, governance, community sensitization on GBV, community sensitization on the dangers of teenage pregnancies and child marriages and so on. And this should be done effectively targeting the rural communities so that they are aware of what is required of them. Teenage pregnancies has become the order of the day and many of these girls are also suffering from many curable and incurable diseases which they are not aware about. This renders then very vulnerable to poverty and indisposed to any development issues.

Women need a voice to table their issues and no one can do this but they themselves by creating coalitions, alliances and partnerships with organizations, Governments and even the men at all levels. But this needs constant drumming and sensitization Most of the rural women feel it’s a waste of time to engage in certain activities because they have been made to believe they are not able.

Uganda has some good policies such as the girls’ re-entry programs to schools after child birth and this should encourage more women to embrace education. Women need to know how useful they are and how they can contribute to development. So nurturing women leaders should be key in development agenda.

The world is moving very fast in terms of development due to things like advanced technology which has made the world a global village. Unless women embrace it, they will be left behind.

I encourage the women to work for economic empowerment since it is most likely to benefit the whole family and community. It does not need money but skills and knowledge. So women should spare time amidst their busy schedule to look for knowledge and skills that can improve on their economic status.

"Why is it so important to promote and safeguard gender equality?

It is a matter of human rights. It is a matter of democracy. Also, it is pure common sense."

Focus on women and you will find an ally who wants a stable community. She wants roots for her family. You get a worker, a provider, a caretaker, an educator, a networker, a forger of bonds. Women bring constructive, creative and sustainable solutions to problems.

So, let’s embrace the women and work together for sustainable development and “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”.