International Women's Day

Tomorrow, women all over the world will celebrate the International Women's Day. In Sri Lanka too, various events have been organised by the Government and the private sector to mark this significant day in the calendar.

There are some on both sides of the gender divide who question the need for a separate day for women. But the truth is that the world needs to focus its attention on women on days such as these. Gender discrimination still exists even in the developed West and there are many countries where women are treated as second class citizens in male dominated societies.

True, women have come a long way since the world first marked the International Women's Day in 1911. Almost all countries have given women the franchise, jobs which were previously dominated by men have been opened to women and the education and health of women are considered a priority. Yet, women suffer silently in many societies both at domestic and social levels.

One of the biggest problems confronting women and girls is domestic and other forms of violence including physical and sexual abuse. Physical and sexual harassment of women is ingrained in many societies and not many women dare speak against such acts. There are many victims of rape who bear the trauma throughout their lives due to fear of stigma and the denial of social opportunities.

It is very appropriate that the UN has chosen to highlight violence against women on this women's day with the theme 'women and men united to end violence against women and girls'. As the theme suggests, the involvement of men is essential to prevent violence against women. Since most cases of domestic violence and even rape go unreported, methods have to be evolved to hear the stories of such victims. Moreover, countries must do more in terms of law enforcement to deter domestic violence and sexual harassment of women. The punishment for sexual and other offences against women in many countries is hardly adequate - the offenders are known to commit the same offences once released from jail.

That is just one of the major issues affecting women here and abroad. According to the United Nations, women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10 per cent of the world's income and own less than one per cent of land. Globally there is still a gender pay gap, a lack of women parliamentarians, and women's health overall around the world is worse than that of men. There are many developing countries where the education of the girl child is neglected. Girls and women are treated virtually as slaves in some societies.

The UN's Millennium Development Goals envision a better future for women and girls. While it is highly unlikely that these goals could be met by 2015, steady progress is being made with regard to the emancipation of women worldwide.

Sri Lanka's track record in this regard is rather impressive, despite being a developing country. Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in the world to grant voting rights for women, well before gaining Independence in 1948. Even developed countries envy some of our indices with regard to women and girls. Infant and maternal mortality is low, healthcare and education standards for women are high and many women hold top positions in the Government and private sectors.

One worrying factor is that political representation by women is still at a very low level in Sri Lanka, compared even to its neighbours, despite producing the world's first woman Prime Minister. Many reasons have been cited for this situation, including the complexities of the Proportional Representation system which requires a vast amount of funds and manpower for campaigning purposes and the inherent trend of violence in our electoral landscape. But the lack of women's representation denies women at large a voice in the decision-making process, be it in the village or Parliament.

This issue has to be addressed on a priority basis. It is gratifying to note that the major parties are making a conscious effort to include more women in their lists at every election.

The liberation of the North and the East has posed a challenge vis-a-vis the uplift of women and girls traumatised by years of conflict and LTTE tyranny in these provinces. Their educational, nutritional and social standards are low. The Women's Affairs, Education and Health Ministries should work in unison for their rehabilitation and integration to society. Among them are child soldiers conscripted by the LTTE.

The liberation of women is a task not only for the Government and women's groups. The society as a whole should be involved in this effort. It is women who give life to our world. All have a responsibility to ensure equal opportunities and a better life for women the world over.