Women’s International Day is celebrated on March 8th every year. Every year United Nations celebrate this day and have a theme. The theme of International Women’s Day March 2011 is Equal rights to access education and technology. The theme for March 2010 was on equality. It was equal rights and opportunities for all. But if we take a little effort to examine the world around us, it paints picture than what we actually believed it was. A world full of progress and opportunities for Women and a girl child. One doubts what the world claims or calls progressive amidst poverty, inflation, corruption, dowry, suicide bombings etc. So before you think nations are striving hard to hand over equality amongst others to the citizens especially women, think again.
The economic, political, social uncertainties thrown up the world are making it all the more challenging for women in specific to move ahead primarily due to their already disadvantaged and neglected role in the society. The governments of various nations don’t actually give a lot of importance to gender discrimination issues amongst others like wars, inflation, corruption etc. They claim that there are more serious issues to be dealt with and that too urgently. Issues like gender equality don’t seem to figure in the list of priorities of various nations.
There are some nations like Pakistan which doesn’t even recognize Women rights in the Constitution like Evidence rights, Hudood Ordinance, citizenship right etc. How can one expect such nations to strive for up-liftment of Women when don’t even recognize it on the paper? However one cannot afford to overlook the two Bills passed in the House of Parliament i.e. Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill which will provide safety to women at workplace and also strengthen a women’s position in the public scenario and the Protection Against Acid Crimes, and Rehabilitation of and Compensation For Victims of Acid Crimes Bill.
The NGO reports in the recent years have shown an increase of 13% in violence and discrimination against Women. The role played by media cannot be exaggerated as it is highlighting all the issues and constantly seeking for solutions. The world has witnessed a gradual yet noticeable change and reform in the attitude of women and society. We can now boast of female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can juggle between family and work. Now the International Women’s day celebrates those achievements.
As far as workplace gender equality is concerned the picture is quite grim with industrial units shutting down, agriculture being suffered due to non-availability of basics like water and electricity. The masses are finding it very difficult to find a living for themselves and survive and fight for even the ‘basics’. Many countries which boast of their democratic form of Government don’t seem to live up to the expectations of its citizens. The only way through which the people in nations can make things work is: collectively. Yes voicing one’s opinion has become the need of the hour and also educating everyone and taking the law in their own hands for the betterment of the masses.