Rights, fairness and strength: Speed up progress for women

Today is International Women’s Day. On March 8 people around the world mark International Women’s Day with a particular theme. The United Nations has selected the theme for this year as “For all women and girls rights, equality and empowerment.” I’ve come to believe that the UN’s chosen themes are uninspired, unduly conventional and lack urgency. They frequently come out as more symbolic and general than action oriented. The subject this year is similar in that it lacks a compelling call to action and is overly vague. On the other hand, the motto “Accelerate action,” which is much more persuasive and action-oriented, has been embraced by numerous civil society organizations. Even while there has been progress, the majority of women around the world still do not have access to the rights, equality and empowerment that are the main focuses of the UN theme.

There are now 49 nations without legislation shielding women from domestic abuse. The process for applying for a passport varies for men and women in 32 nations. In eighteen nations, women cannot work without their husbands’ consent. Early marriage is still common, particularly in nations with low levels of human development, where 39% of women between the ages of 20 and 24 get married before reaching 18.

Globally, the labor force participation rate for women is only 50%, compared to 77% for men. About 72% of working age men (15 and older) are employed, compared to just 17% of women. Annual economic losses due to gender gaps in labor force participation and education are estimated at $60 billion in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Women’s labor force involvement is barely 50% worldwide, whereas men’s is 77%. Compared to just 17% of women, 72% of men aged 15 and over are employed. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, gender disparities in education and labor force participation are estimated to cause $60 billion in economic losses annually.

In the world, 48% of men and 41% of women work for themselves. Women are disproportionately employed in unpaid labor and low-productivity, low-paying agricultural employment. Women who work in vulnerable occupations make up about half of the workforce. Less than 10% of women own land, while making up more than half of the world’s population. In the developing world, 50% of women lack bank accounts, compared to 42% globally. Women do not have the same legal access to property as males in eight of the 22 nations that were assessed. In one third of these nations, discriminatory practices or legislative restrictions limit women’s access to public areas.

The harsh reality is that women dominate in unpaid labor while males do so in paid employment. Men’s share of the 59% of paid work, which is primarily done outside the home, is almost double that of women’s 38% versus 21%. Women perform three times as much as men do 31 percent against 10 percent of the 41% of unpaid labor. African women just get water for their families every day, putting in 200 million hours. Despite making up 52% of the workforce worldwide, women are underrepresented in both paid and unpaid labor. They make 24% less than their male colleagues when their labor is compensated.

Beyond the economic sphere, concerns about equality, empowerment and rights have been distorted against women in the context of information and communication technology (ICT) or more succinctly, the digital revolution. The gender gap in digitization is glaring over 50% of women globally are offline. The gender gap in internet users is 23% in developing nations and 43% in the least developed nations. Women are still 7% less likely than men to own a mobile phone and 16% less likely to use mobile internet. So, meaning that there are still 264 million fewer women than men using mobile internet.

The epidemic of violence against women is widespread and transcends age, social level, education and geographic location. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), around one in three (35%) women and girls globally have been victims of intimate relationship violence, which includes physical or sexual abuse or non partner sexual assault at some point in their lives. Approximately 200 million women and girls worldwide have had their genitalia cut. Over 4.5 million women and girls are sexually exploited globally and over 5,000 women are killed in honor killings annually.

Bangladesh continues to be a place where women lack economic, political, social and cultural authority. Just 14% of Bangladesh’s working-age women (those between the ages of 15 and 65) are actively employed and making money. The percentage of Bangladeshi women in managerial roles is less than 10%, compared to 88% for men. In addition, 92% of working women are engaged in the unorganized sector, which has significant gender pay disparities and no benefits. Only 7% of the 7 million entrepreneurs in the nation are female, despite the fact that the percentage of female entrepreneurs has been rising.

Bangladeshi women’s social disempowerment is glaring. Bangladeshi women’s life and means of subsistence are governed by gender inequality. Most of them give their husbands or other family members the majority of their wages. Because men forbid them from working that is so meanful. Women in Bangladesh have less access to it. The percentage of Bangladeshi women with bank accounts is just 36%. Because of patriarchy, women face discrimination in the home as well. It ensures that men make decisions about marriage, divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance. The socioeconomic emancipation of Bangladeshi women is still hampered by early marriage. In Bangladesh, the rate of child marriage is still the highest in South Asia at 59% of girls getting married before turning 18, even though the government and non-governmental groups have worked to lower it to nearly 60% of adolescent females.

Some awareness and strategies for women’s empowerment and safety in bangladesh:

1. Economic Empowerment:

Encourage women to work in both formal and informal fields, such as the ready made garment manufacturing (RMG) industry.
Support women led businesses and provide access to microfinance opportunities.
Ensure women receive equal pay for equal work and have access to safe and healthy working environments.
Acknowledge the substantial economic impact of women’s remittances and migration for employment.
Increase household income and food security by giving women in agriculture access to resources, education and technology.

2. Education and Healthcare:

Promote girls’ education at all levels, as education is a key factor in women’s empowerment and poverty reduction.
Ensure access to quality healthcare services, including reproductive health services and address maternal and child health issues.
Focus on empowering women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, including access to family planning and safe motherhood services.

3. Addressing Gender Based Violence:

Implement policies and programs to prevent and address all forms of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual harassment and forced marriage.
Strengthen legal frameworks and institutions to protect women’s rights and ensure access to justice.
Awareness and Prevention:
Raise awareness about gender-based violence and promote positive gender norms and attitudes.

4. Fostering Inclusive Decision-Making:

Ensure women’s meaningful participation in decision making processes at all levels, from the household to national governance.
Support women’s ability to make decisions about their own lives, including healthcare, education and finances.

5. Promoting Gender Equality: