Gender Equity : An Important Stake for Socio –Economic Development in National/ International Scenario

1. Gender Equity : An Important Stake for Socio –Economic Development in National/ International Scenario This theme is illustrated under nine sub –heading/segments

2. Brief Review General perception Working women’s rights and Gender equality Application of ILO conviction in national level Gender mainstreaming Nepalese experiences and endeavors Glimpse of Madhesh Globalization Concluding notes

3. Brief Review Problematic situation of the country needs determinations, commitments / actions from concerned stakes To ease the present situation deprivations/ discriminations need to be rooted out In this context gender equality most favored & urgent agenda It is the foundation for socio –economic development

4. General perception Progress has been achieved, yet women facing disadvantaged position in every sector Unawareness to their rights, push women back in society – pointed out in Beijing Platform For national action –responded by ILO emphasizing to raise awareness NGOs contributions for gender equity and women’s empowerment in community Care should be taken to promote women in production sector…..for equality

5. General Perception Women exceeding 50% of the total population Literacy rate 43% of their population Economically active 48.5% Among economically active 91% agriculture Contribution in GDP not less than 50%

6. General Perception Women are delivering their triple role. Ownership/ control over assets cut down. Self employment and SMEs. Women headed households increasing . Women are poorest among the poor.

7. Working women’s rights & their equality Discrimination is combination of all forms of gender based violence – needs to be addressed ILO research - female migrant domestic workers face high risk at work place International agenda for development demands –equitable socio-economic development & freedom from poverty women are largest disadvantaged group insisting gender equality on top priority in international development schemes

8. Working women’s rights & their equality Right based approach demands eliminating all discriminations Awareness on Rights and its effectiveness is the key area for operation Trade unions play leading roles to safe guard in right of both sexes for equal remuneration, opportunities / treatments Right to form, join trade unions without discrimination is guaranteed by conventions Disciplinary measures, interventions against violence, collective agreements, awareness raising are methods to combat violence

9. Application of ILO conviction in National level Gender mainstreaming helps to ensure equal access for men & women Emphasis on Govt.’s positive duty to prevent discrimination/promote equality Majority engage in agriculture than other sectors

10. Application of ILO conviction in National level Women workers occupied mostly in farming Women endure unpaid and long hours works For protection against adverse condition IL standards adopted right of association for rural workers to raise voice This can benefit women only when they are aware

11. Gender Mainstreaming Gender mainstreaming identified as global strategy for gender equality in 4th world conference 1995 Gender mainstreaming is not a goal but means to gender equality Gender budgeting is one of the most effective tool to promote the concept In developing economy this strategy brings into light women’s unpaid works - stake for development in form of cross cutting tool

12. Nepalese Experiences & Endevour • Nepal’s transitional phase with enormous changes fueling peoples aspiration • But the situation of violence/ political Nepal’s transitional phase with enormous changes fueling peoples aspiration But the situation of violence/ political un stability making the situation worse Women/children /deprived struggling everywhere against discrimination

13. Nepalese Experiences & Endevour Human rights /good governance -instruments to advocate/promote voice of concerns But not applied appropriately…lacking strong mechanism Gender based discrimination – Rampant in Nepal affecting all women Issue can be addressed by responsible approaches with women’s participation in development/ MP3W

14. Nepalese Experiences / Endeavors Rights & empowerment complementary to each other Rahat…. launched orientation on capacity building of female workers on cabin restaurants in 2006/07 Sessions - for safe guarding professional interest.. enabling them to deliver result oriented outputs

15. Nepalese Experiences / Endeavor During the research work for Ph.D. it was discovered women workers are not only suppressed, their legal social & economical rights violated Realization professional interest can be safe guarded to some extent –bringing informal into formal one

16. Glimpse of Madhesh Madhesh emerge with all sectoral potentialities for development Various issues / problems are connected with the Region The Region is featured by deficiency in peace practice, progress and various gender based violence

17. Glimpse of Madhesh Despite women are upcoming in all development sectors Agriculture –prime sector, they are making differences in SMEs/ self employment, micro credit etc Awareness for health, literacy / skill promotion, security of migrant workers, poverty reduction need to be launched by GOs /NGOs

18. Globalization Liberalization/ FDI rapid growth of technology, IT, mobility of capital/ labor –features – globalization – global village Female participation in paid employment –increased considerably but not led to all sectors Significant rise in women entrepreneurs –both formal /informal economies

19. Globalization Women’s primary responsibility, caring home/ family –important determinants of gender based inequality –disadvantages in labor market Work –life balance –refers productive, reproductive and community role for women But the concept is not confined to women only –it is life long learning for male/female –sharing between male/ female responsibilities in family households and work place

20. Concluding notes Gender based discrimination –extensive in Nepal resulting women in low profile They lag behind because of disparities –but some differences came up with their strong voices in social/ political spheres …still long way to go

21. Concluding notes Madhesh –an important stake from national perspectives Powerful source of revenue but still not seriously addressed & stepped to its various agendas / issues Its indigenous inhabitants… ignored for long, currently issues are highlighted.

22. Concluding note Local language speaking groups of all communities need to bring into mainstreaming Women of all communities/ parts…. are important stakes for development….obviously discrimination is serious threat to go forward…. which needs to be rooted out – Should be supplemented by notion of gender equality enhancing women’s participation in development

23. Thank YouProf. Madhavi Singh Shah Ph.D.Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University, Nepal