The 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day: A Continued Call for Equal Training and Employment Opportunities as a Path to Decent Work for Women

Addis Ababa, 08 March 2011 (ECA) - International Women’s Day (IWD) provides the globe, and in particular, Africa with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the progress we have made in achieving the empowerment of women and girls to benefit equally and fully in all facets of human and social development. Whilst Africa can speak with confidence of progress made in closing the gender gaps in policy, law and practice; it is also true that there are many areas where women’s citizenship is severely compromised, and abuse and discrimination continue unabated. The theme for this year, which sees the celebration of the100th year of IWD “equal access to education, training and technology: pathways to decent work for women”, reminds us of the need to take a multifaceted approach to addressing the barriers women still face in enjoying the right to decent work.

The gender gap in education and literacy levels in Africa is progressively closing, particularly as regards equality in enrollment rates at different levels. However, worrying trends remain as regards retention of girls in schools and their progression to higher and tertiary education due to a variety of reasons. Sexual violence and the impact of conflicts, as well as child labour and the socio economic impact of HIV and AIDS are amongst the challenges limiting the ability of girls in Africa to access even the most basic education. More women and girls are yet to participate fully in the science and technology fields due to bias in curricula and patriarchal attitudes that limit their education prospects, relegating them to the traditional female career spheres.

Women in Africa still struggle to benefit from their labour in the agricultural sector, which is sustaining most African economies. Their work is largely family based and unwaged; policy shifts have been slow to recognise the link between women’s unwaged and the growth of national economies. A greater investment in women’s access to and ownership of land, and participation in the design, testing and use of innovative agricultural technologies would go a long way towards improving women’s and community livelihoods, whilst placing a higher premium and rewards on their efforts and labour in this key sector. It is further critical that African governments focus on greater recognition of women’s unwaged work in national accounts which is sustaining economies and human development, by undertaking time use studies and reviewing policy, whilst opening new avenues for women to participate in waged work, supported by gender sensitive employment conditions.

 For the UN System, celebrating the first century of IWD is particularly special since it also marks the launch and operation of the new UN Entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women. Under Secretary General and UN Women Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet, has outlined five key thematic areas of focus that have direct relevance for advancing Africa’s women’s empowerment agenda and efforts. It is the responsibility of African institutions and all stakeholders to renew their efforts to focus on these thematic areas, namely expanding women’s voice, leadership and participation, ending violence against women, strengthening women’s full participation in conflict resolution and peace processes, enhancing women’s economic empowerment, and mainstreaming gender priorities in national plans and budgets, including capacity to support CEDAW reporting. The Executive Director of UN Women has identified Africa as her priority region and held her first visit to Addis Ababa in January 2011 to the AU Summit.

The UN family in Addis Ababa will this year be marking International Women’s Day in April with an event that will address harnessing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). In partnership with ICT and Science and Technology Division (ISTD), the UN Women Liaison Office of the UNECA and the AU, we will look at a study of East African Countries on women, science and technology. The study was undertaken by the ISTD of the UNECA. The half day event will profile good practices in education, science and technology, highlighting their positive impact on decent work for women in Africa.

UNECA aims to strengthen its collaboration with UN Women, particularly in the areas of gender statistics, violence against women, women’s human rights, women, peace and security, and economic empowerment with a focus on trade, gender and governance. The IWD theme has therefore served as the added impetus for UNECA to upscale its efforts in advancing the multifaceted agenda to achieve women’s full equality and empowerment in Africa.

End