Archive for category: Women’s Rights

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Progress Report on Women’s Rights in Lesotho

Women’s Rights in LesothoThe status of women’s rights in Lesotho has seen slow but gradual improvement. Progress has been made in areas such as domestic abuse, poverty, sexual violence, economic opportunity and access to health care. Government initiatives, paired with NGOs and international institutions, have been the main driver towards achieving equality for women in Lesotho. 

Background on Lesotho

Lesotho is a landlocked country located in South Africa. The former Basutoland won independence in 1966 from the United Kingdom and recognized itself as the Kingdom of Lesotho. A constitutional government was then instituted in 1993 after a brief span of military rule. It acquired a semblance of political stability following the constitutional reforms in the late 1990s. 

Lesotho is classified as a lower-middle-income country. In 2022, 34.7% of the population was experiencing poverty, living on only $2.15 per day.

Definition of Women’s Rights

Women’s rights involve issues such as freedom from sexual violence, the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, to education and to own property. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (U.N. Women) is the U.N. entity committed to empowering women and promoting gender equality. Their vision of equality involves the following:

  • Elimination of discrimination against women and girls.
  • Empowerment of women.
  • Achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian actions and peace and security. 

The Current Status of Women’s Rights in Lesotho

Internationally, Lesotho ranks very low on women’s rights. According to the Human Development Report 2021/2022, the country ranks 144 out of 191 worldwide on gender equality. As a result, women are more likely to live in poverty than men due to discriminatory practices that limit their employment opportunities.

Women in Lesotho face high rates of domestic abuse and sexual assault. A survey in 2018 reported that 16.5% of women ages 15–49 were victims of physical and/or sexual assault from a current or former partner within the last year. 

A lack of quality health care services is a major issue. With little access to necessary medical procedures, women become susceptible to high infant and maternal mortality rates. An underdeveloped health care sector also weakens the official capacity to mitigate virus outbreaks. Women in particular are disproportionately affected by HIV, as 27.3% live with the virus, compared to 17.4% of men.

Lastly, women are politically underrepresented in local government. Lesotho’s population was measured at 2.3 million as of 2022. Although women make up 50.7% of the population, as of February 2021, women held 23.3% of the seats in parliament. 

The Progress

Despite these ongoing issues, the status of women’s rights in Lesotho has improved. Regarding women’s health, the rate of infant and maternal mortality is decreasing. This is a direct consequence of the 86.6% increase in health care professionals attending live births.

The government has also passed legislation to enhance the status of women’s rights in Lesotho. In the last two decades, the government has passed The Sexual Offenses Act, The Anti-Trafficking Persons Act and the Local Government Elections Act, the latter of which sets a quota for women’s representation in local government.

The recent growth of the garment industry has had a major impact on poverty reduction. Currently, the garment industry produces 20% of the country’s GDP. While many men in Lesotho travel to South Africa to work in mines, it is women who find employment in clothing factories. Women make up 80% of the factory workforce. Such job opportunities mean women no longer have to rely solely on a man’s ability to provide.

To further reduce poverty the World Bank has adopted the Country Partnership Framework 2024–-2028 for Lesotho. This strategy focuses on three long-term outcomes:

  1. Increasing employment via the private sector by improving the enabling environment for micro to medium enterprise growth, fostering private investment and job creation.
  2. Enhance human capital outcomes by raising the quality of education/health/social protection.
  3. Strengthen climate resilience by optimizing natural resource allocation and increasing access to climate-resilient infrastructure.

Conclusion

Lesotho is still struggling with high rates of HIV/AIDS and relatively low gender inequality. Yet clear progress has been made on women’s rights. These improvements serve as a sign of hope that greater swaths of the population in Lesotho are experiencing longer, more stable and more enriching lives.

– Nicholas Jaramillo
Photo: Pixabay

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7 Facts About Gender Equality in Lithuania

Gender Equality in Lithuania
Lithuania ranks ninth in the world for gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2023. Here are seven facts about gender equality in Lithuania.

7 Facts About Gender Equality in Lithuania

  1. Women’s Day in Lithuania: Women’s Day in Lithuania is celebrated annually on November 2. It marks the day in 1918 when Lithuanian women received the right to vote. To acknowledge the momentous 100th anniversary since women gained suffrage, the capital city of Vilnius put up several female-inspired pedestrian crosswalk lights in 2018 in place of the traditional male symbol.
  2. The Effects of COVID-19: The spread of COVID-19 had a disproportionate effect on men’s and women’s involvement in household tasks. In particular, 2021 saw 57% of women in contrast to 13% of men in Lithuania holding the sole responsibility of childcare. This 44% divide exists as one of the larger gender gaps throughout the European Union (EU). Similarly, in 2021, 70% of women in comparison to a significantly lower 8% of men reported holding the responsibility of household caretaking duties. These duties were also more strenuous for women as 16% of women devoted more than four hours a day toward chores compared to 5% of men.
  3. The Gender Pay Gap: The gender pay gap still persists in Lithuania, despite the country being recognized for equality. Reports indicate that women earn approximately 14% less than men. In addition, according to the State Social Security Fund Board in 2021, women-dominated sectors still see a disparity in pay with their wages generally being lower than their male counterparts. Gender statistics provided by CreditInfo Lithuania also underscore 72 out of 81 professional fields in Lithuania where men traditionally earn more than women. While these statistics can be impacted by complex features including childcare leave and the number of men and women in an individual sector, it is evident that the country can do more to address this gap.
  4. Violence Against Women: Violence against women ranging from domestic abuse to femicide is a crucial matter to address throughout the EU with 788 women killed by a partner or relative across 17 member states in 2020, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality EIGE). Additionally, 13 women from Lithuania contributed to that total. To address violence against women, in June 2013, Lithuanian officials signed the Istanbul Convention — a human rights treaty dedicated to tackling violence against women. However, the convention remains unratified which demonstrates the need for more action to combat violence against women in Lithuania.
  5. Female Prime Minister: Lithuania elected the first female president of Lithuania in May 2009, almost a century after women had gained the right to vote. However, even the first national election in 1920 saw women alongside men occupying positions of power as parliamentarians. Currently, female politician Ingrida Šimonytė acts as the prime minister of the nation. Furthermore, female politicians Aušrinė Armonaitė and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen represent the Freedom and Liberal parties respectively.
  6. Gender Equality: Among the member states in the EU, Lithuania received a score of 60.6 out of 100 in the 2022 Global Gender Equality Index. The country’s highest scores in the index lie in the fields of work, a measurement of fair access to employment and work benefits between men and women, and health, which compares gender equality in access to quality health services. For the aspects of work and health conditions, Lithuania received scores of 73.9 and 82.7 respectively. However, in other indicators such as time, which measures the sum of time between men and women dedicated to domestic tasks, Lithuania scored only 50.6.
  7. The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men: For years, the Lithuanian government has enacted legislation to address gender equality. The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men was adopted in 1998 and the Law on Equal Treatment came into place in 2005. These laws worked to “forbid any discrimination – whether direct or indirect – on the grounds of sex.” Moreover, lawmakers amended these laws in 2016 and reflected changes including a ban on the priority given on the basis of gender, a prohibition on requiring job candidates to disclose personal class and familial information and a bar on discrimination against women as a result of pregnancy, childbirth or nursing.

Looking Ahead

While Lithuania is one of the top countries for gender equality, it still has some room to improve. With the continued efforts of the Lithuanian government, women’s rights should see even further improvements in the years to come.

– Katrina Girod
Photo: Flickr

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3 Ways Women’s Rights in Kazakhstan are Tackling Poverty

Women's Rights in Kazakhstan
Women’s rights in Kazakhstan have been an uphill climb within the country. Moreover, Kazakhstan’s poverty rates appear to be linked to gender inequality. In 2020, the unemployment rate of women was 5.4%, whereas it was only 4.4% for men. This contrast shows how focusing on women’s rights could ease the country’s overall poverty rate. 

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country, with immense economic potential due to the vast mineral resources in its landscape. The country has seen widespread economic growth since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, as it is a former Soviet republic.

Kazakhstan has also managed to maintain a low poverty rate of 5.2% in 2021. However, this is a slight increase, as the poverty rate was 4.3% in 2019.

This increased poverty rate is likely a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, strengthening women’s rights in Kazakhstan has proven to enrich the country’s economy through technology and the job market. 

Notably, Kazakhstan is a pacesetter for Central Asian female equality on some fronts. Kazakhstan ranked 65th in the Global Gender Gap Report 2022, with its neighboring countries, Mongolia and China, ranking 70th and 102nd. With this in mind, here are three ways women’s rights in Kazakhstan are developing, and how they are alleviating Kazakh poverty. 

Job Opportunities

As of 2022, a gender wage gap of 21.7% still favors men in Kazakhstan. However, this gap has been gradually reducing. A study in 2006 revealed a wage gap of about 40%.

While there has been improvement, the persisting gender wage gap can be attributed to a societal perception that men should primarily be the household breadwinners. A 2022 Central Asia survey highlighted that two-thirds of participants held the belief that women should prioritize domestic roles over work.

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted the female workforce. Between 2019 and 2020, the Kazakh male labor force participation rate rose from 74.8% to 75.5%. However, the Kazakh female labor force participation rate dropped from 66% to 63.7%. Although female employment rates are increasing, a 10% disparity remains between men and women. 

To tackle this, NGOs such as the Wonder Foundation operate in Kazakhstan to provide women and girls with skills to seek employment. Since 2015, the Wonder Foundation has directly impacted 406 girls. 

The Foundation supports the Kumbel Training Centre, a program that focuses on girls from rural areas. Participants undergo a 10-month training to assist them in finding employment in hospitality, tourism and catering. 

Legislation

Gender equality has been a priority of the Kazakh government in recent decades. In 1998 the country established the National Commission on Women, Family and Demographic Policy. The commission pushes for equal economic opportunities for women, strengthening the family unit and combating violence against women.

More recently, the Concept of Family and Gender Policy until 2030 aims to increase the number of women in decision-making roles to 30% by 2030. In 2022, it was 25%. 

Legislation such as this combats poverty in Kazakhstan because it aims to balance domestic responsibilities within the household. Currently, women spend three times more than men undertaking unpaid domestic roles.

Technology

In June 2023, Kazakhstan was the chair of the Dialogue of Women of Central Asia. The platform focused on female roles in technology. Events like this promote the increasing integration of Central Asian women into the labor force.

Speaker of the lower house of the Kazakh government, Yerlan Koshanow, noted: “Women in Central Asia are actively involved in the development of information and communication technologies, leaving no stone unturned in the stereotypical perception that it is not a woman’s job.”

The Womentech Network is mobilizing female ambassadors all over the globe, including Kazakhstan. Ainur Abilbayeva, Dana Aubakirova and Laura Tlepina are among the Kazakh representatives. The program aims to connect more than 100,000 women globally in their annual global conference supporting female tech spaces. 

In an incredibly fast-paced and technological society, it is crucial women possess digital literacy skills. These skills provide opportunities for women within the job market, which reduces Kazakhstan’s poverty rate. Kazakhstan is making positive strides in this field, with the internet access rate for women being 84.9% in 2022. Yet, the country has an added challenge due to its varying landscapes. More rural areas have limited internet access which can hinder this progression. Women make up over half of the rural population.

The Accessible Internet National Project aims to give all Kazakhstan residents internet of at least 100 Mbit/s, covering 3,000 villages. In addition, a new 5G is going to be implemented in many cities and regional centers. In the next few years, this scheme will greatly increase Kazakh digital literacy, subsequently providing opportunities for all. This will particularly benefit the dense female populations in rural areas. 

Providing Kazakh women and girls with transferable skills, alongside the support of NGOs and the government, will reduce overall poverty in Kazakhstan. Women have a greater chance of facing poverty than men due to disparities in employment and opportunities. Thus, career prospects, legislation and digital literacy for women are three ways women’s rights in Kazakhstan are tackling poverty.

– Beth Brown
Photo: Flickr

How the Listen Up Program Supports Women’s Rights Groups in Uganda

Women’s Rights Groups in UgandaThe International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a nonprofit organization that aids more than 40 countries during devastating humanitarian crises, providing resources and support to “restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power.” Through the organization’s efforts, it has provided food, shelter and clothing, influenced humanitarian policy, supported health care workers and provided educational opportunities.

Refugees

Along with these efforts, the IRC is committed to supporting women’s rights for refugees, those at high risk of gender-based violence and those who face discrimination. As the IRC states, nearly half of all refugees are “women and girls,” but are often overlooked during crises and unable to raise awareness for their own needs. Similarly, “nearly one in three women worldwide” who have experienced physical and sexual violence are also unable to receive help due to “fear of retaliation” and the stigma surrounding violence. For this reason, the IRC reports that “less than 1% of humanitarian funding worldwide” is allocated to assist programs supporting women. To assist, the IRC instituted the Listen Up Program, which elevates women’s voices in local communities to enact positive change. This program raises awareness of the alarming rates of gender-based violence and provides resources to prevent future violence. 

Because of the Listen Up Program, female activists and women’s rights groups in Uganda have been encouraged to institute change in their communities, providing support for refugees, along with resources for women recovering from violence and abuse. 

Gender-Based Violence in Uganda

Based on a 2020 World Bank assessment conducted by the UNHCR, it’s evident that 81% of the 1.4 million Ugandan women and children refugees face a heightened risk of gender-based violence. Additionally, a study conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) found that approximately 95% of Ugandan females had encountered some form of sexual or physical abuse since the age of 15.

These harrowing statistics highlight the increased need for an outpouring of resources, support and funds for Ugandan women who have experienced gender-based violence and harassment.

Through the support of the IRC’s Listen Up Program, the following women’s rights groups in Uganda have positively enacted change through increased training and raising awareness and funds to alleviate gender-based violence.

The Karamoja Women Umbrella Organization (KAWUO)

Since 2015, the Karamoja Women Umbrella Organization (KAWUO) has partnered with the IRC to provide medical and counseling assistance to aid survivors of violence. When the COVID-19 pandemic increased violence in home spaces, the KAWUO and IRC worked together to provide accessible resources for those in need, including remote medical services, counseling and legal advice when necessary.

By instituting bi-weekly telephone calls with the 617 team members to discuss “survivor-centered case management,” the IRC used their Listen Up principles to amplify the voices of women in need. This involved instilling a safe space for female survivors, where they were able to safely interact with the team members with adaptable safe words.

After this outreach, the IRC reported that “as of September 2020, 1,246 survivors of violence received direct support or referrals to legal, law enforcement, health providers or livelihood services.” 

With the support of the IRC and its increased commitment to following the Listen Up Program, the women’s rights group in Uganda, KAWUO, was able to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic’s demands and provide safe and easily accessible resources to support those affected by gender-based violence.

COSMESS

Another women’s rights group in Uganda benefitting from the IRC’s support is COSMESS, which “empowers local communities” through training and interaction. This involves training women to be proficient in professions like carpentry and mechanics, while also providing “awareness-training” sessions on sexual harassment. 

One Ugandan activist involved with COSMESS, Grace Muuduru, discusses the importance of empowering women. She stresses the importance of silencing those who would argue that women are “not capable of some things,” and instead offers assistance to female refugees who are interested in learning new professions or starting their own businesses. She finds it extremely important to educate women on harassment and abuse, as she finds that most women do not recognize the extent of their traumatizing experiences, or the resources available to protect and support them. 

The IRC’s Listen Up Program recognizes women as “forceful agents of change,” and encourages activists in women’s rights groups to provide training and support to refugees and women in need. 

Looking Ahead

The IRC uses the Listen Up Program to amplify female voices within local communities to put real experiences at the forefront of humanitarian change. 

The IRC continues to not only provide resources and support to those in need but to also advocate for further monetary support from the United Nations and non-government organizations (NGOs). 

With the continuation of the IRC’s support and its focus on amplifying women’s voices, women’s rights groups in Uganda will continue to provide positive support for those affected by gender-based violence, fostering and strengthening relationships between local organizations and community members.

– Kristina Gaffney
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Women’s Rights In Bulgaria: Political Power 

Women’s Rights In BulgariaThe struggle for women’s rights in Bulgaria has been ongoing, but the country is committed to achieving complete equality by 2030. Female leaders in Bulgaria are making progress in protecting women from poverty and discrimination. With more women holding positions in parliament, gender equality is becoming a more prominent issue in Bulgaria.

The Current Challenges for Women

Several inequalities and prejudices still affect women in Bulgaria, leaving them vulnerable and disempowered. The Gender pay gap in Bulgaria was 14.4% in 2018, with women earning lower hourly figures, working fewer hours and facing lower employment rates compared to their counterparts.

Women in Bulgaria are more likely to be at risk of poverty at a rate of 25%, compared to men at a rate of 21%. Bulgarian women also earn a mean monthly earning of 1,078 pps (purchasing power standard), compared to men at 1,256 pps. Without adequate financial power, women struggle to access basic human needs, such as rent, food, health care, etc.

The problem is exacerbated by traditional gender roles that dictate that Bulgarian women should be consigned to being “stay-at-home wives” with no opportunity to pursue a career or have a say in the matter. Women are responsible for cooking and house chores in a staggering 73% of households, compared to only 13% for men as of 2022.

All of these issues combined make women’s rights in Bulgaria particularly hard to amend to achieve gender equality. Out of the 240 seats in Parliament, 65 are women (27.1%). Though this number seems low, it ranks 69th in the world for the highest percentage in women’s political representation, just one place behind the U.S. Though women’s rights and gender equality are still a clear issue, the number of women in politics represent a positive sign of better things to come.

The Influence of Female Political Power

The percentage of women’s political representation has risen from 17.6% to 29.4% since the last mandate. This increase allows women to have greater participation and decision-making power in crucial national matters, including passing legislation to support women’s rights and promote equality. The rise of women in politics has led to new legislation that supports women’s rights and addresses gender inequality. With more women in positions of power, there is a stronger focus on tackling gender disparities.

In 2015, the Bulgarian Government agreed to support the upgrading of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality. This aims to provide equal treatment, equal access to resources and equal participation in decision-making, as well as promoting gender equality in social, economic and political life. There are also special policies that ensure equal access to professional training, equal participation in the labor market and equal pay for the same work. Overall, the goal is to provide women with more work opportunities and promote the role of the father in families.

Not only is there hope in new legislation and policies, but there is also evidence showing that equality is improving in Bulgaria. In 2022, full-time employment for women was at 46% and 57% for men. In comparison, the rates were 42% and 45% as of 2015 and 2019, respectively. As more women join the workforce in full-time positions, it provides them with a reliable income that they can utilize to fulfill their basic necessities and invest in their future.

Education

In 2022, women outnumbered men in the percentage of tertiary education graduates, with 27% for women and 20% for men. Education provides better work opportunities for women, allowing them to advance and provide platforms for more women in positions of power. Better standards of education also inform women about their rights, health care and better understanding of the world. Around 42% of managers in Bulgaria are women, making it the third highest in the EU. Additionally, women constitute 44.6% of the workforce in the country’s booming technology sector, ranking second highest in the EU.

Bulgaria also currently holds the second-highest percentage of female scientists and engineers in the EU at 52%. It has now become a female-majority field. Bulgaria has taken significant steps to remove restrictions on women’s work, thereby reducing the likelihood of women being excluded from certain sectors of the economy. This move has led to the diversification of women’s work sectors, enabling them to pursue higher-paying jobs or careers that align with their passions.

Organizational Power

While political power has been beneficial, women in leadership roles in organizations have also significantly contributed to advancing women’s rights in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Center of Women in Technology (BCWT) was established in 2013 to promote women’s involvement in the digital industry. BCWT takes an active role in regional and international projects, fostering the exchange of good practices and forming valuable partnerships.

Some of the organization’s work includes regular network events to help women build a professional network, create formats for the digital industry and inspire the next generation of young women. BCWT also organizes training to help women from various social groups acquire valuable digital skills. 

Atos, a Bulgarian organization, actively supports women in tech. It develops and backs programs that encourage female empowerment and leadership. Atos also supports women’s access to education and the labor market, particularly in fields like IT and STEM. Additionally, the organization works to foster women’s entrepreneurship and provide resources and opportunities for vulnerable groups of women. Furthermore, Atos implements programs to combat domestic violence, showcasing its dedication to various aspects of women’s well-being and progress in Bulgaria. 

These Bulgarian organizations play a crucial role in pushing women into higher-paying jobs, especially in the technology sector. Both of these organizations have female leaders who are advocating for more women to have high-quality jobs, rather than adhering to the traditional Bulgarian view of a woman’s role as a homemaker.

Looking Ahead

In conclusion, life for women in Bulgaria presents several challenges that call for attention. Nonetheless, progress is evident with more women entering politics and attaining better-quality jobs. Notably, Bulgaria made history by electing its first woman as the mayor of the capital city, Sofia. However, to fully achieve gender equality by 2030, in just 7 years, additional legislation and policies are necessary to safeguard women’s rights. Organizations have played a significant role in helping women secure better job opportunities, making it a collective effort to bring gender equality to Bulgaria.

– Lewis Butcher
Photo: Unsplash

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Women’s Rights in Croatia

Women’s Rights in CroatiaCroatia, a country in the Northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula, has witnessed significant progress in the realm of women’s rights. Despite its smaller size compared to other European countries, the rights of all citizens in Croatia are of utmost importance. However, the matter of women’s rights in Croatia is a complex and evolving one.

Socio-Economic Status

Gender roles in Croatia remain strict, with women having to deal with all kinds of expectations from an early age. A woman is typically assigned the role of housewife and caretaker, while the expectations for a man involve fulfilling the role of a breadwinner. Even if a woman holds a full-time job, she still has to manage the challenges and traditional responsibilities of motherhood.

Women in Croatia gained the right to vote in 1881, but this right was abolished 14 years later. However, in 1945, women in Croatia once again regained the right to vote.

Despite progress in many areas, literacy remains a challenge for women worldwide. In Croatia, the literacy rate for women stands at 98.1%, a figure that has remained relatively stable since 1991. Since that time, more than 99% of the female population in Croatia has possessed some level of literacy skills.

Violence Against Women

Croatia has made progress in addressing sexual and physical violence. According to U.N. Women, approximately 4% of Croatian women aged 15 to 49 have reported experiencing such violence from their partners. The country has implemented laws against domestic violence, and the police are mandated to respond to reported cases. In compliance with the law, the police are obligated to protect the victim, detain or remove the perpetrator, and inform the attorney’s office. These measures aim to ensure the safety and support of survivors of domestic violence in Croatia.

Employment and the Pay Gap

Women in Croatia experience significant gender-based wage disparities, with an average salary that is 13.3% lower than that of men, as well as 22.3% lower pensions, as reported by Expat in Croatia. Discrimination against pregnant women further compounds the issue, leading to lower job positions and a lack of pay raises.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted women in Croatia, reflecting a global trend. A survey conducted by the World Bank revealed that 76% of women were primarily responsible for household chores and homeschooling during the pandemic.

The Croatian Bureau of Statistics indicates that 23.7% of Croatian girls between the ages of 12-17 are at risk of poverty. Such circumstances can result in unequal opportunities, particularly in accessing education and other resources.

Making a Change

An annual initiative called “Milijarda ustaje protiv nasilja nad ženama i djevojčicama (A billion people stand up against violence against women and girls)” aims to address issues such as poverty and discrimination against women in Croatia, as reported by Expat in Croatia.

According to a World Bank report, women in Croatia face underrepresentation in government and national politics, with only 18% of parliamentary seats occupied by women in 2017. Increased representation is crucial for women to have a voice in Croatia and to work toward a more equitable future.

The Women Entrepreneurs’ Loan Program aims to reduce the gender pay gap by providing loans specifically to female entrepreneurs in Croatia. This program involves collaboration with 22 national banks, offering women greater opportunities to establish and run their own businesses. As of June 2014, the program had approved 261 projects, opening up numerous possibilities for women in Croatia.

While there are still a few challenges affecting women’s rights in Croatia, the Croatian government has taken some steps to support women. Croatia has made significant progress in providing women with greater rights and opportunities, and this spurs hope for a more bias-free future.

– Abigail Lee Dicarlo
Photo: Unsplash

Everything You Need to Know About Women’s Rights in Gabon

Women’s Rights in GabonNew legislation in Gabon provides women with more rights and reduces gender inequalities. In recent years, women’s rights in Gabon improved drastically; however, there is still room for more progress. The following is a brief look into everything about women’s rights in the country.

Historical Discrimination

Historically, Gabon is a country with limited women’s rights. Gabonese women experience inequalities in marriages, such as husbands having control of their wives’ ability to work and women not being allowed to have their own bank accounts. Women also faced gender-based discrimination in financial services, and this made it difficult for them to access credit. Although domestic violence is illegal, it is still prevalent, and authorities rarely intervene to stop it. Female domestic workers often face sexual harassment with minimal resources to obtain legal support.

Gabonese women disproportionately suffer from poverty compared to their Gabonese male counterparts. According to the United Nations Women Count for Gabon, 3% of employed women in Gabon live below the international poverty line compared to 1.3% of employed men. Additionally, 28.5% of women in Gabon above the age of 15 are unemployed, which is 14.1% higher than the unemployment rate for men.

Progress for Women’s Rights

In recent years, lawmakers made several legislative strides to improve women’s rights in Gabon. In 2021, Gabon passed new legislation to prevent discrimination against women in the economy and financial institutions and decrease violence against women.

The Gabonese government also changed laws concerning marital rights. In the past, the government required women to get the permission of their husbands to administer marital assets. With the passing of these new shared marital assets laws, women now have equal rights to administer those assets. Women can also open bank accounts separate from their husbands, own property and be the official heads of their households.

Barriers Against Women in Gabon

According to the U.S. State Department’s 2022 Human Rights Report for Gabon, societal barriers prevent women from reporting sexual assault and rape. Although the law criminalizes rape, victims are typically unwilling to testify. Researchers found that almost half of Gabonese women experienced domestic violence. A women’s advocacy NGO found rape remains a prevalent problem in Gabon, with societal disapproval discouraging discussions about it, leading victims to often refrain from reporting incidents due to fear of retaliation or humiliation.

Women and girls in poverty continue to endure exploitation in various areas, including restaurants, servitude and the commercial sex trade. Their conditions include forced labor, little pay and long hours. There are still no laws that require equal wages for men and women. As things stand, women earned lower wages compared to men for performing equivalent work.

Looking Ahead

Key women leaders, such as First Lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, Minister of Social Affairs and Women’s Rights Prisca Raymonda Nlend Koho and Vice President Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda continue to fight for the improvement of women’s rights in Gabon. In 2020, they began implementing a strategy to promote women’s rights. Their efforts contributed to the passing of a new labor code that grants women access to employment in all jobs and sectors of work.

Gabon also implemented new legislation which better protects women from violence. With research showing that 90% of sexual violence victims in Gabon affect women, this legislation is an important step in protecting women from violence. Gabon’s new law establishes criminal penalties for violence against women. It also requires protection orders to be given to victims of violence within two days of receiving a report of violence occurring.

These advancements are just a few crucial actions taken to improve women’s rights in Gabon. And the country’s leaders continue to fight for more rights and equal treatment for Gabonese women.

– Marisa Del Vecchio
Photo: Flickr

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The Rise of Women’s Rights in Rwanda

Women's Rights in Rwanda
After the devastating impacts of the 1994 Genocide, which destroyed the social fabric of the country and left millions dead, Rwanda has become a nation with a stable and competent government. After this tragedy ended, 70% of Rwanda’s population was female and they implemented various interventions to rebuild the nation, beginning with the relief and transitional period toward a stable, economically and socially altered country. Rwanda has progressed in terms of gender equality rights, becoming one of the world’s female leading countries.

Women in Government

Over the past 20 years, women’s political participation has been significant and a major focus for inclusive development. Rwanda stands out globally for its efforts to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, especially in political participation. In fact, it was the first country to have a majority of women in its legislative body. Women hold 52% of the cabinet positions and nearly two-thirds of the parliamentary seats.

Gender Equality in Rwanda

Rwanda formed legal mechanisms and institutions to promote women’s rights and the abolition of discrimination against women and girls. Also, it mainstreamed gender commitments into several policies and strategic plans. The Global Gender Gap Report 2020 ranked Rwanda among the top 10 countries to have eliminated the gender gap.

One of Rwanda’s accomplishments is the decline of maternal mortality rates due to women having better access to affordable and high-quality health care. Rwanda is leading the HeForShe campaign globally with more than 200,000 signatories. The campaign aims to bridge the gender digital divide, tripling girls’ enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and ending gender-based violence. As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitalization of all services, the country took a courageous move to lead the Generation Equality Action Coalition Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality and committed to eradicating the digital gender gap by 2026.

In 2016, Rwanda ranked fifth on the Global Gender Gap Index. This index focuses on equality in health, education and economics, while the World Economic Forum measures the gender gap index based on how far each nation has come in eradicating the gender gap.

Labor Rights

Women hold 86% of the labor force participation, resulting in a narrower wage gap. In Rwanda, women earn 88 cents for every dollar men earn. For comparison, women in the United States (U.S.) earn 83 cents for every dollar men earn. Finally, women in Rwanda can now benefit from three months of paid maternity leave under the law, making it easier for them to return to work while nurturing a family.

A supportive legal and policy framework has contributed to promoting women’s rights in Rwanda, making it much easier for them to advance their interests across many sectors. Rwanda revised its 2003 Constitution in 2015, stating that it enshrines the values of gender equality and women’s rights. It also provides for at least a 30% quota for women in all decision-making bodies.

Looking Ahead

Rwanda’s remarkable progress in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment is evident through its strong representation of women in government, the decline in maternal mortality rates, the narrowing wage gap and supportive legal framework. Through comprehensive policies and initiatives, the country has successfully positioned itself as a frontrunner in promoting women’s rights and inclusivity. Ultimately, Rwanda’s supportive framework and dedication to women’s rights have paved the way for a more equitable and prosperous society.

– Lilit Natalia Manoukian
Photo: Flickr

International Women’s Day Marches Zero in on Middle East Injustices

International Women’s DayOn March 8, 2023, thousands of people around the world, especially women, gathered to recognize International Women’s Day. Considering the ongoing global struggle for women’s rights, many of 2023’s marches focused on the Middle East, specifically, Iran and Afghanistan. 

Though first officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day emerged decades before, out of labor movements that took shape across North America and Europe around the turn of the 20th century. The movement has gained increased momentum over the years with the help of the U.N., which now offers four global conferences that center on supporting women’s rights and strengthening women’s political and economic presence.

The Current State of Women’s Rights in the Middle East

In recent months, Iran has seen growing protests for women’s rights. One of the main causes of recent public outrage in Iran is a string of poisonings of thousands of school-aged girls since November 2022. Though none of the poisonings have resulted in fatalities and Iran’s Interior Ministry has reported arrests in relation to the incidents, UNESCO has called for stronger action to protect the country’s girls and young women and ensure “their right to safe education.”

Interestingly, although Iran’s clerical leaders force women to cover their hair and dress conservatively in public, historically, the country’s religious groups have shown no clear objection to the education of girls and women, unlike in Afghanistan.

Between 2001 and 2018, there was a great increase in the number of women and girls enrolled in some form of education in Afghanistan. However, since the September 2021 postponement of the return to school for all Afghan girls over the age of 12, 1.1 million females have been indefinitely denied access to formal education. UNESCO reports that 80%, or 2.5 million, Afghan women and girls are currently out of school as a result of the postponement, compounding the some 30% of Afghan girls who have never entered the education system at all. According to Roza Otunbayeva, head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, “Afghanistan under the Taliban remains the most repressive country in the world regarding women’s rights, and it has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere.”

Looking Ahead for Women

As recent developments show, a lot more must be done to support girls’ and women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan. Still, there are signs of progress and hope. For instance, in Afghanistan, numerous female-led local NGOs have persisted in working to help repressed women and children across the country despite a recent Taliban decree prohibiting Afghan women from working for NGOs. Their efforts have coincided with those of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and the Center for Human Rights in Iran, which, in 2022, “published hundreds of articles on human rights issues and press releases on urgent developments, all in both English and Persian, directly distributed to over 4,000 government, UN, NGO and media leaders worldwide.”

As these nonprofits work to secure equality and rights for the women of the Middle East — and women everywhere — the global unity demonstrated on International Women’s Day has inspired growing awareness of the need to address the injustices that women around the world face every day.

– Stella Tirone
Photo: Flickr

 

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Women’s Rights in Kyrgyzstan 

Women’s Rights in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan is often viewed as a country with vast gender inequality. Reports of “bride kidnapping,” such as in the famous 2011 Vice documentary, have painted a dispiriting picture of the place women have in Kyrgyz society. The state of women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan has seen a vast improvement over the last 15 years, however, and despite the continued prevalence of these and other instances of gender-based violations, the general picture is one of progress.

Legal Equality

As an independent nation, the Kyrgyz Republic holds a good record for promoting gender equality. The Central Asian country remains a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which it has committed to since 1996, and like most post-Soviet countries, it has enshrined gender equality in the constitution.

Gaps in legislation and inconsistent legal interpretation have precluded greater progress in the area of sex discrimination, however. For example, until recently, many divorced women could not access child support. In 2018, the country reported 40,000 cases of alimony evasion. But in 2020, partly due to the work of activists, the government helped improve women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan by passing an amendment that made alimony evaders more accountable under family law. Whereas previously fathers who failed to pay child support could get away with just a fine, since 2020, fathers must pay alimony in full.

Child Marriages

The marrying of persons under the age of 18 is illegal in Kyrgyzstan yet 13% of Kyrgyz girls are married before their 18th birthday. Failures in law enforcement in conjunction with unemployment and rural poverty have meant the persistence of traditional non-consensual child marriages. Particularly in larger families that lack the income to support numerous children, parents seek to marry their daughters off to wealthier families to alleviate economic hardship. The problem is worse in rural areas, where the poverty rate is higher than the national poverty rate.

Child marriages in Kyrgyzstan are usually the result of “bride kidnapping” or “ala kachuu,” which literally translates to “pick up and run away.” Every year, 7,000 to 9,000 Kyrgyz girls fall prey to this practice, according to government figures. The bride’s parents are often responsible, along with the other family providing the “bride money.” Both parties arrange the marriage for the daughter typically without her consent in an unofficial religious ceremony. These illegal child marriages put young brides at risk of rape and domestic violence.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has worked to reduce child marriages in Kyrgyzstan since 2016. A key example of its work is the 2018-19 Project Addressing Early Marriages, which the British Embassy funded. This project was successful at encouraging the Kyrgyz Ministry of Labour and Social Development to implement the law prohibiting underage religious marriages in a “systematic way.” It also assisted the training of religious leaders in their understanding of marital law and improved the hotline services available to affected women and girls.

Domestic Violence

As part of the global Spotlight Initiative, a multi-year program that the Kyrgyz government and the European Union supported, U.N. has been implementing sex equality training to improve women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan. Two of the main aims of this program are to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls and provide services to survivors.

Violence against women is a serious problem in Kyrgyzstan and cases have risen since the forced closures of crisis centers during the country’s COVID-19 lockdowns. The last decade has seen improvements though, both in legislation and the provision of survivor support services, such as Spotlight Initiative-funded safe spaces.

Yet despite these improvements, the majority of domestic violence survivors in Kyrgyzstan do not seek help. Family pressure, social stigma and a lack of economic opportunities compel up to 90% of women who have suffered violent treatment from their husbands to return to them, according to U.N. figures. Alternatively, many women escape to pursue unsafe employment opportunities, making them susceptible to trafficking.

Education

The state education system in Kyrgyzstan nominally treats all pupils equally regardless of sex. Girls and boys enjoy near educational parity in Kyrgyzstan at the primary level in terms of enrollment and attendance rates. At the secondary level, however, the net attendance of girls is 3% lower than boys (59% for boys compared with 56% for girls). A U.N. Working Group has found that the principal reasons for girls dropping out of school early are “forced marriage and adolescent pregnancy.” Nevertheless, the 100% adult female literacy rate in Kyrgyzstan as of 2019 should provide a solid basis for women’s future economic participation.

The government is also advancing women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan through efforts to remove negative stereotypes surrounding women in schools. In April 2022, the Kyrgyz government launched a review of all textbooks and teaching materials with the aim of removing any discriminatory content and pictures. Additionally, initiatives such as “Girls in Science,” which has already helped 3,000 girls, aim to increase the proportion of women in underrepresented sectors.

The Future

The Kyrgyz Republic has made impressive strides toward gender equality since earning its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It ranks 82nd out of 162 countries on the Gender Inequality Index in 2021. Today, the main impediments to women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan are intolerant patriarchal attitudes that perpetuate violence against women, notably the ancient practice of “bride kidnapping”, failures in law enforcement and a lack of economic opportunities for women. “Kyrgyzstan stands at a crossroads with an immense opportunity to harness the potential of women,” wrote a group of U.N. human rights experts in April 2022.

– Samuel Chambers
Photo: Flickr