User login
 
Working with men

Making It magazine issue on the economic empowerment of women

Charles Arthur's picture

Fourth quarter of 2011 issue of UNIDO's Making It magazine is devoted to the issue of women's economic empowerment. Articles by Michelle Bachelet, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, Zoe Elena Horn, Jan O'Sullivan, and many more.

‘Women hold up half the sky’ is a Chinese proverb affirming women’s equal contribution to the human experience but it is an aspirational, rather than a factual, claim. In developed and developing countries alike, gender gaps persist in education, health, work, wages and political participation. For this issue of Making It, the theme is gender equality and the economic empowerment of women.

As Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, pointed out, “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women”.

Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours but women earn only 10% of the world’s income, and women own less than 1% of the world’s property. Women lag far behind men in access to land, credit, and decent jobs, even though a growing body of research shows that enhancing women’s economic options boosts national economies.

Here to Bring A Change

Here to Bring a Change: Reflection of the Experience of the 2004-2009 Women Members of Parliament

In Indonesia, the spirit to implement the affirmative action has been initiated when CEDAW (Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) was ratified through Law No.7/1984 on the Ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Types of discriminatory against Women. The downside is that because there are no severe penalties in place, women's representation in politics remains very low. The CEDAW Commission supervising the implementation of CEDAW at UN headquarters in their concluding comment in 2007 even expresses its grief concern about the limited representation of women in the 2004 parliament. In their concluding comment, the Commission writes that the Commission is so dissapointed with the fact that thepolitical representation of women is very low in Indonesia and that affirmative action has failed to reach the 30% representation for Indonesian women in politics. This study reflects the experience of the 2004-2009 women members in dealing with gender issues and politics. It also depicts their efforts to achieve the minimum quota of women members in the parliament.

Ina Puken Tula Tuen Lewotana - The Woman Who Changed the World

This video introduces Petronela Peni, the first woman village head in Flores. Gender inequality in her customs made the struggles of Peni and her women colleagues difficult, but gradually she won the trust and support of her people. As a village leader Peni is trying to make breakthroughs in simplifying funeral and wedding rituals which have been financially burdening poor villagers. Click below to watch the video:

Consolidated Response on Women’s Political Participation in Traditional and Conservative Societies

This consolidated response highlights types of positive action measures, advocacy campaigns, women’s movements, and educational opportunities that help women in traditional and conservative societies to overcome some of the barriers that they face in politics and public life.

The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality

This paper is intended as a broad guide to issues involving men and boys in the promotion of gender equality. It provides a review of international research on masculinities, men, and boys, and addresses the key policy areas involved in including men and boys in gender equality goals. The paper also suggests a policy framework for incorporating men and boys into the process of promoting gender equality.

Men and Women in Republika Srpska 2006

These statistical charts present data that can serve as an analysis of gender equality in Republika Sprska, Bosnia-Herzegovina as of 2006.

Women and Men in Republika Srpska 2005

These statistical charts present data that can serve as an analysis of gender equality in Republika Sprska, Bosnia-Herzegovina as of 2005.

Men and Women in Republika Srpska 2003

These statistical charts present data that can serve as an analysis of gender equality in Republika Sprska, Bosnia-Herzegovina as of 2003.

Elimination of Violence Against Women in Partnership with Men

This article encompasses material that was prepared for a training workshop on eliminating violence against women (VAW). It highlights ideas, concepts, policies, approaches and strategies for a greater involvement and engagement of men to eliminate gender violence. It also provides examples of best practices of organizations and networks that involve men in eliminating VAW, as well as an inventory of organizations and initiatives working in partnership with men to end VAW.