Empowering women, driving progress

According to the UN report for 2025, gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a crucial foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. While progress has been made over the past few decades, the global community is not on track to achieve gender equality by the target year of 2030.

Obviously, women and girls comprise half of the world’s population and, consequently, hold half of its potential. However, gender inequality remains pervasive, hampering social progress across various dimensions.

On average, according to documents, women in the labor market earn 23 percent less than men globally. Furthermore, they dedicate approximately three times as many hours to unpaid domestic and caregiving work compared to their male counterparts.

The challenges of sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal distribution of unpaid care and domestic responsibilities, and discrimination in public office continue to obstruct progress in gender equality. The COVID-19 pandemic has also worsen these issues significantly, resulting in a surge of reported cases of sexual violence, an increased burden of unpaid care work on women due to school closures, an additional burden on women, who make up 70 percent of global health and social workers are women.

If the current trends persist, it is estimated that it will take an astounding 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protections and eliminate discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to achieve equal representation in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to attain equal representation in national parliaments, according to the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals report of the United Nations.

To dismantle the systemic barriers and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, comprehensive political leadership, strategic investments, and robust policy reforms are imperative. Gender equality must be a cross-cutting objective, integrated into national policies, budgets, and institutional frameworks.

Reports from the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs confirm that Ethiopia has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment through a variety of policies, legal frameworks, and institutional mechanisms. The country has ratified important international conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol. Furthermore, the country has developed national policies and action plans focused on enhancing gender equality.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist in areas such as decision-making power, economic empowerment, and the need to combat gender-based violence effectively. In 1993, Ethiopia established a National Policy on Women, aimed at institutionalizing women’s political, economic, and social rights while ensuring that public policies are gender-sensitive.

The Ethiopian Constitution, adopted in 1994, guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination based on gender. This legal framework includes provisions for equitable access to economic opportunities, thereby laying the groundwork for practical actions aimed at improving the lives of women.

Recently, Women and Social Affairs Minister Ergoge Tesfaye (PhD) held a significant meeting with the Head of the UN Women Ethiopia Country Representative, Doris Mpoumou. The meeting centered on various activities and ongoing initiatives designed to promote gender equality and empower women across the nation.

During their dialogue, Minister Ergoge highlighted the considerable progress made in combating gender-based violence and addressing harmful traditional practices affecting women and children. She underscored the importance of empowering women to take on leadership roles within society, thereby fostering a more equitable environment.

Moreover, the Minister announced the preparation of the National Action Plan for Peace and Security for Ethiopian Women, along with the National Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy, which are currently in development. These initiatives represent critical steps toward establishing a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing the status of women in Ethiopia.

Recognizing that a substantial proportion of women live in rural areas, the Minister gave elaboration on a targeted program designed to facilitate women’s greater involvement in the agricultural sector. This initiative aims to enable women to engage more fully in agricultural activities, thereby enhancing their economic independence and overall well-being.

The officials also discussed the necessity of gender mainstreaming, ensuring effective implementation, and establishing accountability within various initiatives. Such efforts are vital for creating an inclusive environment in which women can thrive, and contribute meaningfully to the broader societal fabric.

The Minister expressed her heartfelt gratitude to UN Women for its unwavering support of the Ministry’s initiatives. She emphasized the need for continued and enhanced collaboration to effectively implement both ongoing and future projects.

Doris Mpoumou, who serves not only as the Special Representative of UN Women to the African Union Commission but also as the Head of UN Women’s Representative in Ethiopia, commended the Ethiopian government for its robust efforts in promoting gender equality and empowering women. She praised the initiatives undertaken thus far and reiterated UN Women’s commitment to working collaboratively with the Ethiopian government to ensure that these activities yield tangible results.

According to the social media page of the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, the discussion between Minister Ergoge (PhD) and Dori Mopumou marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for gender equality in Ethiopia. By fostering collaboration and implementing effective policies, both leaders aim to create a more equitable society where women can fully realize their potential.

In conclusion, while Ethiopia has made significant strides toward gender equality and women’s empowerment, continued efforts are still necessary to address the remaining challenges. To this end, the commitment of both governmental and non-governmental organizations, along with the collaborative support of international organizations is essential in paving the way for a future, where gender equality is not just an aspiration but a reality.

Through these combined efforts, Ethiopia can set a powerful example for other nations, demonstrating that gender equality is not merely a goal to be achieved but a fundamental right that underpins the very fabric of a just and prosperous society.

It is clear that the government of Ethiopia is working actively to advancing women’s rights, equality, and empowerment with a notable progress in increasing their participation across various sectors. Despite this, significant challenges that demand the concerted efforts of all, such as enhancing women’s access to financial services, and bringing more women to the decision–making positions, remain unresolved.

To overcome these challenges and enable women to actively contribute to national development, it is crucial to level the playing field, enhance their involvement in all sectors, and ensure equity. And, to substantiate this, a united action from all members of society is essential.

BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025

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