ADDIS ABABA – A lot of work is ahead to bring more women to senior managerial level, said experts.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Roman Abdulahi, Children, Women and Youth Director at Metals Industry Development Institute said that since recent times, Ethiopia has made significant move in bringing women to high ranking government strategic positions in a manner it has never had before.
The position is not given to them as a quota because they are women; but due to their education and leadership skill.
The move, aside from breaking the old stereotype attached to women and defied publics’ beliefs towards them; it has paved way for them to play role in country’s politics.
However, in the middle and lower administration levels, there is little success as women are not empowered and promoted at the desired level, she remarked.
As to her, women working at the middle and lower levels are still encountering a number of constraints to advance themselves to the highest ladder. As a result, the number of women in senior managerial level is not at the desired level compared to their counterparts.
According to the Director, this has not happened without reasons; but due to women’s own attitude and the publics’ age-old stereotypes.
To curb this, women have to build their capacities in every possible way and develop “Yes, I can do” mentality to fulfill their dreams. Equally, the attitude of the public must be changed.
The government, concurrent to creating women friendly policies and strategies, it should take more action to guarantee the full participation of women in decision making bodies at every level, she opined.
Selamawit Gebru, an engineer, on her part said that enhancing women’s participation in country’s overall activities is instrumental not only for accelerating growth; but also achieving social justice.
However, to translate this into action, changes at all levels are required. Changing the negative and discriminatory customary attitudes and institutions’ practices, strengthening the legal systems and the political decision-making structures are some of the issues that cannot be overlooked.
It is also necessary to do away with the blockages which barred women from deploying their full potential should be reviewed, Selamawit commented
The Ethiopian Herald March 07, 2020
BY STAFF REPORTER
