The world will mark the International Women’s Day (March 8) tomorrow for 109th time to honor the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and at the same time to call for action to accelerating women’s equality.
The day is marked under the theme ‘I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights’.
Ethiopia will also observe the Day for the 44th time with the theme, ‘Ensuring women’s wellbeing and rights is the basis for our peace and existence.’
It is known that Ethiopian women have been actively involved in all aspects of their society’s life. Going far from taking care of family affairs and performing arduous house chores, they testified to be pillars of the country in many ways.
The heroic deed women executed at the Battle of Adwa is one of the showcases. The women, led by their Empress Taitu Betul have made a dumbfounding history that the whole world glorifying it.
Even these days Ethiopian women are contributing a lot in areas they are engagede. Professor Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, a bio-medical scientist and a professor of cell and human physiology, Elleni Gebremedhin (PhD), an Economist and the former CEO of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), Yetnebersh Nigussie, a Lawyer and outstanding advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities are few among those who have brought change in the lives of many Ethiopians and made significant strides in the social, economic and political spheres of the country.
However, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated last year in an event organized to mark International Women’s Day, women though are the pillars of the nation; the least recognized for their sacrifices and giving.
It is clear that gender equality is not an issue of women. Rather it is a concern for all. Due to this, the topic has been an international agenda and a goal accepted by national, regional and international governments and nongovernmental organizations.
Ethiopia, so far, has gone long distances and made attempts to ensure women parity. Despite the endeavors, there are still noticeable wider differences and inequalities in many areas.
Millions of women are still living under the worsening status where male supremacy is sustained. A significant number of female students are also out of schools due to long attached social and cultural barriers. Even the status of women in decision-making position compared to their counterparts is insignificant. Those who struggle to reach at the higher ladder are also trapped by a number of constraints. All in all, the overall involvement of women in the social, economic and political spheres of the country is at minimal level and still far from being equal with men.
Needless to say that any development goals that fail to value women’s role and incorporate their full participation remains unfruitful.
Thus, if we aspire to create more sustainable and inclusive economies and societies, thereby realize developed prosperous Ethiopia, closing the gender gap must be a central part of any strategy.
The Ethiopian Herald March 07, 2020
