Jack T. Chakhesang
The role of women has made a transition from traditional roles of daughter, wife and mother to full participation in social, cultural and economic development in many societies over the years. Today, women are at the centre of change in employment, inside the family and within society. Their new status therefore, demands that the extensive economic and social contributions of women to democracy, economic growth and globalization be valued without reservation.
While women are important productive agents in the economy of many progressive countries, several developing countries undervalue women’s actual and potential contribution to economic and social advancement and some actively discriminate against women. In many societies, cultural biases against women suppress their ability to contribute to the economy.
To improve the status of women, many governments, international organizations multilateral agencies and NGOs are working to make women’s issues an integral part of their agenda for improving economic productivity, reducing discrimination against women and improving their access to resources. There has also been an international movement to connect women’s rights to human rights. For instance, The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was established on June 21, 1946 as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council to prepare recommendations and reports to it with regard to promoting women’s rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields.
The objective of the commission is to promote implementation of the principle that men and women shall have equal rights.The Council expanded the Commission’s mandate in 1987. Following the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, the General Assembly directed the Commission to integrate into its programme a follow-up process to the Conference, regularly reviewing the critical areas of concern in the Platform for Action and to develop its catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in United Nations activities. The next review and appraisal took place in the context of the 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York from Feb 28 to March 11.
On December18, 1979, the Commission on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. CEDAW is the central and most comprehensive document among several declarations and conventions in the efforts for the advancement of women. Spelling out the meaning of equality and how it can be achieved, the Convention establishes not on1y an international bill of rights for women, but also an agenda for action by countries to guarantee the enjoyment of those rights.
The UN General Assembly established United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in 1984. It is an autonomous organ within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNIFEM focuses on the thematic issues, namely, strengthening women’s economic capacities and rights, engendering governance and leadership and promoting women’s human rights and the elimination of violence against women. Also, the World Bank has become the defender of Women’s Rights by urging national governments to “invest more in women in order to reduce gender inequality and boost economic development.” The World Bank directs the ground rules on gender policy through its Women in Development Programme and is adopted throughout the developing world including India. It aims to promote gender equality as a matter of social justice and enhance women’s participation in economic development. Two World Bank reports were presented at the United Nations Fourth Conference on Women in Beijing, Sept. 1995 entitled “Toward Gender Equality: The Role of Public Policy” and “Advanced Gender Equality From Concept to Action. “
Focusing on women is often the best way to reduce birth rates and child mortality, improve health, nutrition, and education stem the spread of HIV and AIDS, build robust and self-sustaining community organizations and encourage grassroots democracy. Gender disparity hits women and girls the hardest, but ultimately all of the society pays a price for them. Besides, in times of war or strife, women and children suffer the most. It has been rightly said that in times of war, parents bury their sons but in times of peace, children bury their parents. As such, the issue of women’s education is both extremely urgent and complex as it is indeed a key to women’s development.
But it has long been neglected. Even when politicians and activists are sensitive to the predicament of the poor, they have often neglected this issue in their own way, preferring to focus on issues such as health and democratization, which appears less culturally controversial. Women’s education must be made a top priority for development in this century because all skills start with education.
In India, at least there is National Commission on Women. However, to ensure gender equality there is a long way to go. Despite provisions in the Constitution and active participation of various NGOs, certain evils against women may not get fully eliminated. There is the rigid caste system, the trauma of the dowry demands, bride burning include discrimination against women. Yet, Indian women have risen to high offices with their own merit. They have become Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Ministers, Ambassadors, CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) of multinational corporations and in practically all the various services like IAS, IPS, Defence, Para Military and other Allied Services.
For that matter women in South and South-East Asia have risen to the highest offices in their respective countries. We had Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister, while neighbouring Pakistan had Benazir Bhutto also as the PM, Begum Khaleda Zia and Shiekh Hasina Wajed as the PMs (alternately) of Bangladesh, while Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunge as President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Presidents of the Philippines and ofcourse the fiery Megawati Sukaroputi of Indonesia. No mean achievements mind you.
Back home in Nagaland, a department was created soon after DAN Govt. came to power. Women Development is currently one of the portfolios of Parliamentary Secretary, Kaito, who took over from Parliamentary Secretary, Doshehe Y Sema. While it was an encouraging move, one main obstacle in smooth functioning of this department is that its basic interests are spread over several other departments like the ICDP (Integrated Child Development Project), R.D (Rural Development) and REPA (Rural Employment and Poverty Alleviation). It was another encouraging sign when on August 24, this year the Nagaland Women Commission (NWC) Bill 2006 was passed on the concluding day of the twelfth session of the 10th Legislative Assembly. The Bill was introduced by Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio who stated stated that with the constitution of the Commission and its proper functioning, the status of women in Naga society is bound to be strengthened.
From the date of commencement of the Act, the State Govt. shall constitute the Nagaland Commission within three months (that is by Nov 24, 2006) to perform assigned functions. The Commission shall consist of a Chairwoman and two women members to be nominated by the State Government who shall be persons of eminence with sufficient knowledge and experience in women related issues. Naga society is generally tolerant and broadminded but we need to review certain customary laws in keeping with the times. For instance, in most Naga tribes, women are not entitled to property inheritance and they become worse off if they don’t give birth to a male child. A few other tribes allow polygamy.
The NWC is therefore expected to study research and codify the customary laws relating to Naga women, family institutions and social security for women and children. The Commission shall also study, research and report on the advisability of reorienting some of the customary laws and practices into Legislative enactments. Besides, the State Govt. shall consult the Commission before formulating major policies and while drafting legislation affecting women in Nagaland and such consultations shall have persuasive value. Nevertheless, our women are today doing well in almost all spheres of life plus they are contributing much to State’s economy.
Women in the United States won the right to vote in 1920. However, throughout India including Nagaland, women never had to fight for the right to vote. Besides, while all State political parties have their respectiveWomen Wings, no Naga woman has attained high political office except Rano Shaiza who was once elected to the Lok Sabha. Indian parliamentarians often moot 33% reservation of women in their august midst and this idea has also caught up in the States. Such reservation does not seem practicable. It would be a much better proposition if the various political parties field their female candidates.
Nevertheless, recognizing the role of women in development, Nobel laureate (Economics), Amartya Sen, writes in his book ‘Development as Freedom’: “Nothing, arguably, is as important today in the political economy of development as an adequate recognition of the political, economic, and social participation and leadership of women.”
