Hiking resources, putting preventive measures in place will give impetus to gender equality

by Transform Rural India

By Kulsum Mustafa

Ms. Suneeta Dhar, Independent Gender Advisor, former CEO Jagori, used her vast experience in the development sector to illustrate measures that can help upscale gender equality initiatives in India. She was speaking on the topic of Gender Equality and Justice on the second day of the one week long (Aug 1 to Aug 8) of the India Rural Colloquy, organized by Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRIF) on Zoom. TRIF supports NGOs working at the grassroots; with governments, develops and delivers solutions for rural India.

She chose the landmark conference on gender equality in Beijing to illustrate her viewpoint on gender equality.

The twenty-third special session of the General Assembly on “Women 2000: Gender equality, development, and peace for the twenty-first century” took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 June to 9 June 2000 and adopted a Political Declaration and outcome document entitled “further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”.

Ms Dhar said women who represent the Indian women at such conferences may be just a few in number but they carry the power and voices of all women in the country.

While appreciating the outcome of this conference she spoke of some critical issues which were not addressed by the international forum. She listed women with disabilities, transgender, issues of climate change, violence against women as some of the concerns which were left out of the conference. Ms. Dhar was highly critical of the fact that there were not enough resources to take gender issues forward.

“There is a commitment but there are no resources available to fulfill these commitments. Even our national budget for women is very low,” bemoaned this women activist.

She said that this was a shout out to all those who support gender equality to ensure that the government and other donor agencies walk the talk as far as resources are concerned.

Ms. Dhar said that lots have to be done and so it is important that those in synch with these thoughts form alliances, collect gender data, trace out and support the right leaders.

She also spoke of the increase in domestic violence and crime against women during COVID- 19.

Read More…

Source by: