International Women’s Day, March 8, celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action to accelerate women’s empowerment and gender equality. Why is it important to commemorate International Women’s Day in Myanmar?
I started writing this opinion piece wanting to explain to the unborn generation why gender equality and women’s empowerment are important in Myanmar today. It is the rooted hope of a mother who wants to leave a better future for her son. It is also my call to action to all involved to further advance gender equality and women’s empowerment as we face an erosion of many hard-won gains in terms of gender equality.
Myanmar women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the February 1, 2021 coup and the ensuing humanitarian, socio-economic and security crisis. The economic downturn has led to a widening pay gap between women and men, and women-led businesses, which are often small and micro-enterprises or in the informal sector, have had a harder time recovering.
Access to sexual and reproductive health services has been severely diminished. While reliable figures are not available, all indicators point to an increase in various forms of sexual and gender-based violence across Myanmar, while access to response services and justice for survivors is often minimal or non-existent.
Why is gender equality important, you ask? “If society is like a bird with two wings, if one is broken, the bird will not be able to fly”, I will answer.. If women, who make up 52% of the population, are not equally represented in decision-making bodies, lack equal access to basic rights, equal employment and income opportunities, and continue to face the threat from violence in their daily lives, they will not be able to fully claim and exercise their rights, then society will never be able to fully prosper and utilize its full socio-economic potential towards a sustainable and prosperous future.
Women in Myanmar have shown great resilience, but continue to face unequal access to productive resources, reproductive rights, and experience violence and abuse.
The multiple crises have seen an extraordinary amount of social and economic participation by women, with women playing central and lifeline roles in humanitarian and pandemic responses at local and community levels, often in dire circumstances. Previously marginalized women have begun to play increasingly visible leadership roles, and unity within the women’s movement is at an all-time high.
threats of violence
However, all of this has come at a high cost, as individual women leaders and women’s organizations find themselves under-resourced, often at risk of burnout and overload, and face increasing threats and violence both online and offline. in real life for his outspoken and courageous leadership.
The Humanitarian Response Plan 2023 reports that women have been disproportionately affected by the conflict, the political and economic crisis and their subsequent economic impacts due to social norms around work, lack of power in the workplace, and their traditional role in their homes and communities. Of the 4.5 million people prioritized for vital humanitarian assistance this year, 52% are women.
Despite extremely difficult circumstances, the United Nations in Myanmar, together with local partners, will reach 2.3 million women and girls with humanitarian assistance covering gender-based violence prevention and response, HIV/ AIDS, cash transfer and food distribution in 2023.
To be sure, the multiple crises have led to a widespread erosion of many hard-won gains of recent decades in terms of gender equality and women’s empowerment, such as the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All forms of discrimination against women. (CEDAW) or the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women. But dire as the situation is in Myanmar, the continued prominence of women in all aspects of social, political and economic life also gives reason for hope.
To stop the regression of gender equality and women’s empowerment, women’s and women’s rights organizations in Myanmar need urgent support from the international community, including UN agencies, to hear their calls and continue advocating on your behalf. This includes adaptable and flexible support to women’s organizations serving populations in need in remote areas, drawing on their knowledge and networks to be able to locate and deliver help efficiently and effectively.
A bird with two equally strong and intact wings will fly high and far towards a prosperous and sustainable future. As of March 8, on behalf of UN Women, I pledge to stand up for gender equality in Myanmar, today and always.
Karin Fueg is the acting temporarily UN Women representative in Burma.
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