Bridging the Gender Gap and Promoting Representation of Women in the National Parliament: A Comparative Analysis Study of South Africa and Lesotho

At Millennium Summit in September 2000 largest gathering of world leaders adopted UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations a new global partnership reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, all with a deadline of 2015, that have become known as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).2 In many ways, MDGs, eclipse goals and objectives of Beijing Platform of Action. Hence, I think of MDGs as Major Distraction Gimmicks - a distraction from much more important Beijing Platform for Action (BPA) with its 12 Priority Areas of Concern,3 which represent a much closer approximation of complexity of relationships between equality and women's empowerment (MDG Goal 3), and other MDGs and targets. In particular, these are: MDG 1: Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, Universal primary education (MDG 2), Reducing child mortality (MDG 4), Improving maternal health (MDG 5), Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (MDG 6), and Ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG 7 (including Target 10, Access safe water). Nevertheless, MDGs are now part of an international development framework which many countries in Caribbean have signed on to. Thus this analysis addresses question of how they be made work promote equality and empowerment in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region. The analysis here will not be limited gender equality and women's empowerment (MDG Goal 3). It will also highlight dimensions of some of other MDGs that are closely related women's equality and empowerment - as a means and as an outcome. Finally, analysis and suggestions in relation strategies to ensure that inequalities are identified and addressed in MDG monitoring process and in national policy responses from will focus on Caribbean realities, including my own experience of working in this field for over 30 years. Suggestions are made by drawing on findings and insights on linkages between global trends, development strategies (including macroeconomic policy framework of structural adjustment) and their impact on poor and ways in which we might now approach activist interventions toward goal of women's equality and empowerment. A General Critique of Millenium Development Goals First, what be said in favour of MDGs? As UNIFEM and many others point out, that MDGs be viewed within context of the new aid agenda. They provide a common framework agreed by all governments, complete with measurable targets and indicators of progress, around which governments, UN agencies, international finance institutions and civil society alike could rally. They provide a strategic talking point for assessing what barriers achievement of goals are, and provide a tool with which hold both donor agencies and governments accountable. (White, 2001, 2002, cited by Ramya Subrahmanian, 2002:3) Regarding goal on gender equality and empowerment of women, some would say it can be celebrated as symbolic of significant impact of feminist advocacy over years in making case for gender-aware development (Ramya Subrahmanian, 2002:1), despite fact that we know emptiness of rhetorical statements on 'gender.' On other hand, there is evidently widespread awareness of limitations of MDGs: * their inadequate targets and indicators; * their restriction indicators that are quantifiable when much of what is most important, such as women's equality and empowerment, is not easily quantifiable; * their omission of important goals and targets, such as violence against women and sexual and reproductive rights; * their silence on context and institutional environment in which they are be met. The Millenium Development Goals first came my attention in response exclusion of hard-won goal of women's sexual and reproductive rights from list of goals. …

Gender ICT and Millennium Development Goals

Gender ICT and Millennium Development Goals

Gender ICT and Millennium Development Goals

Friday E. Okonofua, Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa: How Realistic? / Réalisation des Objectifs du Développement du Millénium en Afrique: Combien est-il Réaliste?, African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Dec., 2005), pp. 7-14

The health of women

BackgroundMaternal mortality remains unacceptably high in sub-Saharan Africa with 179,000 deaths occurring each year, accounting for 2-thirds of maternal deaths worldwide. Progress in reducing maternal deaths and increasing Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) use at childbirth has stagnated in Africa. Although several studies demonstrate the important influences of women’s status and empowerment on SBA use, this evidence is limited, particularly in Africa. Furthermore, few studies empirically test the operationalization of women’s empowerment and incorporate multidimensional measures to represent the potentially disparate influence of women’s status and empowerment on SBA use across settings.MethodsThis study examined the relationship of women’s status and empowerment with SBA use in two African countries – Senegal and Tanzania – using the 2010 Demographic and Health Surveys (weighted births n = 10,688 in SN; 6748 in TZ). Factor analysis was first conducted to identify the structure and multiple dimensions of empowerment. Then, a multivariate regression analysis was conducted to examine associations between these empowerment dimensions and SBA use.ResultsOverall, women’s status and empowerment were positively related to SBA use. Some sociodemographic characteristics showed similar effects across countries (e.g., age, wealth, residence, marital relationship, parity); however, women’s status and empowerment influence SBA use differently by setting. Namely, women’s education directly and positively influenced SBA use in Tanzania, but not in Senegal. Further, each of the dimensions of empowerment influenced SBA use in disparate ways. In Tanzania women’s higher household decision-making power and employment were related to SBA use, while in Senegal more progressive perceptions of gender norms and older age at first marriage were related to SBA use.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence of the disparate influences of women’s status and empowerment on SBA use across settings. Results indicate that efforts to increase SBA use and to reduce maternal mortality through the improvement of women’s status and empowerment should focus both on improving girls’ education and delaying marriage, as well as transforming gender norms and decision-making power. However, given the multi-dimensional and contextual nature of women’s status and empowerment, it is critical to identify key drivers to increase SBA use in a given setting for contextually tailored policy and programming.

The BBC highlighted in 2011 that Libyan women and girls raped by pro-Gaddafi forces faced another cultural challenge of honour killing. Harter (BBC, 14 June, 2011) claims that raped women have shamed their families by dishonouring their male relatives and this dishonour can only be cleansed by murdering the victims. Such events highlight the complex nature of religious and cultural beliefs within conservative societies. What is interpreted as religion and lays claim to Islamic teachings, is often the result of the integration of cultural peculiarities within religion. The question posed in this Open Forum is whether the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women's achievement of MDG 3 - promote gender equality and empower women - are obstructed by non-secular cultural expression and practices in many Africa countries, even if the MDGs have political support. The objectives of this Open Forum are firstly, to assert that, as in the case of the Musawah Project, that reviewed documents for 44 countries from 2005–2010, has examined the reluctance of governments to implement the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the approach to the MDGs needs to be mediated with sensitivity in the context of non-secular community cultural interpretations of gender equality and women's empowerment. Secondly, it is asserted that when culture is fused with religion, the practice of confining women to primary spaces in the private sphere is legitimated with problematic consequences for women's involvement in education, politics and the economy. It is argued that the implementation of the MDG relating to gender equality in many African countries needs to be viewed in conjunction with CEDAW to understand the influence of culture and religion upon women's lives and the specific contexts in which women's equality and gender empowerment hold social relevance and meaning.

III. Next on the agenda: gender

ABSTRACTOn the question of whether women empowerment is a vector of sustainable development or not, the jury is still out. This study probes into the relationship between various aspects of women empowerment (political and socioeconomic) and sustainable development, taking into account the environment, social, and economic dimensions. The paper uses the system Generalized Method of Moments to analyze data from 44 developing African economies (1996–2022). Results show that women's socioeconomic empowerment (WSE) enhances economic and social development, while women's political empowerment (WPE) promotes economic development. However, pollution emissions are associated with both WSE and WPE, thereby revealing that women empowerment is detrimental to environmental conservation in Africa. The results further reveal that WPE impedes social development across African countries. When the global panel is disaggregated into subregional groups, the economic development‐enhancing role of women empowerment remains evident in both sub‐regions. Similarly, though nonsignificant, the environment‐degrading effect of women empowerment is consistent across sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) and North African countries. However, the effects of women empowerment on social development are divergent across sub‐regions. While WSE and WPE hinder social development in SSA, women empowerment fosters social development in Northern African countries. These findings are statistically robust to alternative contemporary estimation techniques and suggest that governmental programs aimed at empowering women do not seem to pay substantial attention to environmental challenges. A similar scenario seems evident for WPE as regards social development actions. It is therefore necessary for policymakers to design policies aimed at educating women on socially and environmentally sustainable practices.

The increase of women's representation in formal politics in Makassar is encouraging for democracy. Even though there has been an increase in numbers, it has not yet reached the 30 percent quota in accordance with the affirmative action policy. This article wants to discuss the barrier for women in Makassar making it difficult for them to get chance into formal politics. Then, this article also wants to discuss the barriers and impact of female in Makassar legislative and executive institutions to gender equality. In writing this article, we used the library research method. The conclusion in this article is that social structures and political party are barriers for female who want to advance into formal politics, and the impact of female participation in legislative institutions is also quite satisfying by issuing policies and programs that contribute to gender equality and women's empowerment.

The objectives from this paper are an evaluation of human development in gender sector and linkage of millennium development goals, especially third goal of MDGs in Indonesia. Analysis also instructed to know how comparison attainment third target of MDGS between provinces in Indonesia according to its attainment indicators. The analysis use qualitative descriptive approach as according data available and relevant to be used. The analysis result shows several conclusions. First, attainment of human resource development (HDI) still can’t follow of gender development attainment (GDI), that way also gender empowerment measurement (GEM). The region/province with good economic growth and good human development, in the reality can’t abolish inequality of gender development and gender empowerment measurement. Some example of this case is DKI Jakarta, East Kalimantan and Riau. Second, in cumulative, third goal attainment of Millennium Development Goals in education sector relative have reached efficacy. Promote gender inequality and empower women in primary education, secondary education and tertiary education sector fully have been reached in the year 2005, according to target of MDGS. Third, Attainment of literate by regions not yet succeeded to reach balance point. But that way, not yet succeeded of attainment on the third MDGs target in literate women have been kept positive correlate every year, where literate level productive age of woman tend to increase from year to year. Fourth, There are inequality of economic participation either from side human development (HDI, GDI, GEM) and also inequality of interregional development one with other area. Fifth, Woman participation in the field politics a long way off than minimum quota which have been determined, goodness in political of local politics and also national politics. With quota equal to 30% in the reality not yet can stimulate involvement of woman in the field of politics, which is only 11.6% in national politics and 6.7% in local politics.

This preliminary study explored relationships between women's empowerment and HIV prevention on the national and individual level with a focus on Botswana. Among sub-Saharan Africa countries, HIV prevalence was positively correlated with indirect indicators of women's empowerment relating to their education (female enrollment in secondary education and ratio of female to male secondary school enrollment), but not to their economic status (female share of paid employment in industry and services) or political status (women's share of seats in national parliament), while controlling for gross national income, percentage of births attended, and percentage of roads paved. Condom use at last sexual encounter was positively and significantly correlated with both indicators of women's educational empowerment, but was not significantly related to the other two indices. Empowerment at the individual level was explored through a preliminary quantitative survey of 71 sexually active women in Gaborone, Botswana, that was conducted in February 2001. Regression analyses showed that women's negotiating power and economic independence were the factors most strongly related to condom use, and did not show that education was a crucial factor. Economic independence was the factor most strongly related to negotiating power. These results suggest that in Botswana, HIV prevention efforts may need to improve women's negotiating skills and access to income-generating activities.

The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), defining achievable goals directed towards sustainable development until 2015, includes the following: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) To achieve universal primary education, that is to ensure access to education for all, 3) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, 4) To decrease the mortality rate of newborns and children, 5) To improve mothers’ health, 6) To fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) To develop global partnership, i.e. co-operation for the purpose of development as a strategic commitment planned until 2015. The current global goals are: 1) World without poverty, 2) World without hunger, 3) Health and well-being, 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) Reduced inequalities, 11) Sustainable cities and communities, 12) Responsible consumption and production, 13) Climate protection, 14) Preservation of life below water, 15) Preservation of life on land, 16) Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17) Strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development. These goals are the guiding principles of today’s globalized world. The issues associated with sustainable development are not exclusively related to a single scientific area or one group of scientific disciplines. The universal issues presented through the millennium and global goals are also the issues dealt with by kinesiology and all its applied sciences. Particular focus is on the issues pertaining to the formation of environmental awareness connected with a positive attitude toward health benefits ​​of physical exercise. Kinesiology contents, aside from health benefits, the impact on the quality of education, and confirmed economic values ​​are not in collision with other proclaimed goals of sustainable development, which is the only option that guarantees survival. Key words: globalization; kinesiology; millennium goals; sustainable development.The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), defining achievable goals directed towards sustainable development until 2015, includes the following: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) To achieve universal primary education, that is to ensure access to education for all, 3) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, 4) To decrease the mortality rate of newborns and children, 5) To improve mothers’ health, 6) To fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) To develop global partnership, i.e. co-operation for the purpose of development as a strategic commitment planned until 2015. The current global goals are: 1) World without poverty, 2) World without hunger, 3) Health and well-being, 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) Reduced inequalities, 11) Sustainable cities and communities, 12) Responsible consumption and production, 13) Climate protection, 14) Preservation of life below water, 15) Preservation of life on land, 16) Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17) Strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development. These goals are the guiding principles of today’s globalized world. The issues associated with sustainable development are not exclusively related to a single scientific area or one group of scientific disciplines. The universal issues presented through the millennium and global goals are also the issues dealt with by kinesiology and all its applied sciences. Particular focus is on the issues pertaining to the formation of environmental awareness connected with a positive attitude toward health benefits ​​of physical exercise. Kinesiology contents, aside from health benefits, the impact on the quality of education, and confirmed economic values ​​are not in collision with other proclaimed goals of sustainable development, which is the only option that guarantees survival. Key words: globalization; kinesiology; millennium goals; sustainable development.The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), defining achievable goals directed towards sustainable development until 2015, includes the following: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) To achieve universal primary education, that is to ensure access to education for all, 3) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, 4) To decrease the mortality rate of newborns and children, 5) To improve mothers’ health, 6) To fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) To develop global partnership, i.e. co-operation for the purpose of development as a strategic commitment planned until 2015. The current global goals are: 1) World without poverty, 2) World without hunger, 3) Health and well-being, 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) Reduced inequalities, 11) Sustainable cities and communities, 12) Responsible consumption and production, 13) Climate protection, 14) Preservation of life below water, 15) Preservation of life on land, 16) Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17) Strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development. These goals are the guiding principles of today’s globalized world. The issues associated with sustainable development are not exclusively related to a single scientific area or one group of scientific disciplines. The universal issues presented through the millennium and global goals are also the issues dealt with by kinesiology and all its applied sciences. Particular focus is on the issues pertaining to the formation of environmental awareness connected with a positive attitude toward health benefits ​​of physical exercise. Kinesiology contents, aside from health benefits, the impact on the quality of education, and confirmed economic values ​​are not in collision with other proclaimed goals of sustainable development, which is the only option that guarantees survival. Key words: globalization; kinesiology; millennium goals; sustainable development.U Milenijskoj deklaraciji Ujedinjenih naroda s ostvarivim ciljevima usmjerenim prema održivu razvoju do 2015. godine ističe se: 1) Iskorijeniti ekstremno siromaštvo i glad, 2) Postići univerzalno osnovno obrazovanje, odnosno jamstvo obrazovanja za sve, 3) Promovirati ravnopravnost spolova i osnažiti žene, 4) Smanjiti stopu smrtnosti novorođenčadi i djece, 5) Poboljšati zdravlje majki, 6) Boriti se protiv HIV/AIDS-a, tuberkuloze, malarije i drugih bolesti, 7) Osigurati održivost okoliša i 8) Razviti globalno partnerstvo, odnosno suradnju za razvoj, što je strateško opredjeljenje do 2015. godine. Danas su aktualni globaln ciljevi: 1) Svijet bez siromaštva, 2) Svijet bez gladi, 3) Zdravlje i blagostanje, 4) Kvalitetno obrazovanje, 5) Rodna ravnopravnost, 6) Čista voda i sanitarni uvjeti, 7) Pristupačna energija iz čistih izvora, 8) Dostojanstven rad i ekonomski rast, 9) Industrija, inovacije i infrastruktura, 10) Smanjenje nejednakosti, 11) Održivi gradovi i zajednice, 12) Odgovorna potrošnja i proizvodnja, 13) Zaštita klime, 14) Očuvanje vodenog svijeta, 15) Očuvanje života na Zemlji, 16) Mir, pravda i snažne institucije i 17) Učvršćenje globalnog partnerstva za održivi razvoj. Ti ciljevi vodilja su današnjeg globaliziranog svijeta. Problemi održiva razvoja nisu ekskluzivno povezani samo s jednim znanstvenim područjem i jednom grupacijom znanstvenih disciplina. Univezalna problematika sadržana u milenijskim i globalnim ciljevima problematika je i kineziologije i svih njezinih primijenjenih područja. Posebno se ističe problematika formiranja ekološke svijesti povezane s pozitivnim stavom prema zdravstvenim vrijednostima tjelesnog vježbanja. Kineziološki sadržaji osim zdravstvenih vrijednosti, utjecaja na kvalitetu obrazovanja, potvrđene ekonomske vrijednosti nisu u koliziji s ostalim proklamiranim ciljevima održiva razvoja, jedinog jamca opstanka. Ključne riječi: globalizacija, milenijski ciljevi, kineziologija, održivi razvoj.

There is compelling evidence of the importance of gender equality for poverty reduction and sustainable growth. So it should come as no surprise that most development actors-international agencies, bilateral donors, and most developing countries, have an official policy for promoting gender equality. Millennium Development Goal 3 (MDG3) on gender equality and women's empowerment is shared global commitment. With only seven years remaining until the end date for the MDGs, it is an opportune time to take stock of where the world stands in terms of progress toward gender equality. This volume documents trends both on the official MDG3 indicators and on an expanded set of indicators that provide a more complete measure of gender equality, especially in the area of women's economic empowerment. The message that emerges is both hopeful and sobering: progress toward equality in capabilities has been considerable, but progress toward equality of opportunities for women's economic livelihoods leaves much to be desired. Beyond tracking trends toward gender equality, the volume reviews different measures of gender equality and estimates the financial resources required to achieve this objective. While necessarily imprecise, such estimates can provide a rough guide as to whether the level of effort devoted by international donors and developing countries is adequate in the area of women's economic empowerment.