Gender equality - the major human right.
Tags: Women, Human Rights, Agriculture, Farmers, Pakistan

Gender equality is a major human right. A woman is entitled to live in dignity for life. Empowering women is also an essential tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole generations. The discriminations including gender-based violence, economic discrimination, reproductive health inequities, and harmful traditional practices, remain the most pervasive form of inequality for women. There have been several organizations around the globe that are advocating for women, promoting legal and policy reforms, and supporting projects of women’s rights. Despite many international agreements declaring their human rights, women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They usually have less access than men to medical care, property ownership, credit, training, and employment. They are far less likely than men to be politically active. The ability of women to control their fertility is fundamental to women’s empowerment and equality. When a woman can plan her family, she can plan the rest of her life. When she is healthy, she can be more productive. Gender equality implies a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, outcomes, rights, and obligations in all spheres of life. Equality between men and women exists when both sexes can share equally in the distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities for financial independence through work or through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and the opportunity to develop personal ambitions.

Pakistan is ranked 153rd in gender parity this year. To work towards greater female empowerment in Pakistan, international humanitarian organizations UNDP and U.N. are working with Pakistani women. Women are creating initiatives to support greater political and economic equality.

Women in agriculture also await equal representation.

Drafted in 2018, the Sindh Water Management Act, was a product of civil society’s struggle to obtain women’s representation in farmer organizations (FO), Water Allocation Committees (WACs), and Area Water Boards (AWBs). The legislation which was finally passed in 2021, if imposed, would have allowed women in farming districts a greater agency in aspects like delivery of irrigation water, removal of drainage water, and floodwater management.

The private bill was moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s Rana Ansar to include two prominent women from strong farming backgrounds in every FO, WAC, and AWB of their respective districts.

Per experts, if implemented effectively, the law will afford rural women, who have great contributions in crop sowing and harvesting, representation in more than 40,000 watercourse associations, 300 farmer organizations 14 area water boards.

In the Pakistan territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, the harsh mountain area makes it difficult for families to grow enough food to live, especially in winter. In response, UNDP(United Nations Development Programme) came up with a solution that helps to address food problems and empower women. It has provided tunnel farms that are owned and run by local women. The tunnel farms are plastic, rimmed greenhouses that protect crops from winter weather. These farms give the region access to fresh vegetables throughout all seasons.

Women are making progress, but on several key measures, it is achingly slow. The World Economic Forum estimates it will take 108 years for there to be equal representation between male and female executives in the boardroom.