December 12, 2006 : Empowering Women Benefits all Children: India Moves Towards Gender Equality in the Political Arena
New Delhi, December 12, 2006: UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children report for 2007 Women and Children: The Double Dividend of Gender Equality, released today lauds India for investing in women’s leadership. It details the positive impact that India has seen from the reservation of one third of Panchyat positions for women leading to significant benefits for children. In West Bengal, villages led by women achieved twice the investment in drinking water, increased visits by government health workers, and a 13 % decrease in gender gap in school attendance, as compared to other villages. Case studies like these show that where women are in leadership roles, all children benefit. The report argues that providing girls with an education is the first critical step on the road to empowerment, but it is not the only one. Women must be given the opportunity to fully participate in decision-making regarding their own lives and the lives of their children. To do so, they must have equality and voice in the household, in the workplace and in the political sphere. India can not progress leaving half its population behind. Speaking at the launch, Kul Gautam, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director said, “India is on the threshold of a renaissance, capitalizing on its enormous brain power. The key to this transformation will be its women.” The report lays out seven milestones to achieve parity: education, financing, legislation, legislative quotas, women empowering women, engaging men and boys, and improved research and data. Also speaking at the launch, Sharmila Tagore, renowned actor and UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador, said “the formula is: Invest in women. The promise is a double dividend – a dividend for children, a dividend for adults. Invest in women when they are young infants and girls, invest in women in their prime of youth, invest in women when they are at their productive best.”
Note to Editors The SOWC report was launched this morning at the Bapu Samaj Sewa Kendra, a Gandhian landmark social center in New Delhi. Children and young people from the neighboring community, many of whom grapple with the reality of marginalization every day, participated in the event. Also present were a number of Girl Stars, women from disadvantaged SC/ST backgrounds that have achieved their dreams despite all odds; a beekeeper from Bihar, an environmentalist from Jharkand, and a teacher from Madhya Pradesh. For more information, including India-specific data and hard copies of the SOWC 2007 report, please feel free to get in touch with: Meital Rusdia, Communication Officer, +91 98 181 05861 Hindi speaking media: Regional:
The State of the World’s Children for young people |
