Women and girls: half of the world's population, full of potential

In this interview, Sheeba Harma, the Regional Gender Adviser for UNICEF in Europe and Central Asia, shares insights on women's and girls' rights by answering four key questions. With over 20 years of experience, Sheeba has previously worked as regional adviser in UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and has spent seven years in Afghanistan working with international agencies, where she led the organizational restructuring and reforming of the Afghan Women's Ministry. 
 

What motivates you to work in advocating for gender equality and girls' rights?  

I would say that one of the main things for me was growing up in Kerala, one of the most developed states in India.  

There, we have higher literacy levels and life expectancy. However, one of the main things I noticed as I was growing up is that women and girls were not faring well in terms of non-conventional indicators, such as gender-based violence and mental health. 

These issues relate to the impacts of harmful gender norms, roles, stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes. We still see these injustices dominating life outcomes for women and girls. 

I grew up in this context, having witnessed and experienced some of these impacts myself.  That environment has certainly influenced and shaped my perspective. I think that empowering women and girls in their skills determine in life outcomes from early on, and this is why I got involved in social initiatives from a very young age.

Later, I looked to where my studies would eventually give me the initiative to promote gender equality. 
 

What is the situation of women and girls in Europe and Central Asia? What are the biggest challenges they face?  

In this region, violence against women and girls is widespread. In the aftermath of COVID-19, a lot of data, including in the most advanced countries, emerged related to systemic gaps and issues related to domestic violence with intimate partners. And there are a lot of women and children who have to face this regularly.

There are a lot of countries in Central Asia where bride kidnappings, trafficking, early marriage and physical abuse are widespread.  This is why many countries in the region have strengthened domestic violence and trafficking laws and their implementation.

Despite the presence of legislative frameworks, a significant portion of gender-related issues stem from the perpetuation of stigmas, stereotypes, gender-related barriers, and discrimination, which contribute to high rates of violence. Additionally, there is a concerning level of acceptance and normalization of violence.

In Europe and Central Asia, many countries are also grappling with high rates of school dropout among adolescent girls. This is a big concern often linked to such factors as early marriage, the devaluation of girls, and the heavy burden of childcare and other care responsibilities borne by women and girl.

Education is very critical and so is access to skills. Many countries in the region are experiencing a youth bulge with Tajikistan, for example, having nearly 66% of its population composed of young people. How can we support these young people in developing skills? Focusing on productive skills and assets that would eventually lead them to achieve financial independence is crucial, especially for adolescent girls. 
 

In your opinion, are there issues that impact girls in particular?

I mentioned gender roles, norms and stereotypes. We see reluctance or backlash when it comes to fulfilling commitments related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We are witnessing a regression in many countries in efforts to improve mechanisms that prevent violence against women and girls and in implementing relevant policies and priorities.

There is noticeable reluctance and regression concerning investments in visible focus and prioritization efforts, as well as in fulfilling these commitments. One critical priority area that requires thorough attention is involvement of men and boys.

How we are involving men and boys in gender equality is important because excluding them will slow down the transformative process we seek. In our region, harmful stereotypes, norms, and patriarchal structures persist, with men predominantly holding positions of power and decision-making authority across multiple levels – from the individual level and family level to the community and policy levels.

For UNICEF, engaging men and boys presents a significant opportunity as we work with children from early childhood, as well as directly with families and communities to promote parental engagement. Early childhood development initiatives provide a space to foster equitable parenting where both parents or caregivers become role models.
 

If you could accomplish one thing for women and girls from the region, what would it be?  

Gender equality and empowerment are a priority for UNICEF, and we are focusing on the transformative change that I mentioned earlier. 

UNICEF is advocating with governments for more investments in addressing harmful gender norms and stereotypes, we help develop and strengthen national policies and practices to keep girls in school.

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and a whole lot of potential. Investing in women and girls makes sense for economies, it makes sense for societies, and it makes sense for our future.