Transcript Gender Mainstreaming - G-rap

Ghana Research and Advocacy
Programme
Young Professionals Gender Forum
Gender Mainstreaming for Professional and National
Development;
Ensuring Relevance , Intervening Holistically and Gaining Traction
BY
DINAH KPODO ADIKO
The Story of Mrs. Moyo;
Mr. Moyo Goes to the doctor…
“What is your job?” asked the doctor
“I am a farmer” replied Mr. Moyo
“Have you any children?” the doctor asked
“God has not been good to me, Of 15 born only
9 alive” Mr. Moyo answered.
“Does your wife work?”
“No she stays at home”
“I see, how does she spend her day?”
“Well, she gets up at 4 in the morning fetches
water and wood, makes the fire, cooks
breakfast and cleans the home”.
“Then she goes to the river and watches clothes.
Once a week she walks to the grinding mill.
After that she goes to the township with the
two smallest
children where she sells
tomatoes by the road side while she knits. She
buys what she wants from the shops. Then
she cooks the midday meals”
“You come home at midday?”
“No, she brings the meals to me about three
kilometres away”
“And after that?”
“She stays in the farm to do the weeding and
then goes to the vegetable garden to water”.
“What do you do?”
“I must go and discuss business and drink with
the men in the village.”
“Does she go to bed after supper?”
“No, I do. She has things to do around the house
until 9 or 10pm.”
“But I thought you said your wife does not
work?”
“Of course she doesn’t work. I told you she stays
at home”.
Source; Oxfam Gender Training Manual – Adapted from
Zimbabwe Ministry of Community Development
Reflections…
The story of Mr. and Mrs. Moyo only reflects society’s
approved differences between men and women;
 Women usually work longer hours.
 Women have more varied task and sometimes
performing more than one task at a time.
 Work for the family is done by women
 Men’s work is usually outside the home.
 Men have more leisure time.
 Men are more involved in decision making.
 Certain category of women’s work is not recognised
and unpaid for.
Some Facts…
 Male literacy is about 26% higher than females
 Women’s representation in parliament is less than 9%
 Women provide 70% of agricultural labour, produce over 90%
of food, but are barely represented in decision making
processes or budget deliberations.
 Women comprise only 10 % of the world’s economy in terms of
asset holding and own less than 1 % of land and real estate.
 Only 34% of enrolment for public universities are women.
 High incidence of violence against women; domestic violence,
sexual abuse etc.
 About 2/3 of the poorest of poor are women.
Interpretation of These Facts
The facts above points to a situation of
• Imbalance between women and men.
• Unfair distribution of resources and opportunities.
• Differential treatments etc
These obvious and immeasurable disparities that exist
between women and men is what is termed GENDER
INEQUALITY!
Gender inequality is therefore described as a situation where
men and women receive different treatment, opportunities
and resources based on the sex they belong to.
According to UNFPA;… “Where gender
inequality exists, it is generally women who
are excluded or disadvantaged in relation to
decision-making and access to economic and
social resources."
To bridge these painful gaps that exists between
men and women, the concept of Gender
Mainstreaming (GM)was introduced.
GM is a process/ strategy for promoting equality
between women and men.
Background of Gender Mainstreaming
• Concept was first introduced at the Third
World Conference for Women in 1985 –
Nairobi
• Concept was officially endorsed by the Fourth
World Conference for Women in 1995 –
Beijing
• Defined as the KEY STRATEGY for promoting
gender equality
• Gender Analyses accepted as the means to
understanding differential situation between
men and women
Definition of Gender Mainstreaming
• “Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of
assessing the implications for women and men of any
planned action, including legislation, policies or
programmes, in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy
for making women's as well as men’s concerns and
experiences an integral dimension of the design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies
and programmes in all political, economic and societal
spheres so that women and men benefit equally and
inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal of
mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality.”
• —United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), 1997
Therefore…
GM is a process that ensures that
both women and men have equal
access to and control over resources,
decisions making and benefits at all
stages of the a development process.
Gender mainstreaming simply means ensuring that
gender equality becomes a full part of common
policies!!!
Importance of Gender Mainstreaming
More Effective Policy and Legislation
More Effective Governance
Visible presence of gender equality in the
mainstream of society
More holistic development
How has GM worked in Ghana
• Ratification of international treaties and
conventions.
 CEDAW
 DEVAW
Africa Women’s Rights Protocol
Beijing Platform for Action
AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in
Africa etc etc
How has GM worked in Ghana…
Formulation and implementation of national
policies, programs and projects






1992 Constitution (prohibits gender discrimination)
Human Trafficking Law
Criminalisation of Harmful Traditional Practices such as FGM and Trokosi
Domestic Violence law etc
Some affirmative action measures and steps in some areas such as education.
Gender Responsive Budgeting within some ministries; Agriculture, Education
and Health
 The establishment of MOWAC to coordinate policy making, planning and
to monitor progress.
How has GM worked in Ghana…
By structure, MOWAC should have;
 10 regional directorates to oversee the issues of women
and children at the regional level.
 Gender Focal Person in each District to coordinate
implementation at the local level.
The regional directorates are in place, however only a few MMDAs
have Gender Desk Officers at post.
How has GM worked in Ghana…
 Increasing efforts to increase enrolments and retention of
the girl – child at the basic level of education
 Affirmative action for enrolment of women in tertiary
institutions
 Ministry of Health has a Gender policy
 National health insurance scheme
 Free maternal health care
 DOVVSU offices in all regional capitals
How has GM worked in Ghana
 Women in Agriculture and Development Units strategise
for women farmers.
 MASLOC programs to ensure women’s access to capital.
 Some increase in women’s representation in the District
Assemblies and the sub – structures.
 To - be - fulfilled promises of affirmative action in the
appointment of women in decision making positions.
 Women in key positions; Speaker of Parliament, CJ, AG
 Women’s caucuses in parliament
Some areas that require strengthened
intervention
 Women’s land ownership issues.
 Heavy presence of women in the informal sector.
 The informal sector seems ignored by policy makers.
 Female drop – out rate at all level of education still high leading to
fewer women in tertiary institution – 35% are females.
 Maternal and infant mortality rates are still high
 Inadequate sensitization and empowerment of women on health
issues – eg family planning
 Absence of LI and National Action Plan on the DV Act
 Women with disability not adequately catered for at all levels
of development.
 Capacity to undertake gender sensitive economic activity is
low
 Absence of a national affirmative action policy
 Still have fewer numbers of female appointees at the DA level
 MOWAC , DSW not well resourced, also battling with capacity
and skills issues
 National Gender Policy not publicised
 Women lack ownership to environmental resources and are
also not involved in the management of environmental
resources etc
Gender Equality in the Public and Private
Sector
There is no doubt that women have a key role to play in enhancing
the social, political and economic development of Ghana.
There have been some efforts by various groups and the state to
ensure that women become a part of decision making, planning,
implementation and monitoring of national policies and
programmes. This can largely be achieved through having women
involved in work at the public sector.
Statistics available suggests that though there is evidence of women
employed in state institutions there are very few of them found at
the managerial positions where decisions are made and resources
managed.
Women’s representation in political office is painfully poor.
Women’s representation in Parliament
Year
1992
1996
2000
2004
2006
No. of
Candidates
23
53
95
104
103
No. of
women
elected
16
18
19
25
18
Number of
seats in
parliament
200
200
230
230
230
9
9.5
10.9
7.8
% of women 8
in
parliament
An Overview of the presence of Women in
Politics and Public Service
A study conducted by Betrix Allah – Mensah in 1995 on “Women in Politics and
Public Life in Ghana” produced the following findings;
1. There is enthusiasm for women participation in politics
2. Though the number of women in parliament is woefully
inadequate, the performance of the few was impressive and
therefore could serve as role models for those who aspire to
similar positions in public sector.
3. There were equally few women in the public sector
4. The few find themselves very low on the hierarchy therefore
unable to contribute meaningfully to decision making or policy
formulation.
5. Most institutions stated that there is no affirmative action on
recruitment.
Some reasons assigned for such low
representation
1. Socio – cultural factors
2. Low level of education among women and
some lack of skill such as public speaking,
3. Economic emancipation particularly for
political office
4. The nature and meaning of politics; Djuma
5. Lack of a clear plan on how to promote
gender equality in the country.
Is GM relevant to the present
context?
Absolutely YES!!!
In spite of the remarkable progress today, there
is so much grounds to cover. If higher
education for example has been identified as
an important tool for women self
enhancement, yet we have a statistics of
female enrolment at about 35%, then much
work lies ahead.
With the following statistics;
1. CHRAJ ;Women formed about only 26% of
staff strength
2. Electoral Commission; Women formed only
3% of Senior Management and 24% of
general staff strength
3. Judiciary – About only 18% of women formed
the top hierarchy
4. Parliamentary Services; Encouragingly about
45% of them were women
5. Public Boards; 20% membership were
women etc
With this prevailing situation after over two
decades of work towards gender equality,
there is even a stronger case for gender
mainstreaming as a means towards achieving
gender equality.
Doing Things Differently/ Gaining
Traction
• Process and outcome indicators
• Accountability for results/impacts; M&E;
• Policies and plans should be widely circulated and
understood, particularly by key stakeholders
• Leadership—will, commitment and openness to
innovation
• The strong involvement of Gender expertise
 Breeding of young and interested individuals to
continue the efforts of older generation
• Strong collaboration with Civil Society as CS continue
to hold government strongly accountable
• Documentation/ Record; statistics, practice, results etc
“When women thrive, all of society benefits, and
succeeding generations are given a better start in life,”
By Kofi Annan
Thank You for your
attention!!!