International Women's Day - A Salute to Commonwealth Women
7 March 2001
In a message released in London today, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said:The quality of life for many women continues to be a source of concern even as the world celebrates International Women's Day on 8 March 2001. Progress in improving the situation of women has been slow and piecemeal, despite the various international conventions agreed and ratified over the past few decades. Women are still fighting for the right to be treated with equal dignity, and this lack of recognition of equality is a human resource limitation in the 21st century.
But today, even as we acknowledge the problems of poverty, inadequate representation in decision-making, HIV/AIDS and violence against women, I would like to highlight some of the positive trends that give us hope for the future. For we in the Commonwealth recognise the equal contribution of women, the richness and diversity of their experiences and the fact that we will all benefit if women are encouraged to develop their potential to the fullest.
Countries are reaping dividends from their recognition of the importance of harnessing the potential of women in many areas, including poverty reduction, industry and politics. For example, micro credit programmes in Commonwealth countries, most notably in South Asia, are now reflecting 100 per cent repayment returns by women - a clear indicator that measures in support of women's productivity help to reduce poverty.
Women's participation in the informal sector in our member countries is well known. There is now also growing recognition that small and medium enterprises, especially women-owned businesses, are critical for economic prosperity. It is a proven fact that the start-up rate of new businesses by women is three times that of men in many developed countries and has contributed significantly to economic recovery and growth.
In terms of political representation, Commonwealth countries have more women in parliament than other parts of the world but 13.4 per cent is still a long way from the target of 30 per cent political representation set in the 1995 Commonwealth Plan of Action on Gender and Development. Nevertheless a start has been made and there are good signs for the future. In a number of our member countries, women's representation in politics at the local and regional levels is reaching targets of up to 30-40 per cent in Canada, India, Seychelles and Uganda, with others close behind.
Women are entering the boardrooms in increasing numbers, taking on senior management roles in our civil services and topping academic achievement lists in many Commonwealth countries. They are increasingly involved in brokering sustainable peace agreements and finding innovative and effective solutions to seemingly intractable conflicts.
Another fundamental truth is that both men and women across the Commonwealth, who have risen to the top of their professions or achieved fame, attribute it to the support and sacrifices made by their mothers. As has been noted elsewhere, to educate a woman is to educate the family.
In recognition of women's right to equality, and with Commonwealth women in the forefront, on this first International Women's Day of the 21st century, the Commonwealth salutes its women and its girls as our hope for today and for the future.
01/20 7 March 2001
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