International Women's Day celebrates solidarity<\/p>\n
Chisato Haro, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
On March 8, 1957, women in the garment trades of New England took
\nthe first steps toward claiming their fundamental rights by
\ntaking to the streets.<\/p>\n
Today, the international women's movement has taken on global
\nproportions, taking on new aspects as governments and societies
\nhave evolved, but its spirit remains the same.<\/p>\n
As UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed out in his
\nInternational Women's Day message: "Gender equality is not only a
\ngoal in its own right, it is critical to our ability to reach all
\nthe others. When women are fully involved, families are healthier
\nand better fed. And what is true of families is also true of
\ncommunities and, in the long run, of whole countries."<\/p>\n
It is in reflection of this communal spirit that the
\nInternational Community Activities Center (ICAC) has hosted an
\nInternational Women's Day luncheon for the last five years. It is
\none of the few non-profit, multi-cultural organizations in
\nJakarta to commemorate the day, drawing upon its 30 years of
\nexperience as a platform of exchange and cooperation between the
\nIndonesian and international communities.<\/p>\n
Themed in "Women's Health and Gender", this year's ICAC
\nInternational Women's Day Luncheon featured keynote speaker Dr.
\nNafsiah Mboi, who is renowned both nationally and internationally
\nas a champion of non-discrimination through her life-long work
\nfocusing on empowerment of women, issues of gender equity and
\nchild rights.<\/p>\n
Emphasizing a responsibility that rests among both women and
\nmen to achieve change and progress, Dr. Nafsiah focused on three
\nconcerns: the AIDS epidemic, the health impacts of violence, and
\nthe challenges of aging.<\/p>\n
While all three are global concerns, they are also crucial to
\nIndonesia in its struggle to realize political reform and
\neconomic development, and in its recent advancements in
\nrecognizing the importance of civil society in contributing to
\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
Dr. Nafsiah pointed to this latter factor as being key to
\nmeeting the challenges of the concerns above in conjunction with
\nimprovements in law, education and health services as "They are
\ntruly issues of public health and public welfare."<\/p>\n
The physical, economic and social burdens women bear in
\nconnection with these concerns affect not only the women
\nthemselves, but also the community at large through women's
\npredominant role as caregivers.<\/p>\n
Statistically, 50% of all HIV-positive adults in the world are
\nwomen, as a result of their physical vulnerability - the female
\nbody is anatomically more vulnerable to infection - and their
\nvulnerability as manifested through the societal constructs of
\ngender stereotypes.<\/p>\n
Domestic violence impacts on women of any socio-economic
\nclass, culture or religious belief both mentally and physically,
\nand ultimately, the children who grow up in violent homes.<\/p>\n
Violence on a larger scale, that of armed conflict,
\nparticularly impacts on women, who suffer a disproportionate
\nimpact in addition to the traumas inflicted through conflict, as
\nthey are also targets of specific forms of violence and abuse,
\nincluding sexual violence and exploitation.<\/p>\n
Aging poses a more significant concern than it may seem at
\nfirst glance, as globally, the life expectancy of women is longer
\nthan that of men. In addition, 60 percent of women aged 60 and
\nabove live in developing nations, where the combined impacts of
\ngeneral poverty and a lack of accessible medical services
\ncompound the ensuing social, health and emotional problems.<\/p>\n
In this sense, International Women's Day is truly a
\ncelebration of solidarity as a global, communal responsibility
\nacross all societies - without discriminating between women and
\nmen, children and adults, religion or culture, "developing" or
\n"developed", as we strive toward the recognition of universal
\nhuman rights and ensuring the health of the global community.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/international-womens-day-celebrates-solidarity-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}