Women's economic contribution still unappreciated<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The poorer the family, the more important a
\nwoman's contribution becomes, according to a participant in the
\nongoing Asian Pacific women conference.<\/p>\n
Minh Chau Nguyen, who represented the World Bank, told a
\nplenary session of the conference that many poor families in the
\nAsia-Pacific region depend entirely on women.<\/p>\n
In India she said one third of the families below the poverty
\nline are headed by women. But even in male-headed households,
\nwomen's earnings are often critical to the economic survival of
\nthese families.<\/p>\n
Minh said that given the high proportion of the poor who are
\nwomen development programs which try to improve women's economic
\nparticipation and productivity are essential.<\/p>\n
She cited Indonesia as a place where this approach is used.
\nAfter three years of participation in the Unit Desa (village
\nunit) financial service system, the percentage of clients below
\nthe poverty line dropped from 15 percent to 4 percent, and
\nwomen's income rose two and half times.<\/p>\n
Considering the crucial role women play in the survival of
\nfamilies, governments and other policy makers should ensure that
\nchanges in the economic and political structures do not harm
\nwomen's interests, she said.<\/p>\n
She called on the governments of the Asia-Pacific region to
\nprotect women's interests by sustaining or increasing
\nexpenditures on social services.<\/p>\n
She agreed with the conference's draft plan of action which
\nstates that policy changes offer the potential for long term
\ngrowth and expanded employment opportunities for women in the
\nfast-growing region.<\/p>\n
\"However, some policy measures can have adverse effects on
\nsome parts of the population, which may include women,\" she said.
\nShe added that even economic incentives and opportunities
\npromised by such adjustments may elude women due to their
\ndisadvantaged status in the overall economy.<\/p>\n
Chaired by Indonesian State Minister for Women's Role Mien
\nSugandhi, the conference is expected to ratify later today the
\ndraft Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action for Women which were
\ndrawn up in a five-day preliminary senior official meeting.<\/p>\n
During almost all of the sessions, some delegates have
\nattacked the conditions attached to World Bank and International
\nMonetary Fund programs.<\/p>\n
Some also expressed opposition to trading agreements,
\nincluding the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT),
\nwhich they said place a greater burden on women in many
\ndeveloping countries.<\/p>\n
A representative of the United Nations Development Fund for
\nWomen (UNIFEM), Beti Astolfi, said her institution helps both
\ninternational bodies and countries to introduce gender-sensitive
\napproaches to development.<\/p>\n
\"These perspective will help avoid repeated failures of long
\nterm benefits of programs for women,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Her colleague, R. Linda Miranda, lamented the existing
\nnational accounting systems which do not reflect unpaid work,
\nlike domestic work, and indirectly make women unimportant in the
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
Recent surveys in developing countries have shown that unpaid
\nwork, mostly done by women, makes up 30 to 50 percent of the
\ntotal national income.<\/p>\n
The conference yesterday was marked by protests from an
\nunidentified group of women against the inclusion of France, the
\nUnited States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands at the
\nevent.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly object to the participation of these countries,
\nand in fact the unacceptable interference of France in defining
\nthe rights of women of the Asia-Pacific region,\" said the \"Women
\nof the Asia-Pacific Region\" in a pamphlet.<\/p>\n
\"It's a shame....we are still controlled by the shackles of
\nhistory and colonialism\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
However, Makarim Wibisono, an Indonesian delegate from the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs, deflected the accusation, saying the
\nfour countries are full members of ESCAP and have the right to
\nattend the conference. (swe\/anr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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