Gender equality is a human right. It is an essential foundation for a peaceful and sustainable society and that benefits all sections of society, including men and women. Sri Lanka, The country was one of the first in Asia to grant voting rights to women, and, in 1960, it became the first nation to elect a woman as prime minister. These examples show Sri Lanka has already taken steps to gender equality. But always it's not true. Specifically, Gender inequalities affect many aspects of women's lives. It is starting to go on to affect job opportunities, property rights, access to health, and political participation.
In Globally,
The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated gender inequality. It rapidly unraveling the limited progress that the world has made in the past few decades.
- It including reversing gains against child marriage,
- female genital mutilation,
- maternal mortality, and
- interrupting girls’ education.
The crisis has also resulted in a spike in domestic violence and set off an economic catastrophe for women, widening the gender pay gap, driving women out of the workforce in droves, pushing them below the poverty line, and increasing unpaid care work. Emerging data and evidence from past crises increasingly suggest that the social and economic toll of the pandemic will be overwhelmingly paid by the world’s girls and women.
In Sri Lanka,
Over the years, Sri Lanka has made significant progress on gender equality. However, structural barriers and societal norms that perpetuate decrease that progress. Now Covid -19 pandemic, unfortunately, affects it badly.
Globally, Sri Lanka ranks relatively lower on gender equality indices.
As an example:
The Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) In 2006,( the year in which the GGGI was introduced) Sri Lanka was ranked 13 out of 115 countries included in that year’s assessment, However, in the latest edition of the report in 2019/20, Sri Lanka was ranked at 102 out of 153 countries. Over a period of 13 years, Sri Lanka’s ranking dropped precipitously by 89 positions. That is, Sri Lanka has the largest ranking decline in GGGI out of the 153 countries tracked since the introduction of the index. These all numbers mean Sri Lanka is unable to maintain gender equality in today's situation.
Sri Lanka, The country was one of the first in Asia to grant voting rights to women, and, in 1960, it became the first nation to elect a woman as prime minister. But At present, women in Sri Lanka are largely underrepresented in politics. Only 5.3% – 12 out of 225. Despite early achievements of producing the first female Prime Minister in the world, the representation of women legislators at the national level has never exceeded 7% throughout Sri Lanka’s electoral history since 1931.
In Sri Lanka, women’s labour force participation rate is at a mere 32.5% in comparison to 72.4% for men. Similarly, the youth unemployment rate for women is at 36.3% compared with 21.1% for men. Further, as many women are engaged in informal employment, In COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected female-headed households. Many female heads of households, therefore, lack access to social protection in supporting their family.
According to the Women’s Wellbeing Survey (2019), 35.3% of women in Sri Lanka agreed that men can have a good reason to hit their wife and 47.5% of women felt men are superior to women. It was further reported that 1 in 5 ever-partnered women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. COVID-19 has intensified violence against women our the country.
So during this time home may not be safe for everyone. If you or someone you know experiencing violence and needs support or help if you can help them or call 1938.
Reference:
0 Comments