Women deserve respect, equality

 GENDER equality remains an elusive dream or ideal yet for this country. It was revealed this week that despite its noble intentions and pronouncements, some pertinent government policies and legislations are far from being women-friendly.

Where the country has succeeded in achieving some degree of equality among the sexes, the outcome and benefits have been outstanding per­sonal accom­plishment and positive contributions to families, corporations and the country.

It is a proven fact that gender equality in all areas of nation-building is certain to bring out the best of every citizen. Our journey to reaching that ideal will be shortened if gender equality is achieved.  

The Papua New Guinea Vision 2050, in more ways than one, depends largely on achieving such equality and it can be sure to make great strides in economic growth and improve our social stan­ding indicators. 

Critics may argue that PNG women are better than their sisters in similar situations in other parts of the world, however there much work still needed.  One has only to sit in this week’s women’s forum to appreciate the challenges women face. A few of those challenges like the ones facing indigenous businesses are common among women as well as men.

In countries where women have been given all possible opportunities to stand shoulder to shoulder with men, there have been great strides in economic and social advancement. One such country is the United States of America, whose embassy in Port Moresby this week co-hosted the PNG Women’s Forum during which a number of important matters affecting women in general and specific aspirations have been discussed.  

The Women’s Forum was told of some outstanding government commitments as well as omissions or oversights in the formulation of legal and policy framework for the advancement of the womenfolk. The Government’s much talked about small to medium enterprises policy received some criticism because it did not adequately address women entrepreneurs’ issues. Instead women were lumped together with youth and people with disabilities in the policy

In another session of the forum an official from the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Committee (CIMC) told the forum that gender equality was in fact marginalising women in the country.

She reckons there is no coordinated effort specifically for women, with central agencies doing their own thing and there was nothing tied up in the budget.

If the Government is serious about addressing gender equality and gender-based violence, it should provide support in terms of allocating funds in the annual budgets and provide capacity and incentives for them, the official said. Meanwhile, at the University of Natural Resources and Environment Vudal campus in East New Britain female students have been told that the institution will not entertain pregnancies. The warning was sounded by the acting registrar of the university who urged all female students to be extra careful and to make use of the counselling service available at the student support service or clinic.

Some sound advice from the university official:  Do not waste your time here.  Always balance your mental, spiritual and physical activities in order to live a healthy life. The female students were advised to stay away from negative influences and remain focused on their studies. The university registrar is echoing an age old policy of most academic institutions in the country which unfairly disadvantages girls who fall pregnant by their male friends who are able to complete their studies without any disruption in most instances.

Many young women have suffered the indignity of be­ing expelled from their studies due to pregnancy.  And where their institute of learning takes a hard stand against students falling pre­g­nant, they are given very little opportunity to continue and complete their studies, such policies need to be revisited or made fairer on both parties involved.

Gender equality should not only be preached in institutions of higher learning but practiced so that future husbands, colleagues, bosses or subordinates of women are made to learn to respect  and appreciate women as equals.