Whither concern for women?

It is a matter of some concern that the main Presidential contenders have not spoken sufficiently thus far, of what they intend doing to ensure the well being and substantial empowerment of local women.

What leads us to this theme is Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN Prasad Kariyawasam's comment on the significance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, adopted by the UN's foremost peace-keeping body five years ago.

It is now almost a commonplace that women and children suffer most in conflict and war situations. Yet, the world has a considerable distance to traverse before it could satisfy itself that the universally accepted standards on the protection of these vulnerable groups have been met. Women and children continue to be the most seriously-affected sections of societies writhing in the clutches of war.

Sri Lanka is, of course, no exception to the rule and if we want to make good our boast that women and children are being fended for, substantial, concrete moves should be witnessed in the direction of the empowerment of these vulnerable sections.

Thanks to the National Child Protection Authority, established under President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's directions, some moves are being made for the achievement of child protection and welfare, although a great deal remains to be done before we could declare Sri lanka a happy haven for children.

Likewise, governments have felt obliged to keep a Ministry of Women's Affairs going, but we cannot claim that spectacular successes have been registered in on-going efforts to empower local women.

The fact needs to be faced squarely that substantial political representation at local, provincial and national levels is one of the most effective means to women's empowerment. Sizeable political power would enable women to fulfil their basic aspirations and needs. In our calculations, such representation should be well above 10 per cent of the membership of law-making bodies because more than 50 per cent of our population consists of women, although we would not like to reduce these sensitive deliberations to a numbers game.

Yet, from what could be gathered, this issue of adequate representation has not been resolved by the main political parties because hardly any effort is being made by them to field women candidates at elections in substantial numbers. What have our main Presidential hopefuls got to say on this question, we wonder.

The painful truth is that women are continuing to be in a subservient position in the local social structure. We need to remember that this is a country where a woman, not so long ago, was stripped naked in the heat of election campaigning and made to walk the streets in the full view of the public.

Just the other day, a woman was gang-raped at no less a place than the Bandaranaike International Airport.

All this points to the fact that our's is very much a patriarchal society where women's dignity and rights do not receive the recognition they deserve. One could only imagine the humiliation suffered by women in our war zones.

This realisation should awaken the local polity to the need to include the point of view of women in all vital areas of public life. We wonder what became of the North-South Committee an women's well being which was set up in the wake of the 2002 peace effort? Regardless of where the political negotiations are heading such bodies need to be kept alive, for, they help to bridge North-South differences.

Our Presidential hopefuls need to address their minds to the ways in which Sri Lanka could be rid of the yoke of patriarchy. This is one way in which women could be brought more fully into the political process. Besides, it is futile to speak of democratic development without providing for the full participation of women in all public spheres.

The fact is inescapable that women help to generate a sizeable amount of our national income through their silent labours in the hearth and at the home. Let their inherent dignity be recognized.