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A Case for Gender Equality

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A Case for Gender Equality 16 ASIA-PACIFIC HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT About the cover Deficits in women’s power and voice are at the heart of gender inequality. The cover design plays on mathematical symbols to depict the relationships between men and women—what they are and what should be. The equality symbol signifies that all people—women, men and those with other gender identities—are inherently valuable and ought to be equal members of the family and society. Other symbols—unequal, less than, greater than, approximately equal—draw attention to the presence of gender gaps, be they in public spaces, at work or in the home. About the separators Folktales and historical accounts provide a peek into society—as it was or can be imagined. Asia-Pacific has a wealth of local stories, ideas and experiences from the past. The chapter separators present a few selected nuggets. A common thread is women’s power and voice, their creativity and capability. Men are protagonists, not adversaries, in the search for equality, which benefits society as a whole. These short narratives complement and contrast with the Report’s data and analysis, providing a lyrical break between chapters. Power, Voice and Rights A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific Published for the United Nations Development Programme Copyright © 2010 by the United Nations Development Programme Regional Centre for Asia Pacific, Colombo Office Human Development Report Unit 23 Independence Avenue, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka ISBN: 978-92-1-126286-5 Assigned UN sales number: E.10.III.B.15 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. First published, February 2010 Published for UNDP by Macmillan Publishers India Ltd. MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS INDIA LTD. Delhi Bangalore Chennai Kolkata Mumbai Ahmedabad Bhopal Chandigarh Coimbatore Cuttack Guwahati Hubli Hyderabad Jaipur Lucknow Madurai Nagpur Patna Pune Thiruvananthapuram Visakhapatnam MACMILLAN WORLDWIDE Australia Brazil Cambodia China Egypt France Germany India Japan Korea Malaysia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Norway Pakistan Philippines Russia Singapore South Africa Switzerland Thailand Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Vietnam and others ISBN 10: 0230-32919-5 ISBN 13: 978-0230-32919-5 Published by Rajiv Beri for Macmillan Publishers India Ltd. 2/10 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110 002 Printed at Replika Press Pvt Ltd 310-311 EPIP, Kundli, Haryana 131 028 Team for the Preparation of the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report Power, Voice and Rights A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific Team Leader Anuradha Rajivan Core team: Elena Borsatti, Hasna Cheema, Ramesh Gampat, Amaya Gorostiaga, Rohini Kohli, Niranjan Sarangi, Ruwanthi Senarathne, Omar Siddique, Manoja Wickramarathne Statistics team: Ramesh Gampat, Hasna Cheema, Pradeepa Malkanthi, Niranjan Sarangi, Manoja Wickramarathne Editor: Gretchen Luchsinger Designer: Rustam Vania Publisher: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd. About the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report The Asia-Pacific Regional Human Development Report (APHDR) is an important resource and instrument to explore critical development concerns. The Report thus informs policies from a human development perspective, putting people at the centre of development debates. As a regional public good, the APHDR focuses on issues that are of common concern to several countries in the region, have sensitivities that are better addressed at a regional level, or have clear cross-border dimensions. The APHDR is an independent intellectual exercise developed through a regional participatory process that draws from the contributions of many. The theme for each Report is also selected through consultations that include participants within and outside UNDP. The more nuanced focus of the Report is guided by substantive and diverse inputs that bring together Asia-Pacific stakeholders from governments, civil society, academia, research institutions, the media, the private sector and others. Technical background papers are prepared by eminent experts drawn largely from the Region. An established peer review process contributes to quality and impartiality. The work is enriched by a moderated discussion on the Asia-Pacific Human Development Network, which comprises members from the Region and beyond. Drawing from this rich material, the Report is prepared by the Human Development Report Unit team. The APHDR is disseminated widely, helping to promote dialogue and bring together the people of Asia and the Pacific to accelerate human development. Foreword Since their inception in 2003, UNDP’s Asia- responses, the Report calls upon policy Pacific Human Development Reports have makers to correct gender imbalances through been stimulating a lively dialogue within the a broad “agenda for action” across three areas: region on a range of important issues. supporting the economic empowerment of Prepared by experts from Asia and the Pacific, women, promoting women’s political voice, the Reports present an authentic account of and advancing women’s legal rights. Central human development progress, possibilities, to undertaking such efforts, the Report argues and challenges in this vibrant and fast- for unwavering political leadership across the growing region. board, and highlights also the need for men This year’s Report focuses on the critical and boys to help foster attitudes and take question of advancing gender equality, as seen actions to empower women. through the prism of women’s unequal power, Like its predecessors, this is an indepen- voice, and rights. Despite the region’s many dent Report commissioned by UNDP to economic gains, the Report chronicles how in contribute to human development discourse many instances women across the region and policy debates in Asia and the Pacific. By continue to be held back and disadvantaged. highlighting that human development cannot Even as many women have benefited from be achieved if fifty per cent of the population their countries’ improved education, health, is excluded from the opportunities it brings, and prosperity, they continue to face barriers UNDP hopes that the Report’s insights will to the same opportunities available to men. inspire further discussion, and inform the The Report makes it clear that achieving work of development practitioners and policy gender equality promotes human develop- makers in the region and beyond as they seek ment—not only for women, but for whole to achieve gender equality. societies, and is central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Where we see progress towards these goals lagging the most is often where the needs and status of women and girls are accorded low priority. While recognizing that each country is Helen Clark unique and needs to develop its own Administrator, UNDP The analysis and policy recommendations of this Report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Development Programme, its Executive Board or its Member States. Mention of firm names and commercial products does not imply endorsement of the United Nations. The Report is an independent publication commissioned by UNDP. It is the fruit of a collaborative effort by a team of eminent experts, stakeholders, and the Human Development Report Unit (HDRU) team of the UNDP Regional Centre for Asia Pacific, Colombo Office, led by Anuradha Rajivan. v Preface The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed inequalities in the public domain, and remarkable economic progress and rapid pinpointing barriers that hold people back development in recent decades, yet gender from realizing their potential as equal inequality remains entrenched even through members of society. This report is not a this era of change. The region lags behind on document embodying a Utopian wishlist – gender parity on multiple counts, despite instead, it provides concrete interventions in progress on several other dimensions. While three specific domains, where public policies overall indicators for economic prosperity, have demonstrated their potential. educational attainments and access to The proposals are timely—we have a few healthcare have improved for the region’s years left to push for the achievement of the population over the recent decades, gender Millennium Development Goals, and the gaps have not closed. recent global economic crises has forced policy Moreover, the region has seen divergent makers to review what they consider conven- trends towards gender equality—notably, tional wisdom. Indeed, the global economic while East Asia and the Pacific have made crisis and rapid development offers new significant advances, South Asia’s progress opportunities to benefit both women and on many counts has been slow. A girl born in men, as governments search for economic South Asia today still has very different life growth drivers and seek to mobilize all chances compared to her counterpart in East available resources. Persistent gender inequa- Asia in terms of health status, educational lity continues to deprive the region of a signifi- attainments or employment opportunities. cant source of human potential, and remains All countries face challenges—even those a barrier to progress, justice and democracy. performing well on the income, health and This Report comes at a time when the education indicators. People, particularly Asia-Pacific
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