As International Women’s Day was celebrated across the world on Sunday, gender equality was a topic discussed by many to assure the development of economic growth for women.
Guy Ryder Director General of the International Labor Organization said although many have been advocating for gender equality and women’s empowerment, women are only marginally better off with respect to equality at work.
“Are working women better off today than they were 20 years ago?” he asked.
“The answer is a qualified yes. Has this progress met our expectations? The answer is decidedly no. We need to be innovative, to reframe the debate and to intensify the focus on ensuring the rights of women at work, and promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.”
Mr. Ryder said despite the promotion of gender equality on International Women’s Day and generally, women continue to experience widespread discrimination and inequality in the workplace.
He said in most parts of the world, women are often in undervalued and low-paid jobs, lack access to education or training and have limited bargaining and decision-making power.
Also in an effort to promote gender equality for International Women’s Day, President of the Inter-American Development Bank Luis Alberto Moreno, said gender equality is something that is needed worldwide.
“The advancement of women carries with it a promise of progress for all of society,” he said.
“Equality at home, in access to education and health, in the job and financial markets and in participation in civic and political life contributes to improving social well-being and economic development. There is much to do to reach gender equality. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the participation of women in the labor force remains 26 percentage points below the rate for men. On average, women earn 17 percent less than men in similar jobs. Nearly 30 percent of the women in the region have suffered physical or sexual violence at the hands of their spouses or others.”
Mr. Moreno reaffirmed IDB’s commitment to the advancement of women and the achievement of more prosperous and equal societies.
