OPINION

Historically, the International Women’s Day was held on March 8, 1914, in Germany, possibly because that day was a Sunday, and now it is always held on March 8 globally. 

The observance of the day in Germany was dedicated to women’s right to vote, which German women did not win until 1918.

It has always been a struggle for women to participate in public spaces. 

In 1920, the Suffragettes, which was a women’s movement in the US, they had to rise up and demand for their voting rights as individuals.

The reason why the International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year is primarily to celebrate the movement of women’s rights.  This is the day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, social, economic or political.

In the world over this great day is celebrated differently and in unique ways.  For, instance in Europe and America, women celebrate this day by hosting events or parties, they organise competitions, they attend different events, they also participate in community activities like visiting the women ward in hospitals, maternity wards and donate various items.  They also celebrate women who have made it in public life just like recently the New Vision recognised women who hold public offices at international level.

Our own Winnie Byanyima the Executive Director of UNAID in Geneva and Ngozi Iweal the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and now the CEO of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), among others.

This is also the time we remember the unsung heroines in different parts of the world and communities. This is also the time of taking stock of the various achievements throughout the year and consolidating them. In brief, it is a day of remembrance and action.  The main purpose is to promote gender equality and women empowerment across the globe.  Every year, the International Women Day is observed under a specific theme: This year’s theme is: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 World”

This year’s theme is celebrating the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

As we celebrate this great day here in Uganda, I want to recognise a few women who have shaped and strengthened the women movement in this country and brought some of us this far.  I want to start by recognising and appreciating the contributions made to gender equality and women empowerment by the late Sarah Ntiro, Rhoda Kalema, Joyce Mpanga, Dr. Miria Matembe, Winnie Byanyima, Victoria Ssekitoleko, the former Women Constituency Assembly Delegates, among others.

Uganda has made strides in achieving gender equality and women empowerment and has also ratified many protocols and conventions that promote gender equality and women empowerment.  Women have made progress in achieving gender equality and women empowerment because of enabling laws and policies that the Government has put in place. 

Positive institutional infrastructure for instance, Parliament, Ministry of Gender, Child Protection Law, awareness creation in Police as duty bearers, provision of Gender Desks in ministries, district gender officers and doing tremendous job in ensuring district councils embrace gender equality and even at national level, ministries must produce gender certificates before their budgets are passed by Parliament.

The women themselves have taken advantage of the laws and policies in place like the Affirmative Action, which has increased the number of women participating in politics and the education sector has seen more and more women ascend to institutions of higher learning, especially in public universities. 

In the economic sector we have more and more women doing business both at a small scale level and macro level, like the lady of Cheers Juice and Amina who has a sugar factory in Amuru.  The NGOs and civil society organisations are complementing the Government effort by doing research in areas that hinder gender equality and how these challenges affect women total participation in all spheres of life.  They also do advocacy and also lobby both Government and development partners for support and financing of their women rights activities like training and capacity building of women.

Despite the fact that there is progress in gender equality and women empowerment, there are still hurdles that hinder participation.  For instance, women still do not know the laws and policies that protect them.  There is also limited outreaches by NGOs and other actors in creating awareness. 

Still women and girls are confronted with negative attitudes both in private and public spaces.  This persisting attitude hinders progress both in private and public spheres.  Women and girls are still faced with sexual and gender based violence.  Negative cultural beliefs and norms, especially when it comes to land matters. 

In most areas of the world, women do not own land.  They can only access land but do not own it.  The limited participation in decision-making processes has also affected progress in gender equality and women empowerment. 

Access to education of girls, especially in rural areas is still very difficult because of cultural norms of early marriage among the girls and early pregnancies.  Access to quality and affordable health services is still a very big challenge among women and girls.

With the above challenges and barriers still faced by women and girls, every citizen of Uganda should take it upon themselves to create awareness that women’s rights is human rights as the First Lady then Hillary Clinton stated during the UN Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China in September 1995.

The writer is the Chairperson, Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)