UN calls for enhancing women’s role in development

The 2009 World Survey o­n the Role of Women in Development released o­n October 26 by the UN shows that the process of economic empowerment for women is taking place slowly all over the globe.

According to the World Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women take o­nly 21.3 percent of MP seats in countries that belong to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 18 percent in Asia, 13 percent in Pacific countries, 18.1 percent in countries in southern Sahara Desert in Africa and 21.7 percent in the US.

Statistics released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) show that o­nly 2 percent of CEOs in the US’s top 500 companies are women. More than 46 percent of big OECD companies have no woman in their executive boards and 23 percent of these companies have o­nly o­ne woman in their executive boards.

Statistics from 70 countries indicate that women now occupy 27 percent of influential positions or positions in policy planning. The rates are 15 percent in Asia and 9 percent in the Middle East.

Up to 75 percent of labourers in the US’s financial sector are women but o­nly 12.6 percent of the management positions in 50 leading US commercial banks were held by women. o­nly eight out of 100 CEOs of the US’s biggest credit alliances are women.

The UN survey says that the inequality in accessing economic and financial sources puts women at a disadvantage compared to men in economic development. According to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), discriminations against women in education lead to a gender discrimination in the global labour market. In 2006, women account for o­nly 29 percent of scientific researchers in the world.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-mun said it is necessary to recognise the important links between economic empowerment for women and development achievements. Women in large companies’ executive boards play an important role in enhancing environmental protection and improving staff’s living conditions while ensuring companies’ profits.

The UN also emphasised the urgent need for the international community to reconsider economic development strategies with focus o­n economic empowerment for women.