Daily Times

Sir: The definition of gender discrimination is that it is an attitude, action or decision taken with a bias towards individuals on the basis of their gender. If we analyse the fact of women gender discrimination in Pakistan and global context we will find five facts. Firstly, women and girls are a neglected segment of our society. The root cause of gender discrimination is hunger and poverty. Women are marginalised often. Secondly, this usually occurs when a woman is not given her due right only because she is a woman, or a man is assumed to do something only because of his traditional role as a man and not his merits or capabilities. For example if a female employee is senior and is more capable she may still not get a promotion only because the management believes that women cannot take on positions of high responsibility. Statistics indicate that women are nine times more likely than men to quit their jobs, five times more likely to apply for transfers, and three times more likely to lose jobs because of gender discrimination and workplace harassment. Thirdly, it is a fact that the vast majority of cases of violence against women is committed not by a stranger but by an intimate or close relative. Fourthly, the poor women of the world are confined to their households. They lack mobility and freedom of association and have no opportunity to learn about their rights and take action to improve their lives and those of their family members. Lastly, women and girls are powerful tools to increase development effectiveness. They contribute directly to poverty alleviation, economic growth, building stronger community institutions, increasing health and helping with better governance.

Gender equality means that all people, women and men alike, have equal opportunities to achieve their personal potential and maximise their contributions to the development of their families, economies and societies. When will the people of this country and the world give women the importance that they rightly deserve?

RANA TASSAWAR ALI

Islamabad