“There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.” (Susan B. Anthony)
Anthony (1820-1906) was a women’s rights activist and a pioneer of the women’s suffrage movement in the US.
The oldest written continuously-active codified constitution in the world, the United States Constitution, had a stain on it. This had to be removed by the 19th Amendment, which was ratified a century ago (1920). The 19th Amendment also called the ”Susan B Anthony Amendment” gave the American women the right of suffrage.
This right of women to vote was not granted nimbly by the Congress. The suffragists had to march and protest for this right for decades. Although there were many scattered movements and protests, the adoption of the Declaration of Sentiments in 1878 at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York is believed to have started the revolutionary women’s rights movement. For years, women had to show utmost persistence and face many obstacles in their pursuit of the right of suffrage. This included getting arrested, hunger strikes, and even the deadly Spanish flu pandemic of 1918! The suffragists would gather outside the White House, protesting to the then 28th US President Woodrow Wilson, holding striking banners. One such banner stated, “Mr President: how long must women wait for liberty?”
The amendment was introduced to the federal legislative branch of the US government, the Congress in 1878. After several attempts to enact the women’s suffrage amendment for years, the women finally succeeded, they had successfully fought for their right to vote in the 1920 presidential election.
No woman has been appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
This year, the women in the US celebrate the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. To this date, no woman has ever been elected as the President of the US. Hillary Clinton, a prominent politician, made history when she was nominated for president of the United States by a major political party. However, she lost to Donald Trump. Previously, she served as the 67th United States Secretary of State (2009-2013) and as a Senator (2001-2009). She also served as First Lady when her husband, Bill Clinton was serving as President of the United States. Alas, she did not have the same fortune as her husband. Notably, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1981. This was a great achievement for the U.S Judiciary.
Last year, women in England and Wales celebrated the centennial anniversary of The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, which allowed them, inter alia, to receive degrees, practice as solicitors, barristers and sit as magistrates. For this right, women had to campaign for more than 50 years! In 2017, Lady Hale was the first female to have been appointed as the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. So far, the UK has had two female prime ministers: Margaret Thatcher (1979-90) and Theresa May (2016-19). Queen Elizabeth II is, of course, a very important figure all around the world. In 2015, she became the longest-reigning female monarch in world history.
This month, Pakistani women celebrate Pakistan’s first female officer to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, Major General Nigar Johar. An extraordinary achievement! In 2018, Justice Tahira Safdar became the first female to be appointed as Chief Justice of a High Court in Pakistan. However, no woman has been appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. It is the only country in South Asia to have never had a female Supreme Court judge.
Previously, Benazir Bhutto made history when she served as the first woman leader of a Muslim nation. She served two terms as the prime minister of Pakistan from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996.
The Mother of the Nation, Fatima Jinnah (also known as Lady of Pakistan ) was one of the leading founders of Pakistan and remains one of the most honoured leaders of the country. Her contribution to the country and towards the empowerment of women are held in high esteem all around the world. She supported her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah and was an adviser to him as well. Mr Jinnah had famously said,” no nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men”
If only, Pakistani women were given the rights that Mr Jinnah had envisioned for them, the country would have been far more successful. Alas, women face extreme levels of discrimination which hinders not only their progress but the progress of the entire country.
In New Zealand, women were granted the right of suffrage with the enactment of the Electoral Act in 1893. It became the first self-governing country to give women the right of suffrage. Dame Sian Elias became the first female Chief Justice in 1999. So far, there have been three female prime ministers: Dame Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark and Jacinda Ardern. Under the leadership of the current female prime minister, it is being reported that the country has nearly eliminated the novel coronavirus. This is a great example of why women leadership and gender equality is important and extremely beneficial for the world. Women are half of the population of the entire world and so they are half of the potential that the entire world fails to take advantage of.
A century ago, the world suffered through a deadly pandemic, the Spanish flu, but that didn’t stop women from pursuing their rights. Today, a century later, a different pandemic, the novel coronavirus has taken over the world. Domestic violence has been reported to such a great extent that it is being called the “shadow pandemic.” Despite the struggle of many women in the past century, the rights of women are still far from parity. This century saw a lot of “firsts” for women all around the world but women in many parts of the world are still denied even their basic fundamental rights. It is sorrowful that even after centuries and countless protests, the world is not ready to give half of its population equal rights and opportunities.
The writer is Barrister of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and teach United States constitutional law and civil law to Pakistani LLB students