Celebrating International Women's Day

Women of the world are being celebrated today as the United Nations marks March 8^th as International Women’s Day.  On this occasion I find it appropriate and necessary to draw attention to the vital role women play in Indonesia and around the world today.  Unfortunately, in many countries their own needs are often overlooked and their rights as individuals passed over.  In Indonesia, women are the quiet victims of an incredibly high maternal mortality rate, domestic violence, lower overall levels of education, economical marginalization, barriers to entering politics, discrimination and poor living conditions when forced to work as migrant workers.

The United Nation’s theme for this year’s International Women’s Day being “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.”  It is important for countries to realize how communities as a whole improve if women are allowed equal rights and opportunities.  When mothers are economically empowered in Indonesia they can provide better for their children and when women receive higher levels of education they can contribute more to strengthening and advancing the community.

Women in the West are already attaining, and even surpassing, levels and positions previously held by men.  This progress is indeed encouraging but there is much more to be done, and particularly in developing communities like Jambi. 

The International Herald Tribune is undergoing a very interesting year-long series of articles called The Female Factor where it highlights the role and progress of women around the world if you want to read more on the subject.