Progress of Women in South Asia: 2007 Ratna M. Sudarshan Institute of Social Studies Trust New Delhi

Issues prioritised at Islamabad 2005 Violence Against Women Economic Empowerment Political Empowerment Disaster Preparedness and Management Health and Education

Towards Substantive Equality: Highlights of Progress

Violence Against Women Legislation against domestic violence  India and Sri Lanka Afghanistan: Commission on the Elimination of Violence against Women

Violence Against Women Nationwide Survey on VAW, 2006, Ministry of Gender and Family, Maldives and Campaign against VAW Gender Equality Act, 2006, Nepal

Violence Against Women Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act 2006, Pakistan Joint UN Regional Programme to support violence prevention and ensure boys and men are part of the process

Economic Empowerment Land Rights: Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005, India Gender Equality Act, Nepal 2006 Rights of WMW – Foreign Employment Act Nepal 2007

Economic Empowerment Home Net South Asia: Policy Conference 2007 Gender Budgeting to engender programmes and policies Access to new opportunities – eg ICT

Political Empowerment Reservations at local level: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan At national level: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan Effective participation – Bhutan – 70 % women at public village meetings

Disaster Preparedness and Management Engendering recovery from disaster – Islamabad Declaration 2006  Rights: addressing women’s entitlements to assets, ownership and compensation benefits  Gender perspective in plans and resources for disaster risk reduction and management  Individual identity and social security cards  Compulsory birth and marriage registration

Health and Education Steady progress in most indicators Bangladesh – gender parity in enrolment + secondary school enrolment increased from 13 to 56 % over ten years (mid-90’s to 2006)

Health and Education But Reduction in public expenditure on health as % of GDP (2001-4) – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan; on education (99/01 – 02/04) Bangladesh, India Maldives: increase in MMR, drop in primary school enrollment

Challenges Re-examine development discourse  Improve quality of women’s work force participation, access to assets and skills  Improve natural resource management, access to water and energy Threats to environment and climate change  Immediate impact and coping strategies

Challenges Strengthening support for care responsibilities  Working with men  Creating a supportive environment, maternity leave, creches  Public programmes (eg NREGA) to ensure creche facilities

Challenges Migration, Cross Border Trafficking, HIV/AIDS: ensuring rights and preventing exploitation  Register agencies, make visible women’s movements  Safety for migrants – lighting of public spaces, access to utilities Linking education to life skills  Lower entry bar for vocational education

Way Forward? National Initiatives in legislation and policy to be supplemented by adequate resources and programmes for awareness, training of staff, counselling and support  Focus on implementation, information and awareness

Way Forward? Regional networks and conventions  Building solidarity, helping to change social norms Building partnerships  Involve all stakeholders  Especial focus on involving men