In general terms, women empowerment refers to the process of bringing women into a position of equal status to that of men. The term empowerment refers to the process of becoming stronger and more confident in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. The empowerment of women thus involves the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status. It is an important end in itself but is also essential for the achievement and maintenance of sustainable development.
The full participation of both women and men is necessary for productive economic life as well as reproductive life. This, therefore, must include sharing responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintenance of the home so that men undertake an equal share of such tasks without the burden falling solely on women.
In some parts of the world women face threats to their lives, health and well-being because they are overburdened with work which is a direct function of their lack of power and influence. In many regions of the world women receive less formal education than men while women’s knowledge, abilities and emotional coping mechanisms are undervalued or go unrecognized.
The power structures that impede women’s achievement of healthy and fulfilling lives operate at many levels of society – from the personal to the public. Achieving meaningful change requires policy action that will improve women’s access to secure livelihoods and economic resources, reduce their responsibilities with regard to menial housework, remove any impediments to their participation in public life and raise social awareness through education and mass communication. Improving the status of women must also enhance their decision-making capacity at all levels in all areas of life. This includes within the home, at work and in political and public life.
Countries should act to encourage the women empowerment and should take steps to remove inequalities between men and women as follows:
• Establish mechanisms for women’s equal participation and representation at all levels of the political process and public life.
• Promote the fulfillment of women’s potential by encouraging education, skill development and employment.
• Eliminate all practices that discriminate against women and assist women to establish and enjoy their rights.
• Adopt appropriate measures to improve women’s ability to earn income beyond their traditional occupations and achieve economic self-reliance. This must include ensuring women’s equal access to employment opportunities and eliminating discriminatory practices by employers against women.
• Eliminate all forms of violence against women.