Thiruvananthapuram: An international conference, organised by Kerala Government and UN Women, a United Nations entity, on Thursday expressed concern over growing gender inequalities within and outside the country.
Experts and activists at the inaugural session of the three-day first International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE), which began at nearby Kovalam, aired their concerns on the status of women, issues relating to transgenders and other sexual minorities in the country.
Hundreds of scholars and policymakers from the country and around 40 from overseas are participating in the conference, organised by the Kerala Government's Department of Social Justice in association with UN Women, dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Inaugurating the conference, that will discuss, debate and frame out policies for gender equality and development, Kerala Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam said empowerment of women has become a global concern as no nation can progress ignoring its women who constitute almost 50 per cent of the population.
Aparna Mehrotra, Senior Advisor at UN Women, said women around the world should celebrate their victories when they are amidst struggles. "We have to acknowledge the solidarity of inclusion and equality."
While Kerala had the highest literacy rate, "there is lowest level of participation of women," she said. In her address, dancer activist Mallika Sarabhai said India was the second most dangerous country for women and girls in the world.
Fear of abuse was on the minds of most of women and it was the 'biggest plague' than hunger and poverty, she said.
"When we talk about GDP and shining India, 50 per cent of our population is fearing... Even I am on guard while living in the country... why should I be on guard in this 21st century. If I feel like this, what do Dalit, Muslim, and transgender feel?" she asked.
Noted transsexual-gender minority activist Akkai Padmashali said it was heartening to see that more states were now coming forward for the rights of transgender and minority groups.
However, Akkai, lamented that IPC section 377 (unnatural offences) still 'disrespects' transgender and their identity.
In her keynote address, eminent gender scholar Prof Naila Kabeer said there has been very 'uneven progress' on the key dimensions of gender inequality in the world today.
"We have made considerable advances in closing the gender gap in key human capabilities of education and health, less progress in closing the gender gap in economic resources and opportunities and least progress in closing the gender gap in political participation, at least at the higher levels of decision-making," she said.
