Beyond Gender Equality

FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the women business wing of apex trade body FICCI at United Nations (UN) has stressed on the need of true gender equality as it is intrinsically linked to sustainable development and is vital to the realisation of human rights for all. The overall objective of gender equality is a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

“Empowerment of women and gender parity is an economic imperative. This stands true more so today in the global context – when women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership opportunities – economies grow, food security is enhanced, and prospects are improved for current and future generations. This can be seen from how the developed nations have been able to move ahead - as they have taken the women force along,” Said Pinky Reddy while speaking at discussion ‘UN sustainable Development Goals-Beyond Gender Equality’ at United Nations in New York on September 29 last week organised by Global Citizen Forum (GCF).

“FLO recognises that women are the critical mass that will transform politics, improve governance, ensure inclusive and more socially sensitive development. We know that there is an enormous task ahead of all of us and as an organisation, FLO aspires to be a catalyst in propelling women towards her rightful place in society. We are working towards take this to the next level, we have to go beyond gender,”Reddy said.

“FLO recognises women’s participation in the social, political and economic activities of the country enriches the fabric of the nation. Increased access to resources and opportunities for women not only improves their own economic status but also their households and communities,” Said Reddy.

“FICCI FLO on its part for gender parity has documented the gender ratio in India’s formal sector. This Gender Parity Index is a first of its kind in India, it measures the extent of gender parity in the formal sector, it is broad and holistic and addresses gender parity at a micro level, in the formal sector: the building blocks of an organized society.

It is designed to encourage change in the way organisations think and work and, in the process, provide women with unprecedented opportunities, promote economic empowerment and provide tools to tackle new challenges. Those who perform well on the index will be endorsed as a " Preferred Working Place for Women" by FLO,” said Ms Reddy.

“A number of global indices focus on empowerment of women and gender parity; however, most of them look at the subject from a macro view; almost all quantify the dimensions of control over resources and outcomes. None address gender parity at a micro level, in the formal sector. The FLO GENDER PARITYINDEX is broad and holistic which measures where an organisation stands vis-à-vis others while presenting a step-by-step guide to achieve higher levels of gender parity in different dimensions,” She added.

Vinita Bimbhet, past president FICCI FLO speaking on the occasion said, “FLO with help of the Gender Parity Index has created a program about women who have overcome the 'Gender Challenge' and reached the very top and been really successful in their chosen careers or business. These women can be great role models for other women across India, who aspire to work in perceived, male dominated sectors.”

“When women’s economic rights and economic participation are hindered, women become poor citizens. Their overall development is compromised. And, in fact, development and well-being of nations are significantly compromised. The world’s GDP would be much greater if women were involved in the economy to the same extent as men are involved.” She added

A 45-member women business delegation of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO including women entrepreneurs and professionals from pan- India led by FLO president Pinky Reddy was in US on a business visit US to strengthen Indo-US Trade relations.