WHY WOMEN’S RIGHT MATTERS?

    Women’s rights are important for so many reasons, but I will like to limit myself to two reasons:

1. Women’s rights are human rights: Every woman and girl in the world just like every man and boy has an inalienable right to live free from all forms of violence and discrimination. They have the right to be educated, empowered and to own a property. Also, they have the right to speak freely and to be heard. It was Hillary Clinton that said and I completely agree that “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights…let us not forget that among these rights is the right to speak freely and to be heard”. It is therefore indeed saddening to see women and girls being deprived of these inalienable rights on the basis of patriarchy and gender inequality.

2. Women’s right propels huge economic growth: It was the former Chilean President and the current United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) Head Michelle Bachelet that said “One of the factors a country economy depends on is human capital. If you don’t provide women with adequate access to healthcare, education and employment, you lose at least half of your potential. As gender equality and women’s empowerment bring huge economic growth”. The foregoing is indeed true. One cannot overemphasis on the fact that improvements in gender equality will generate more jobs and will increase a country’s GDP. Gender equality is indeed a major driver for economic growth.