INTERNATIONAL: Are Women Truly Citizens of the World?

They say the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. As women and mothers, we like to believe it but in reality, much still needs to be done to ensure that women everywhere can actually enjoy the rights they are entitled to. We live in a country where despite all the rhetoric; women still tend to be regarded as objects worthy of crude remarks ; where political representation of women is low enough to warrant concern. Where battered women prefer to remain at home in hiding than venture out to a police station.

The hallowed Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in Article 1 states that “ All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights.” The world's standard reference for human rights was signed into being in 1948 but it took some twenty years from that point onwards to get the international conventions on political, civil rights and more importantly, on economic, social and cultural rights, going. And yet another twenty years before the US Congress could sign legislature that ensures women's political and economic rights. It took thirteen more years for the United Nations to ratify the Convention to End all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Deprived of basic rights

Yet, despite what is on paper, women and children continue to be deprived of their basic rights in more ways than one. In Sri Lanka, despite legal entitlements and desks at police stations dedicated to women and children, violence against women in their own homes is staple fare for many women from both rural and urban environments. Harassment of women in public transport is very much a daily nightmare for women who travel to work and children who go to school. Many women stay silent for fear of reprisals by husbands, too shameful to seek help outside. A few brave ones would consider divorce or separation. Yet thousands of others prefer to sweep it all under the carpet and live with a lie for the sake of the children.

Internationally, women's rights have made great strides during the last century or so. The landmark resolution on women, peace and security passed by the UN Security Council in 2000, reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

Additionally, Resolution 1325 advocates an enhancement of female participation seeks to incorporate a sufficient gender perspective in all UN peace and security efforts. Special measures for protection of women and girl children from gender based violence in armed conflicts are recommended as well.

Women's rights in USA

In the USA, where women's rights have been a frontrunner for over a century, the US House of Representatives is still mulling over legislation regarded as vital for women - ranging from limiting access to reproductive health services and marriage to sentencing guidelines for girls and women as felons. Yet a topic under scrutiny is the necessity to enhance charges brought against those accused of abducting and abusing women.

Female rights activists all over the world have just one question to ponder – are women truly citizens of the world? Activists such as Allida Black, Research Professor of History and International Affairs at the George Washington University and the Project Director of The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, urges action on UN Resolution 1325 which when implemented fully, will assure equal citizenship for women everywhere.

Having elected the world's first female Prime Minister and her daughter as the first female President of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka has been in the headlines for producing women as leaders although not necessarily as effective or powerful politicians . The world has also seen its share of female leadership – from Liberia's Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to PM Julia Gillard of Australia, Roza Otunbayeva of Krygyzstan and Dilma Rousseff of Brazil. There's also news from newly liberated Egypt where women played a key role in Tahirir Square demonstrations, that a female candidate, Buthayna Kamel, will run for presidency.

Then there are key positions held by women for the first time ; Dr. Michelle Bachelet Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Condoleezza Rice who headed the post of Secretary of State in the US under the Bush Administration and now Hillary Clinton who holds the same post under President Obama.

These women and others have long assured the world that they can indeed rock the cradle and rule the world and of course, deliver results – be it in international policy, human rights, administration, diplomacy, academic, development, peace initiative or just about anything they are entrusted with.

Claiming rights

But are they true citizens of the world yet, never mind all the achievements? Despite a dedicated UN resolution, a well organized international women's rights lobby and powerful women such as Hilory Clinton holding office throughout the world, women continue to be ill treated and battered in the comfort of their own homes and in their own countries. Some will live their entire lives in denial. Most will not even acknowledge the fact and will never come forward to claim their rights. Thankfully, this is changing with the new generation of young girls who seem to be born with a consciousness of their rights. I am not surprised to find girls of today who can be aggressive and smart ; who will not merely take what life will throw in their direction but choose to stand up and make choices that empower their lives.

In the meantime, women will continue to ensure their rights as citizens are maintained, encouraging governments everywhere to act responsibly towards all its citizens, reminding those in power that equality and human dignity have no sex.