Can Women Decide?

“When 1975 was proclaimed International Women’s Year by the United Nations, its goals and objectives were considered by many as being somehow removed and separate from the “real” issues of the day – the rapid rate of population growth for example, or the world food crisis. Ironically, one of the real challenges of the creation of this “separate” Women’s Year was to break down precisely this kind of separatist thinking by demonstrating the indivisibility of these world problems and to under-developed state of women throughout the globe. Too often the need to eliminate discrimination against women has been dealt with as an isolated issue, seen only from a “human rights” perspective. The way in which women’s lack of rights contribute to other human problems such as illiteracy, malnutrition, maternal and child morbidity, unemployment and mass poverty, has rarely been understood. Too often, discrimination is seen as an end in itself, something that can be legislated away. The psychological and cultural origins of discrimination have been insufficiently understood. As a consequence, many men and women remain ignorant of its extent and indifferent to its practice. What is the decision-making capacity of women in respect to population policy of their country? There is no doubt that millions of women can indeed feel free to make decision on the number and spacing of their children. The status of women in the world is still generally inferior to men’s in the educational, economic, legal, social and political areas. Often these women are socially and legally totally dependent on their husbands or other members of the family. They are expected to produce a large number of children – especially sons – for economic and social security. In view of these facts, I deeply believe that everything that can be done to improve the status of women and their capacity for free and responsible decision-making will have a decisive impact on population questions, not only quantitatively but qualitatively”. Helvi Sipila made the statement thirty-four years ago after being appointed as the Secretary-General of the International Women’s Year Conference, held in Mexico City in 1975. Her effective leadership had resulted in the first ever General Assembly adoption of the World Plan of Action on Women. I repeat the content of what she had said, which still is applicable to the situation of women today, to pay a tribute to her major multidimensional contribution to ensure that actual and potential of women’s capability are not overlooked in political, social and economic development. Helvi Sipila passed away a week ago on 15 May 2009 at the age of 94 in her home country, Finland. I had the privilege of working with her in the 70’s in the preparation of the first World Conference on Women, and the following UN Decade for Women (1976-1986). Her life is an inspiration to us all. I could not agree more with Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General in paying his tribute to Helvi Sipila that she had left a legacy which serves as a reminder that no effort should be spared to ensure the equal participation of women in decision-making in all areas of life.