Women’s Rights – Have We Made Enough Progress?

Women rights are fundamental human rights that are essential for everyone to have a full and productive life. They include the right to be free from violence, the right to have equal opportunities and the right to own property. They also involve protecting and empowering women through access to education, health care, employment and economic empowerment. These rights have been the focus of worldwide movements for over a century. But many people still believe that women haven’t made enough progress.

When asked in 2017 whether their country had gone far enough to give women equal rights with men, a majority of Americans said it had not. But when asked the same question this year, just under half say they’re satisfied with the status quo and 29% say things have gotten better.

The world has come a long way since the Seneca Falls Convention in 1850, when women first demanded the right to vote, to work outside the home, and to participate in society. In many countries, women can now run for office, hold leadership positions and even earn as much as men. However, global gender equality remains a long-term goal. The world is still grappling with inequality in pay, racial disparities and violence against women.

Throughout history, most if not all women’s rights movements have been highly controversial when they were first voiced. Allowing women to study at university? That would “shrink their reproductive organs.” Employing women in jobs for pay outside the home? That could ruin families. Voting in national elections? That could destroy the traditional role of a wife and mother. The idea that a woman should be protected by the law against domestic and sexual violence? That was considered radical and ludicrous.

But advancing women’s rights is good for the economy and can lead to more peace and stability in societies. According to the World Bank, closing the gender gap in legal rights would boost global GDP by 20%. It’s important to remember that inequality kills. And if we don’t get equal rights for all, it isn’t just the poor who suffer. It’s the whole community.

Amnesty International’s campaign to achieve universal women’s rights involves promoting legislation that guarantees women the same rights as men. This includes laws that prevent discrimination, grant women the same level of health care and ensures that a woman’s rights are respected during conflict and after it ends. It also includes a recognition that a woman’s most basic human right is the freedom to decide what to do with her body. This includes the decision whether or not to marry, have children and take up careers. It also entails making sure that a woman has equal access to resources like land, natural resources and technology. It also means providing legal protection against violence, including sexual harassment and rape. It is important to note that these rights are inseparable from other human rights, such as the right to life and security.