The Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) of University of Cape Coast in commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day has held a day’s forum on the theme, “Gender Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. The theme focuses on women in the context of climate change.
The forum congregated girls and women from about fifteen educational institutions, security agencies and other organizations within the Cape Coast Metropolis to deliberate on means of ensuring equitable access to opportunities by both men and women in all aspects of life.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, speaking at the event said the theme for the celebration creates the platform for expanded deliberation on achieving gender equality in the context of climate change and environmental and disaster risk reduction.
According to her, while environmental degradation has serious consequences for humans, its effect on women and girls, in particular, is dire. Again, she noted that per data from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 80% of displaced persons by tragic related incidents and changes around the world are women and girls.
“This is partially due to differences in the ownership of economic resources including labour and capital and also due to entrenched cultural norms and beliefs, social and political discriminations that work against women,” she explained.
Prof Boohene believes a sustainable and equal future remains beyond reach without gender equality today.
Keynoter at the forum, Dr. Michelle Naa Kordei Clottey, said ensuring gender equality is fundamentally hinged on addressing identified gender gaps such as traditional norms and cultures which exist globally.
“The gap basically has to do with how women are treated differently from men when it comes to the management of resources and even at the local level how men are treated when it comes to issues” she said.
She reiterated the need to get women involved in management or decision-making bodies. “Women are primary users of resources so why not seek their thoughts on how to manage it to benefit them?” she asked.
Director of CEGRAD-UCC, Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro, on her part charged participants of the forum to help promote a pollution free environment to guarantee its sustenance.
The forum was graced by some key personalities of the university including the immediate past Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh. There was also a panel discussion on the topic, “Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Management: the role of women and girls”.
The annual celebration of the International Women's Day held on March 8 is to appreciate the roles women and girls across the world play in the history of their respective countries and communities.