By Karen Pretorius
UNITED Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan has appealed to the world to empower women and girls through a commitment to gender equality. Annan made the appeal as World Population Day is being celebrated around the globe today under the theme: 'Equality'.
"This World Population Day is an occasion to stress the empowering effect of gender and the fact that respect for this human right benefits everyone - men, women, boys and girls alike," he said.
In a statement posted on the website of the United Nations Population Fund, Annan described equality between men and women as a guiding principle of the UN.
He noted that more girls than boys were not attending school, and the effect of poverty and gender discrimination on the rising HIV infection rate among women and adolescent girls.
"Let us remember that every society that wishes to overcome hunger, armed conflict and disease must draw fully on the talents and contribution of all its members," he said.
Building on the theme of equality, the Western Cape Population Unit said where girls had equal access to education, societies became more prosperous. "When both men and women are able to participate equally and exercise their full human rights, the world benefits," it says.
According to the Western Cape Population Profile, more males are employed as professionals than females. In the province, 30.17 percent of women are not economically active, compared to men at 21.38 percent.
In terms of earnings, the Profile reveals disparities between women and men, with the latter more likely to be found in the top earning category.
Source: BuaNews
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