Dialogue addresses gender inequalities

(October 06, 2011) A women’s group has highlighted the ongoing struggle for gender equality in South Asia during a forum held in Sri Lanka over the weekend. Manel Chandrasekara, a researcher and trainer at the Women’s Bureau of Sri Lanka, said gender inequality is characterized largely by social barriers and concepts of impurity. “In most South Asian countries, the birth of a girl gives deep pain to parents, even tempting some to attempt to kill unborn female children,” she told the forum, which was held from September 29 to October 3 at the Community Training Centre in Thalahena Malabe, Sri Lanka. “Women need to be empowered at all levels. They need knowledge and awareness so that they can express their voices,” she said. The program was organized by the Sri Lankan Women’s Commission and the International Movement of Catholic Agriculture and Rural Youth, with assistance from the National Catholic Youth Federation. Delegates from India and Sri Lanka participated in the event. Anchu Joseph, a lay person from the Archdiocese of Changanacherry in India who attended the event, said women face many challenges there. Sometimes we don’t have freedom. We have restrictions on almost everything.” She said the issue of dowries has become a major issue in India, while infanticide for female children remains a threat. “In rural areas, lack of education and economic resources, poverty and inadequate healthcare facilities lead to the killing of infant girls,” said Sirisha Dasari, a lay woman from the Diocese of Guntur in India.