 |
Fighting Corruption is Fighting for Women’s Empowerment
Article Summary
Source:TI-Kenya
Date: 3/8/2007
FIGHTING CORRUPTION IS FIGHTING FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
Nairobi, March 8th,2007
Women comprise over 51.5 % of the Kenyan population. Corruption compounds the inequitable access of men and women to resources and positions of power; these corrupt systems typically reinforce gender discrimination and impede women’s opportunities in achieving social, economic and political empowerment.
o Despite a decade of anti-corruption campaigns to ensure equal access to resources and incomes, many Kenyans are currently surviving on less than $2 a day as a result of corruption in service delivery sectors, the majority being women.
o Gender-Sensitive Budget Analyses demonstrate that men profit much more from public expenditures than women. Corruption decreases national budget resources and reduces the amount of public spending on health and social security, which affects women disproportionately. If there is a cut in public spending, maternal and child health services are more likely to be the worst-hit victims.
o According to a recent survey by the Transparency International Secretariat, a global total of 115 million cannot access education as a result of corruption. Although gains have been made in access to primary education, illiteracy among females in Kenya is almost twice that of males (SID). Men also continue to substantially outnumber women in higher education. Literacy enhances access to basic needs as well as providing the opportunity to participate in income generating activities. Illiteracy compounds vulnerability to discrimination and exploitation, inhibits access to information and impedes rights awareness.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Transparency International-Kenya would therefore urge the government to:
Ensure the domestication, implementation and monitoring of international and regional obligations, especially the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), its Optional Protocol (OP) and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) as well as its additional protocol on women's rights as well as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
Increase women’s access to economic and social empowerment through the promotion of female higher education
Enable gender-oriented participatory budgetary planning and analysis together with the development of specific instruments to prevent corruption in budget planning and analysis and expenditure control.
Implement agreements reached at the Africa Union 2001, Leaders Summit, in Abuja, Nigeria, which approved the allocation of 15% of the total public expenditure to health in all countries.
Provide for stronger anti-corruption mainstreaming in education, health and other social sectors including transparent financial management and participatory management methods
Transparency International-Kenya Secretariat
For further information:
Tel: +254 20 2730324/5 or 2727763/5 +254 722 296389 (Safaricom) +254 733296389 (Celtel)
Fax: 254 20 2729530
Website: http://www.tikenya.org
|
|
|
|
| 
 |
