GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION GESI FOR HARMONY & PROSPERITY

-Meera Sherchan

August 2015

SEX AND GENDERSex Gender

Biological Determined

Socially Constructed

Innate Learnt

Unchangeable Changeable

Universal Differs within and between cultures

SOCIAL EXCLUSION (SE)

When:

1. Controversial formal laws/polices,

or Informal social practice, values and beliefs….

1. Assets, opportunities & beneficiaries

2. Public goods, services & rights

3. Political voice and influence

Prevent membe

rs of certain social groups from

getting equal access

to:

Underlying Socio-cultural Institutions, Values & Codes of Behavior

Civil Society, Private Sector

& Public SectorINSTITUTIONS

Weak In

fluence

Lots of assets& capabilities

Few assets orcapabilities

Assets&

Capabilities Inequitable distributional rules

Strong In

fluence

ELITES

MIDDLE

POOR & SOCIALLY EXCLUDED

INEQUALITY

EXTENT OF EXCLUSIONCaste/Ethnic Groups Poverty %

Hill Brahmin 10.34

Hill Chhetri 23.40

Tarai Brahmin 18.61

Tarai Middle Caste 28.69

Hill Dalit 43.63

Tarai Dalit 38.16

Newar 10.25

Hill Indigenous 28.25

Tarai Indigenous 25.93

Muslim 20.28

Others 12.34

Nepal 25.6 (national poverty line)Source: Poverty in Nepal 2010/11,CBS

CONTD.

Exclusion: threat to prosperity Country become poor, increased

unemployment, people suffersNEED: Gender equality and social

inclusion

GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION

An approach to mainstream WPEs GESI addresses unequal power relations

between women & men/ between different social groups

Focuses on need for rebalance these power relations

Ensure equal rights, opportunities and respect for all individuals

EXPLORING GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN NEPAL

Video Case discussion

KEY LEARNING POINTS Perceptions differ – reflection necessary by

all about inequality/discrimination Through socialization we learn how as

individuals, family, community, service providers, to include or exclude

Prescribed roles do not provide opportunity to learn new skills/men are not taught to manage households

Gender based discrimination exists in all social groups

These values, attitudes form an unconscious part of our perceptions, which in turn influence our behavior

SOCIAL INCLUSION (SI) Referred as social integration or social

cohesion Represent a vision of “society for all” and

“growth for all” Every one has rights/responsibilities &

active role to play Removal of institutional barrier& improving

access to opportunities/incentives for diverse groups of society

Not only allocating resources, quota, reservation but capacity building/access creating

INSTITUTIONS

Elites

Middle

POOR

Social InclusionSocial Inclusion::“Removal of institutional barriers and enhancement of incentives to increase access of diverse individuals and groups to development.”

Assets&

Capabilities More equitable

distribution rules

EQUALITY

CoalitionCoalition

for for Change Change

AREAS OF INCLUSION

Areas: Education Health Employmen

Tools: Affirmative action

Targeted program Reservation

EFFORTS TO PROMOTE GESI IN NEPAL

Separate article 20 in Interim Constitution 33% seats for women candidature Guarantying equal right to girls as son Removed discriminatory provisions for

women Established MWCSW/GRB Provision of separate competition for

women in Civil Service Act 2049 Made policies for asset building/Provision of

25% rebate in land purchase

CONTD. Social welfare programs Creation of NWC, NFDIN, NCDDC Introduced number of targeted

programs (Karnali employment/ youth self employment)

Strengthening local institutions for training & capacity building/vocational skills

IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES Implementation has not been always consistent,

sometimes ad hoc/not focus GON need to design, implement and monitor the

interventions in policies, institutions & program/projects accordingly

CONCLUSION GESI for equitable development

QUERIES

Thank you