World needs a movement to fight for gender equality, says Maneka Gandhi

New Delhi: Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has called for making gender equality an international mass movement, saying it should go beyond being a mere slogan. The Women and Child Development Minister said this while addressing the Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing+20 Review, organised by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held at Bangkok from November 19-20. [caption id=“attachment_1813579” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Maneka Gandhi. AFP[/caption] “The world needs a movement spanning across centuries to fight for parity, therefore, the issue of gender equality must become something more than a slogan,” Gandhi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the WCD Ministry today. The Minister said women have achieved a lot in the last few decades in various fields such as politics, business, sports, leading political and social revolutions, despite the odds and with utmost efficiency and sensitivity. “If the ability to multi-task and bear suffering is a qualification, then we are the stronger sex,” she said. Gandhi said Indian women may have faced poverty and illiteracy but are marching ahead rapidly to become equal contributors in the economic and social development of the nation and the world. The Minister said she is a representative of women who may have suffered gender inequality for centuries but are committed to claim their place in the society. She also spelt out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the field of skill development which will ensure that the skills for women go beyond the stereotypes. The WCD Minister stressed on the need for increasing the presence of women in police force which can become a strong instrument for curbing gender-based violence. The conference is a prelude to the 20 year review of the achievements of Platform for Action established in 1995 at Beijing. PTI