International Women's Day was celebrated in fairly low-key style in this country yesterday as befits a State that has failed to live up to its promises, but also because of the foot-and-mouth scare. Ten years ago, the government set a 40 per cent membership target for the appointment of women to State boards but, as of last summer, the percentage of positions held by women averaged 27 per cent. And the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy added insult to injury this week when he ignored gender balance provisions and appointed only one woman out of seven to the National Pension Reserve Fund Commission.
Gender balance on State boards would not rate as a top priority with many women who regard other forms of discrimination - particularly in relation to pay and benefits - as more important. But, as an indicator of official concern and of an intent to break old moulds at the highest levels, it is significant.
The worst offenders, when it came to appointing women to State boards, were the Departments of Defence and Finance, followed by the Department of Justice, which has responsibility for equality matters. The best performer - and the only one to exceed the 40 per cent quota - was the Department of Foreign Affairs. Because of this poor record, the Equality Authority has suggested the Government should establish a database of qualified, suitable women, along with deadlines for when quota targets would be met.
The origins of International Women's Day goes back to a protest march by women against the pay and conditions obtaining in sweat shops in New York at the turn of the century. Since then, considerable advances have been made in the developed world. The latest official figures in this State show that the gap between wage levels for men and women narrowed from 20 per cent to 15 per cent during the past ten years. However, women in the manufacturing sector still receive only three-quarters of male earnings. And a large proportion of women tend to be employed in low skilled, low-paid jobs.
Advances are being made, even if they are uneven. Recent legislation introduced by the Government outlawed discrimination against women in the workplace and in society generally. In his last Budget, Mr McCreevy extended paid maternity leave to 18 weeks, with a further extension of non-paid leave to eight weeks. And, last December, an Equality Officer ruled that schoolgirls and women in the workplace can no longer be compelled to wear skirts.
But while incremental change is taking place in this State, the treatment of women in the wider world is appalling. An estimated four million women and girls are bought and sold into marriage, prostitution or slavery each year, according to the United Nations. About 5,000 women are murdered by members of their own families each year in so-called "honour" killings, inflicted as "retribution" for having been raped, for marrying outside the tribe or for failing to obey male authority.
Gender equality is not about eliminating differences between men and women. It is about eliminating inequality and, as such, it should be pursued vigorously by the Government.