
Sponsored Contents | Oct 25,2021
Oct 30 , 2022
By Million F. Wondmagegnehu
Women constitute half of society. They are conversation points in daily discussions and research concepts. Their contributions to and responsibilities for society remain unrecognised, for they are seen in a family setting. Their roles have been limited to household chores and raising children.
Promoting women's equal participation in society has received global support through international and regional conventions.
However, women's contributions to economic development and political stability are enormous. Their empowerment for gender equality can realise economic growth as they contribute more than 35pc to the global GDP.
Casual observations of their hustles and bustles in Addis Abeba show that engaging unemployed women in small-scale businesses create job opportunities for many.
There should be a focused policy approach, such as affirmative action, to unleash their potential and contribute to society.
However, affirmative actions have no clear and universally accepted definition. Many have attempted to define them to fit their narrative. But the phrase refers to acts that try to bring members of under-represented groups, usually those that have suffered discrimination, into a higher degree of participation. It is defined as policies or programs designed to eradicate discrimination and encourage under-represented groups to reach and unleash their potential.
The motivation or purpose behind affirmative action is to redress the adverse effects of the actual or perceived discrimination that is regarded as unfair.
The prominent researcher in the field, Marc Bossyut, defined affirmative action as a coherent packet of measures of a temporary character explicitly aimed at correcting the position of members of a target group in one or more aspects of social life to obtain effective equality. A UN document released this year unveils that measures in affirmative action are expected to address barriers that have limited opportunities for women, improve their access to education and participation in the labour force, and enhance their political leadership.
The absence of clarity on how to enforce affirmative action is one of the challenges seen in women's affirmative action. It leaves room for institutions to interpret the notion in their ways for employment and promotion.
Affirmative actions are not new for Ethiopia, as it accounts for more than three decades since its advent. Nevertheless, it has existed with many underlying barriers that led to its inconsistent enforcement.
Ethiopia's constitution decrees that women are entitled to affirmative measures, considering the historical legacy of inequality and discrimination. The authors of the Constitutions envisioned a political community where Ethiopian women would be enabled to participate in the country's political, social and economic life based on equal opportunities. Ethiopia's laws, however, lack coherence; affirmative action is not consistently implemented. Persisting stereotypes for generations also fuels the gap in women's affirmative action affecting their empowerment.
The gaps in enforcement have led to women's affirmative action not being fully used. Preparing a comprehensive framework for policy and monitoring is essential.
PUBLISHED ON
Oct 30,2022 [ VOL
23 , NO
1174]
Sponsored Contents | Oct 25,2021
Radar | May 03,2025
Obituary | Apr 27,2025
Commentaries | Nov 16,2024
Commentaries | Mar 05,2022
Editorial | Aug 01,2020
Radar | Apr 13,2025
Life Matters | Dec 17,2022
News Analysis | Jun 01,2024
View From Arada | Feb 15,2020
Photo Gallery | 149247 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 139536 Views | Apr 26,2019
My Opinion | 134656 Views | Aug 14,2021
My Opinion | 131226 Views | Aug 21,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Sep 6 , 2025
The dawn of a new year is more than a simple turning of the calendar. It is a moment...
Aug 30 , 2025
For Germans, Otto von Bismarck is first remembered as the architect of a unified nati...
Aug 23 , 2025
Banks have a new obsession. After decades chasing deposits and, more recently, digita...
Aug 16 , 2025
A decade ago, a case in the United States (US) jolted Wall Street. An ambulance opera...
Sep 7 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
Brook Taye (PhD), the chief executive of the Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is...
Sep 7 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
For decades, Shemiz Tera in the Addis Ketema District of Atena tera has been a thrivi...
Sep 7 , 2025 . By NAHOM AYELE
A dream of affordable homeownership has dissolved into a courtroom showdown for hundr...
Sep 7 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW
The federal tax officials' abrupt tax reform, which suspends the long-standing Turnov...