Glenda SimmsAt this important historical moment when the Government of Jamaica has no choice but to return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to meet some of its fiscal responsibilities, the women of our country need to be more actively involved in the determination of the conditionalities of the relationship between the fund and the Government.

Why? Because women and girls form the sector of society that has the potential to find an effective path out of this social, economic, political and human crisis that currently face developing nations.

An overview of the dominant gendered ideas that have emanated from the highest global levels is useful at this time.

For instance, after 20 years of the establishment of World Population Day, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, has declared that in order for nations to respond to the current economic crisis, governments must recognise that investing in women is a smart choice.

Within this theme, Obaid has stressed the need for decision makers to increase resources in order to invest in the health and reproductive rights of adolescent girls and women.

In support of this thrust, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, argues that: "The global financial crisis is forcing all of us to save and cut costs where we can. But our work for the women of the world must continue undiminished. When you empower a woman, you empower a family. When you empower a woman, you change the world."

Essentially, the dominant message from the United Nations is that despite the belt tightening, governments are obligated to invest, from whatever resources that are available, in the empowerment of women and girls. In the UNFPA World Population circular 2009, the following pointers are presented for consideration by the decision makers of the developing world:

Women and girls suffer disproportionately during times of economic crises.

The women of the world are more and more at risk of dealing with the impact of infant and maternal deaths, dropout from the educational system and increased violence against women and girls.

More families will be plunged into extreme poverty, and many women will lose their jobs.

There will be an increase in pregnancy-related deaths and long-term illnesses and disabilities related to such pregnancies.

Most important, the UNFPA's circular declares that the economic benefits which nations can experience, even in these hard times, are linked to the investment that are made in the health, education and employment opportunities of women and girls.

While the women of the world should be encouraged by the current emphasis on the need to put their equality rights at the centre of the development agenda, there is the reality that these ideas are not new.

Based on the findings of dozens of highly respected scholars across a wide spectrum of disciplines and geographical regions, the main findings of this study reinforce the following ideas:

There is no region of the developing world in which women are equal to men in legal, social and economic rights.

In order to address this issue, gender equality must be understood to be a core development issue.

The promotion of equality is an important part of a development strategy that seeks to enable women and men to escape poverty and to improve their standard of living.

Governments are, therefore, required to reform all their institutions in order to establish equal rights and opportunities for women and men.

In good times, as well as hard times, we must foster economic development to strengthen all available incentives for more equal participation in the access of resources (limited or unlimited).

Putting addition incomes in the hands of women within the household tend to have a larger positive impact than putting that income in the hands of men."

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Also, in 2004, the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) at the United Nations addressed the important role of women in all societies in building sustainable and disaster-resilient communities. The division stressed the need for equality and the empowerment of women in order for women to participate in making the critical decisions at the highest levels of leadership, management and decision making.

It can, therefore, be argued that in geographical regions such as the Caribbean, the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, in line with the Millennium Development Goal, is key to the management of societies that are at risk of natural disasters and environmental degradation.

According to the DAW's technical experts:

"Natural disasters - particularly erosion and other forms of soil degradation, pollution of wet lands, drought and desertification - impacts directly on women in their roles as providers of food, water and fuel."

It is against this background that this society needs to be reminded that the women of Jamaica make up approximately 51 per cent of the population. Women are the majority of the voters. Those of us who work pay taxes at the same rate as working men. We, in large numbers, endure the formal educational system and manage to get the credentials that purport to lead us to the good life.

In spite of all this, we remain marginalised in many areas of the society. We suffer extreme forms of violence (sexual, social, economic and emotional). We are forced to head up fatherless households.

We continue to be underrepresented at the highest levels of political decision making, and the hallowed halls of the corporate boardrooms still expect our roles to be that of sexual titillators of the boss and servers of refreshments.

Like the IMF, Jamaican women need to place new conditionalities on our Government and insist that gender equality and the empowerment of women must be at the forefront of development in good times and in bad times.

Hopefully, the IMF will articulate this point of view in the terms that it negotiates with the Government of Jamaica.

Glenda Simms is a gender consultant. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.