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Local community women from Espinar, Peru, hold up their list of complaints about the Tintaya mine pit behind them. They all once lived where the pit is now located. Photo: Ingrid Macdonald/OxfamAUS
The right to be heard
Women's voices are less likely to be heard in a world of social, economic, political and cultural discrimination. Worldwide, women are still largely absent from the decision-making positions and power structures that shape societies, including development programs.
Oxfam Australia seeks to encourage women to organise and fully participate in all levels of decision making. We actively seek out organisations that support women's efforts to gain their legal and political rights, enhance their status, and increase their control over resources. We also work to ensure existing gender imbalances are addressed in the selection of our organisational and field staff, and provide training for our staff in the practical skills of gender analysis.
In doing development work, sensitivity to gender issues must be carefully balanced with sensitivity to cultural issues. This is best done by empowering women in specific communities to make and articulate their own needs and goals. In Gujarat, India, for example, where around 94 per cent of India's female labour force work without employment protection or benefits, we support the creation of women's grassroots co-operatives agitating for workers' rights.