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Parliament has called for the elimination of barriers that hinder the socio-economic advancement of women.

     It insisted that women should, as a matter of right, have access to opportunities for development.

       The House agreed that when women were empowered to participate effectively in all sectors of economic life, the country would advance economically and the quality of the life of women and their families would improve enormously.

       The lawmakers made the call on Tuesday when contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, Member of Parliament for Savelugu and Leader of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament, to mark the United Nations’ International Women’s Day that fell on March 8.

      The annual event, since 1977, is to acknowledge the contributions of women to national development and to canvass for equal opportunities for them.

      The theme for this year’s UN International Women’s Day is: "Make it Happen” but Ghana had adopted the theme: “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!" for its celebration.

      Hajia Boforo, who is also the First Deputy Majority Whip, said women needed to be given the resources and skills to be self- sufficient to attain their God-given potentials.

      She said when women were empowered; they contributed to the health and productivity of their families and communities which led to improvement in the prospects for the next generation.

      "By giving young girls quality education, they are empowered to play their full role in society and build stronger families, communities and democracies.

       Hajia Boforo contended that the equal participation of women and men in national decision-making provided a balance of power that was needed to ensure democracy.

      She said by supporting women's equal representation in leadership positions in communities, politics, business and religious institutions, “we will build a more just, peaceful and secure world,” adding, “progress in this area has been steady, but very slow."

      Hajia Boforo bemoaned the increasing cases of rape, child marriages, defilement and other forms of violence against women, urging that the law should be followed to the letter in cases of violence perpetuated on women.

      "We must do all we can to obtain justice for the victims and perpetrators must be punished severely to deter others," she said.

      Ms Freda Prempeh, the MP for Tano North, said the 2014 UN Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) revealed that while girls’ access to basic and secondary education had seen significant improvements, their access to tertiary education was negligible.

     She noted that huge gaps existed with male to female enrollment ratios at the tertiary level in 2012/ 2013.
    
      "The structure of our educational system is such that essential skills acquisition is fashioned more within the curricula of tertiary education.  So, therefore, if as a nation more of our girls are left out in access to tertiary education then we are short-changing this country of the vital human resources needed for development.
       “It also means that it would take a very long time for us to have a woman occupy decision making bodies in this country, " she said.

      Mrs Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, MP for Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa, noted that women went through many frustrations when they availed themselves for higher positions.

     She lamented the maltreatment and abuse of women in the home by their male counterparts and rape and defilement of young girls by unscrupulous men and called for the strict enforcement of laws protecting women.
 
      "When this is achieved, the irresponsible men will zip up their trousers," she said.