INTERNATIONAL: Women's Economic Empowerment My 2012 Priority - UN's Bachelet

With democracy protests still sweeping the Arab world and the global financial crisis continuing to bite, the push for women's economic empowerment and political participation is paramount, the head of the U.N. women's agency Michelle Bachelet says.

Bachelet spoke at a conference in New York on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of U.N. Women which was launched last year to promote women's participation in all aspects of life and end violence against women.

“My top priority for 2012 will be to make a renewed push for women's economic empowerment and political participation,” Bachelet said in a statement.

Women in many countries have little - if any - access to credit to start-up their business and are discriminated, sexually harassed and victims of violence on a daily basis, she added.

Bachelet stressed that “without women, we cannot have a healthy economy” and said that economic empowerment “makes other rights possible for women”.

According to a campaign called The Third Billion, there are 1 billion women in the world who are not actively contributing to the global economy because they lack the education, training and opportunities to do so.

Unlocking the potential of 1 billion women could greatly enhance economic growth, experts have said.

To help women's inclusion in the economy and enhance their positions in business, Bachelet's agency has also reached out to the private sector.

She said 257 (company) CEOs had so far committed to the Women's Empowerment Principles to advance decent working conditions and equal opportunities for women.

“We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one-half of the population,” added Bachelet who used to be president of Chile.

POLITICAL INCLUSION

In many countries women are still left out of political decision-making.

U.N. Women is providing $4.8 million through the Gender Equality Fund to advance women's empowerment in the Arab world, Bachelet said.

In Egypt, only one woman was made minister in the interim administration - fewer than under Mubarak – despite women playing a big role during the uprising against the former leader.

Now women's rights groups in Egypt are battling to ensure that the country's new constitution entrenches gender equality.

Meanwhile, Libya will probably scrap a proposal for 10 percent of seats in a new national assembly to be set aside for women, a Western diplomat said in January.

“With rising demand for justice, upcoming elections in many countries and political transition, we can open doors wider for women in pursuit of the dignity and rights (to) which all human beings are entitled,” Bachelet added.