Tehran, Jan 1, IRNA - Officials have failed to identify the problems facing women, said the advisor to the interior minister for womens affairs.Speaking in the meeting of deputy ministers for womens affairs held in the presence of Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi, Fahimeh Farahmandpour added that women have to fulfill the role of mother and wife in addition to their other responsibilities, according to Thursday's edition of 'Iran Daily'.
She said women expect state managers to remove gender discrimination and attach special attention to issues related to women.
Unfortunately, planners have yet to recognize that there is a distinction between the leisure time and sports activities of men and women, she said.
She said Molaverdi is the only person who insists on implementing the law on extending maternity leave in meetings attended by male officials who lack understanding about gender discrimination.
Farahmandpour said some believe the implementation of the law will impose a heavy burden on the government.
How many working women are of childbearing age who have hindered the execution of the law? she asked.
Women officials should have a wider presence in such meetings to help men become acquainted with problems facing women, she said.
Soheila Jelodarzadeh, deputy industries minister for womens affairs, said there are huge expectations from the Presidential Offices Department for Women and Family Affairs, which has a limited budget.
Jelodarzadeh also said women contribute to 30 percent of the national economy while they are facing numerous problems related to employment.
The official added that unfortunately the failure to implement related plans has caused the number of women breadwinners to increase from 1.5 million to 2 million.
Referring to the sixth development plan (2015-2020) which is presently being compiled, Jelodarzadeh urged all organizations to present proposals to the government for cooperation over womens issues.
Speaking in the same meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister for Womens Affairs Mansoureh Sharifi-Sadr said a large number of experienced and elite women are working in the Foreign Ministry, hoping that they will be provided with opportunities to showcase their capabilities in international arenas.
The official said based on Article 230 of the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-15), 1,000 female managers should undergo international training while the number of Iranian women working in management positions in Iran is lower than the figure.
Sharifi-Sadr proposed that a committee, consisting of vice president for womens and family affairs, deputy president for strategic supervision and female representatives of ministries and organizations, should be established to prepare the package of policies related to women.
Minou Aslani, the head of Womens Basij Society, said the sixth plan is a golden opportunity for officials to reinforce the institution of family.
She noted that Iran improved the status of women.
The issue of womens employment has not been recognized well because a number of Iranian women are working in unsuitable jobs, he said.
Aslani proposed that 14 workgroups should be formed on 14 issues envisaged by Article 230 of the Fifth Plan, noting that the results of their discussions can be used for devising the sixth plan.
By IRNA
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