International Women’s Day, March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
This year’s theme is Rights. Justice. Action.
“We have never been so close to achieving gender equality, and never closer to losing it,” said Sima Bahous, United Nations women executive director,” said in a statement.
There are stronger laws on domestic violence, more girls are in school, and women’s movements are more connected, visible, and crucial, Bahous said.
However, violence is rising, including online, backlash is organized and well funded, rights are being reversed in real time and at unprecedented speed, and impunity is spreading in homes, online, and in conflicts, she said.
“We must stand up, show up, and speak up, for rights, justice, action, so all women and girls can live safely, speak freely, and exist equally,” Bahous said.
She urges all women and girls to act:
- Break the silence.
- Demand rights and justice.
- Defend the rule of law.
- Fund women’s rights movements.
- End impunity.
- Deliver equality, in laws, in life, everywhere.
International Women’s Day has occurred for more than a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by more than a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Prior to this the Socialist Party of America, United Kingdom’s suffragettes, America’s suffragists, and other groups campaigned for women’s equality.
Happy International Women’s Day.
