On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women. And by “women,” we mean all who identify with that term. Women bring creativity and critical services to all levels of society, from the home to the office, laboratory, and boardroom. Yet their achievements and contributions often go overlooked, unacknowledged, or even minimized. Today is a reminder to appreciate those who are typically forgotten or pushed to the side. Women’s Day celebrates women’s history, highlighting key events, milestones, and achievements, and aims to further promote and raise awareness of women’s rights and to achieve equal opportunity status in all walks of life. While we unite on International Women’s Day to celebrate, we also acknowledge that true gender equality does not yet exist anywhere in the world. One in three women will experience gender-based violence in their lifetimes. Women are still paid less than men for the same work, and they do 2.6 times more unpaid care and domestic work. In many countries, women do not have equal access to land, credit or economic and educational opportunities, so when disaster strikes, it’s usually women who often suffer the most.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Choose To Challenge, calls for women worldwide to challenge the status quo and stand up for an equitable world.
It was 100 years ago when Clara Zetkin established the International Women’s Day on March 8 (voted in 1910 by the women’s movement). During the 1975 International Year of Women, the U.N. celebrated the International Women’s Day (IWD), and in 1977 designated March 8th as the official Day for the Women’s Rights and International Peace. With nearly a year after Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated women’s safety and security, women from across the world share their thoughts on what IWD means for them, how they celebrate the day, and what they demand.
“On this centenary, we, women from different corners of the world, demand actions not symbolic proclamations from world leaders. We appeal to the UN Secretary General, OSCE Secretary General, NATO Secretary General, Council of Europe Secretary General and heads of multilateral organizations to address stakeholders and member states to, in the spirit of the Women Peace and Security Agenda/WPS, to:
- Recognize the women’s critical role in peace-building, for risking their lives across the world’s conflict zones, in promoting and defending world peace and upholding democratic rule of law, and justice for all.
- Release from prisons, women prisoners of war, human rights activists, and journalists whose only crime is upholding peace, justice for all, and democratic rule of law by holding governments accountable.
- Invest true efforts to enhance the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 to help secure women’s participation in all peace negotiations to ensure sustainable peace.
Perhaps only then, women of the world can truly begin to celebrate the International Women’s Day in its full meaning of empowerment,” the appeal, initiated by Gulnara Shahinian–Founder of Democracy Today NGO, Armenia – and Heidi Meinzolt–Board member for Europe, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Germany–has been signed by hundreds of women human rights defenders worldwide.
“For me, all days belong to women, as there are reasons for women to celebrate every single day of the year. I usually receive congratulatory messages from male friends sympathetic to my lifelong struggle for equality and justice. In the past on Marth 8th with my feminist colleagues and friends we intensified our activities: In 2000 we launched the first ever campaign against honor crimes–Kurdish Women’s Action Against Honor Killing. We organized conferences, cultural events with poetry, theatre, art exhibits, dancing, etc. In the Kurdish culture, March carries a strong symbolism, historically coinciding with popular uprising, the struggle for freedom, resisting state dictatorship and commemorating the Anfal genocide. In our calendar, March is the first month of the year–Khaka Lêwa means “the earth’s lips”–the lips open up with spring flowers and smile at us. For me, this symbolises women’s resistance against oppression, calling for equal rights, fair pay, better working conditions, voting and participation, and an end to violence. It’s followed by our New Year–Newroz–or “new day.” Let this be a new day for all humanity in these challenging times,” says exiled Kurdish poet and academic, Dr. Nazand Begikhani–Vincent Wright Chair & Visiting Professor, Sciences Po, in Paris, France.
“The International Women’s day celebrates women for our enormous and often unpaid contribution to building of a strong, vibrant, healthy and prosperous world as evident in our socio-cultural, political and economic contributions. In the healthcare and care sector, more women continue to be at the frontline, and bear the brunt of COVID-19 across the world. As a healthcare professional running a healthcare organization with 90% female workforce, it is important to affirm the dignity of their labor. On IWD we don’t just pay lip service; we ensure our actions tell our female workforce we appreciate their efforts in an economically tangible way. Every March, we review our remuneration package and support policies to reflect the ethos of gender parity and equity. There is no better way to tell a woman she’s valued than to ensure she gets equal pay for the service she provides like any other gender–and an equitable work environment that honors her unique contribution to humanity in choosing to birth and nurture the next generation,” says Opeoluwa Ashimi–Founder/CEO of M’Care, Nigeria.
It’s no secret that women’s rights have evolved greatly. However, things could still be a lot better! People such as Malala Yousafzai, a young activist for female education in Pakistan. Her story, I am Malala, describes her fight for education as a woman in Pakistan, and the dramatic consequences of her activism. Targeted by a Taliban’s assassination, Malala was shot in 2012. She was transported to different hospitals before being rushed to the UK, where she was treated and survived her injuries. Her autobiography is an eye-opening shockwave that will make you aware of the struggles that many women continue to face. Nowadays, Malala is a student at the world famous University of Oxford in the UK! Broadening your horizon on Women’s Day to understand the differences between countries and how women are treated in the world can offer a new appreciation for women. Let Malala’s story inspire you to attend events or support more initiatives to help women.
If you’d like to do something more, though, there is a virtually endless amount of things you can do to help improve women’s lives the world. You can attend one of the 1000+ events organized globally where you can learn about what women’s lives are like in different countries and make a donation to the event you attend.
By AlizeLaVie 03/08/2021
