March 8, 2022

International Women's Day

illustration of women hugging surround the globe
International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900's as a day to celebrate the achievements of women, and take steps to increase gender equality. It's all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action - globally and locally.

No one government or group is responsible for International Women's Day, so several themes emerge each year.

The United Nations theme is:
Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.
"Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. Women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.

At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action.

Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach."


The International Women's Day web page 2022 theme is:
#BreakTheBias
Imagine a gender equal world. 
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. 
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women's equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Agenda Today:
1. Read the UN Secretary General's Message
2. Read this post- Twelve small actions with big impact for Gender Equality

1. Read the UN Secretary General's Message:

"On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls everywhere.

We celebrate their contributions to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their ideas, innovations and activism that are changing our world for the better.

And their leadership across all walks of life.

But we also recognize that in too many areas, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards.

The pandemic has kept girls and women out of schools and workplaces.

They face rising poverty and rising violence.

They do the vast majority of the world’s unpaid but essential care work.

They’re targets of violence and abuse, just because of their gender.

In all countries, women are scandalously under-represented in the halls of power and the boardrooms of business.

And as this year’s theme reminds us, they bear the brunt of climate change and environmental degradation.

Starting now, on International Women’s Day, it’s time to turn the clock forward for every woman and girl.

Through guaranteeing quality education for every girl, so they can build the lives they want and help make the world a better place for us all.

Through massive investments in women’s training and decent work.

Through effective action to end gender-based violence.

Through bold action to protect our planet.

Through universal care that is fully integrated into social protection systems. 

And through targeted measures like gender quotas so we can all benefit from women’s ideas, experience and leadership everywhere decisions are made.

Gender inequality is essentially a question of power, in a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture. Power relations must be reversed.

At the United Nations, we’ve achieved gender parity in senior management at headquarters and around the world — improving our work and better representing the communities we serve.

We need more women environment ministers, business leaders and presidents and prime ministers. They can push countries to address the climate crisis, develop green jobs and build a more just and sustainable world.

We cannot emerge from the pandemic with the clock spinning backwards on gender equality.

We need to turn the clock forward on women’s rights.

The time is now."

António Guterres

1. Share the domestic work and care

2. Call out sexism and harassment

3. Reject binary language

4. Demand an equal work culture

5. Exercise your political rights

6. Shop responsibly

7. Amplify feminist books, movies and more 

8. Teach girls their worth

9. Challenge what it means to “be a man”

10. Commit to a cause

11. Challenge beauty standards

12.  Respect the choices of others

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