International Women's Day 2010

Today, March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day that was established to commemorate the struggle women and girls across the globe have endured in order to obtain their ‘full’ human rights. Sadly while many sit here reading this, enjoying our ‘full’ rights, millions of women and young girls worldwide are continue to be denied their rights to equal and fair access to education and healthcare. Millions of women and girls every day are faced with Gender Inequality and many are faced with gender-based violence such as; Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)/Female Circumcision, Child Marriage, Child Trafficking, and other gender and sexually-based human rights abuses.

As we celebrate and bring awareness to women across the globe, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is in session (1-12 March) in New York, for the Commission on the Status of Women, 54th session (“Beijing + 15”) (UN Headquarters, 1 – 12 March 2010). Government delegations, UN agencies and NGOs have converged to review what progress has been made on women’s and girls’ rights since 1995, when the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted (see more here).  The Commission will review the progress on the 12 action points previously set-forth and evaluate how women have been affected by the financial, food, and environmental crisis’. Updates and news on the sessions can be found at Terraviva Beijing +15.

This years theme for International Women’s Day, set-forth by the UN is; Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon said in his general message;

“…equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals — peace, security, sustainable development — stand in jeopardy.”

While many women and girls still struggle, others have set forth to be industry and world leaders, and it is these female leaders that will pave the way forward for the those who still struggle to achieve their ‘full’ and equal rights. The role of women and girls in all aspects of society is vital to a sustainable and peaceful global community. Celebrate women and girls, empower them and they will lead us towards a better tomorrow!

To see events around the globe celebrating International Women’s Day click here.