The theme for IWD 2017 is #BeBoldForChange – encouraging people to step up and take ground breaking action to help drive gender equality. It’s an active message that is likely to resonate with the millions of women, girls and men who have taken to the streets to march this year, in opposition to divisive politics.
The earliest Women’s Day observance was held on February 28, 1909, in New York and is now recognised on March 8, every year. The day is marked around the world with arts performances, talks, rallies, networking events, conferences and marches.
While things may be moving in the right direction, with ongoing protests of rape victims, women’s dressing sense is still the cause of concern for many. We still cannot say women and men are equal.
Women represent the majority in low-paid job, carers for example. They still earn less for doing the same work and struggle to access top positions. Some women are subject to violence and abuse or lack any form of education.
Against this backdrop, only 50 per cent of working age women are represented in the labour force globally, compared to 76 per cent of men. Figures show that globally, women’s education, health and violence towards women is still worse than that of men.
However, The United Nations observance on 8 March will call upon all actors to Step It Up for Gender Equality towards a Planet 50-50 by 2030 by ensuring that the world of work works for all women. “There is still Hope”.
