TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. IT IS WRITTEN BY HEAD OF EDITORIAL UNIT, YETUNDE OKE
International women’s day is celebrated every 8th of March.
It has been observed as a special day for women globally for more than a century.
It is a day people around the world join voices to celebrate women in all diversities, facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender sexual identity, or disability.
A time to celebrate the achievements of women whether socially, politically, economically and culturally.
The history of international women’s day dated back to 1908.
15,000 women took to the streets in New York, United States to protest for shorter hours, better pay and voting rights against a backdrop of terrible working conditions and exploitation.
The first international women’s day was held in 1911, and more than one million people held rallies in europe.
It was not until 1975, that the United Nations adopted 8th march of every year as international women’s day.
This year’s international women’s day theme ‘invest in women: accelerate progress”, enjoins people to take a stand with women by using the hashtag #investinwomen.
Back in 1911, only eight countries allowed women to vote, equal pay for equal work was unheard of if women were allowed to work at all, and reproductive rights were non-existent.
More than 100 years ago, the first march was about ending harmful workplace conditions, equal rights, equal pay, and an end to exploitation.
Sadly, those aims are still relevant today.
Furthermore, men are not left out in this race as international women’s day is a time for everyone, to celebrate the progress that women have made towards equality and remember how much further there is to go.
Men using their privileges to support gender equality, is a welcome amplification of women’s voices.
Fighting for women’s rights is not about improving the lives of women only, it is about dismantling all damaging gender stereotypes and roles.
Achieving gender equality should be as important for men as it is for women.
In celebrating this year’s international women’s day, some key areas have been highlighted as aspects needing joint action in uplifting women.
They include, investing in women which is a human rights and cornerstone for building inclusive societies, as it is true that progress for women benefits all.
Secondly, the covid 19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, climate disasters, and economic turmoil have pushed an extra 75 million people into severe poverty, since 2020.
And this could lead to more than 342 million women and girls living below the poverty line by 2030 if poverty is not ended.
To this end, there is the need to provide more support to women advocates in their efforts to tackle women’s poverty and inequality, because according to the chairperson of the bill Melinda gates foundation, Melinda French gates, “a woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman”.
