International women’s 2022 day is celebrating under the theme of Break the bias and it’s about working towards a world free of stereotypes and discrimination that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The day aims to recognize women’s achievements globally regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, language, culture, economic status, or political differences.
International Women’s Day – is about the empowerment of women, where we can feel confident, strong, and independent without having to worry about the stereotypes that hold us back. It’s a chance to look at the bias that still exists in society against women and an opportunity to fight it. It provides equal access for all women to fulfill their potential, achieve their goals and shape the direction of their future. Women make up close to half of the world’s population so if we are to have a healthy planet, then we need to ensure women succeed in leadership positions at every level of government around the globe.
Women around the world are fighting the battle for equality for centuries. The right to gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary component of achieving peace, prosperity, and sustainability in our world. Supporting women’s equality comes down to supporting the basic idea that women should have equal rights; equal treatment; and equal opportunity. In order to achieve gender equality, women and men must work together. Ultimately, it has to start with each of us on a very personal, individual level. It is everyone’s responsibility to support those who are facing discrimination and let them enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society. The goal of gender equality is to guarantee that women and men participate equally in all sectors of society, including economics, and are valued and favored for their unique characteristics, behaviors, aspirations, and needs. When we build societies where women are valued and supported, every member of society benefits.
This year United Nations theme for International women’s day is ‘Gender equality today, for a sustainable tomorrow. United Nations set Gender equality and the empowerment of women as one of the global goals for a sustainable world by 2030. It is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century to advance gender equality amid the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction. Increasingly, women are viewed as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they are a majority in the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources most at risk from climate change. At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers when it comes to climate action and adaptation. These women are involved in sustainability initiatives across the globe, and their participation and leadership make climate action more effective.
Violence against women constitutes a global crisis, the painful fact is that it still exists at a high rate. Women and girls are living in danger in all of our neighborhoods due to violence against them. Although women’s rights have improved over the past few decades, many challenges remain: Across the globe, one in five women between the ages of 15 and 49 report that they have suffered physical or sexual violence. There is 2.6 times more unpaid care and domestic work done by women than by men, and women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions across all sectors. Even though women were more likely to lose their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were less likely to receive cash relief or social security benefits. At the same time, evidence indicates that women and girls can play an important role in society as change-makers. Women’s participation strengthens peace agreements, makes societies more resilient, and makes economies more prosperous. The well-being of women contributes to the well-being of humanity.
When women thrive, their communities and economies thrive. They motivate people to rally for change, to challenge cultural norms that limit them, and to fight for greater economic opportunity for all. Women’s empowerment is imperative to building a world that can work for everyone. It’s a world where diversity is valued and celebrated. So let’s be conscious of our actions and if you can, appreciate the people around you. The future is equal. There are no limitations to what we can achieve together. Act for young generations that will no longer fight for equity. Let’s inspire and empower the next generation. Let’s celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life who are breaking barriers to build a better world for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Embrace Diversity and Break Bias!
