International Women’s Day 2011 Theme - “Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. This year’s observance of International Women’s Day focuses on equal access to education, training and science and technology. Cell phones and the Internet, for example, can enable women to improve the health and well-being of their families, take advantage of income-earning opportunities, and protect themselves from exploitation and vulnerability. Access to such tools, backed up by education and training, can help women to break the cycle of poverty, combat injustice and exercise their rights.
That is why Advocacy for Maternal and Infant Health in Nigeria supports ‘moms + connect’. A quick access to health project idea submitted on change maker’s collaborative competition website sometimes last year.
Women and mothers all over Africa especially Nigeria can start enjoying their full human rights and fundamental freedoms if they can have control and determine exactly what they want concerning their health. Having access to quick medical service on time when needed will ensure an increase in the confidence level of women all over the world. It will require their full active participation, but it will be the start of equality and development of women all over Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
For the women of the world, the Day's symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.
Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth.
Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination, and are under-represented in decision-making processes. High rates of maternal mortality continue to be a cause for global shame.
UN Women — which started operations on January 2011 — has been created by the General Assembly to address such challenges. It will be a dynamic and strong champion for women and girls, providing them with a powerful voice at the global, regional and local levels. It will enhance, not replace, efforts by other parts of the UN system (such as UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA) that continue to have responsibility to work for gender equality and women’s empowerment in their areas of expertise.
UN Women will have two key roles: It will support inter-governmental bodies such as the Commission on the Status of Women in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms, and it will help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, as well as forging effective partnerships with civil society. It will also help the UN system to be accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress.
While UN is doing its best to secure equality for women all over the world, Nigeria can help the speed up of this by ensuring women in Nigeria are empowered, enough of speeches and promises.
When the government is working, the illiterates and women in rural areas will know without being told. They will see the effects because the ripples will spread. Its high time Nigeria takes her rightful place in Africa as the giant. Our women need to be empowered.
I will end this post by quoting a passionate young lady’s wish list for International Women’s day.
I wish that more women will remember today that motherhood is an honorable undertaking. To give birth to, nurture and raise a child is praiseworthy and whether or not you are receiving the credit and support you deserve, be happy in the knowledge that you are irreplaceable.
I wish that more women will refuse to accept discrimination as normal. The biggest hurdle to our cause comes when insults on our dignity grow so mechanical through centuries of use that the victims accept it unconsciously. It appears natural; an inevitable way of life. Refuse to be paid less than your input; refuse to be denied any of your rights; refuse to be defined by other people; refuse to be a willing victim of any sexist system.
I wish that more women will defeat the curse of low expectations: the damaging but deeply entrenched and widespread belief that it is alright to be disrespected here and there. Beware of participating in your own domination and humiliation; beware of any instrument that undermines your worth even if it comes decorated as culture – case in point, polygamy! Why should having multiple sex partners, which is normally called infidelity, is accepted without question? It may be culture but if it places your health at unnecessary risk and undermines your dignity, then you have a right – a responsibility even – to question it.
Every culture was created by people who knew whose interests it was going to serve and I believe women are not who they had in mind when they created polygamy. Learn to expect from others what you give to them; if one man is enough for you, then one woman is definitely enough for him. Whoever teaches you to respect your partner should not neglect to teach you to expect respect in return.
I wish more women will remember today that being adequate, strong, smart, beautiful, and independent does not put you at risk of being alone for the rest of your life. It may intimidate some men but that is no reason to tone down your real abilities; do not blame yourself for any man’s insecurity and by all means do not apologize for being phenomenal. There are millions of men out there who will love you exactly the way you are – brains, big job, confidence, beauty, bling and all. Empowered women are the future.
I wish that ALL women will attain economic freedom and be able to have a say in their lives and homes without being reminded by Mr. Pathetic that he has worked for everything they are now enjoying. And I wish that ALL men will respect all women no matter how financially dependent they are on them and realise that money does not make any person better than the other; integrity is what makes one better than the other.
By Lwanga Mwilu on : http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/03/08/a-wish-list-for-international-womens-day/
To read about milestones of International Women’s Day, visit:
http://www.unwomen.org/news-events/international-womens-day/milestones/
For streams of videos and interviews on international women’s day, visit: http://www.internationalwomensday.org.au/
Other extracts curtsey:
http://www.unwomen.org/2010/07/un-creates-new-structure-for-empowerment-of-women/
http://www.unwomen.org/news-events/international-womens-day/
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