IWD 2021: Time To Challenge Inequality

Today, March 8, is being celebrated all over the world as International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021. While circumstances are different this year, it is still a day to celebrate women around the world, their achievements, raise awareness about women’s equality, and their rights. The world is once again reminded  of the plight of the global woman, the need to position her at her rightfull place politically, economically, and socially.   Whether by  hosting an event, running a campaign, launching an initiative, reporting on achievement, donating to a female-focused charity, or more, there is a call for everyone to  commit to choosing  to challenge inequality.

To challenge inequality is to call out bias, question stereotypes, and help forge an inclusive world, with emphasis on the need to “building back better”, especially  in a post-pandemic world, in an environment shattered by pollution and insecurity. No doubt, there’s every reason to celebrate distinquished African women of our generation like the latest achiever; Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yet while we celebrate our own ‘Mama Africa’,  who has climbed to the highest echelon of her career through western education,  we must all commit to vehemently challenge every action or activity that negates UN Women agenda for women education. The incessant abduction  of school children especially the female students in the north is a case in hand.

Given the ugly dimension the security situation in our county has assumed in recent times as it concerns female education, the hope of celebrating more of the likes of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the nearest future is quite gloomy should the trend continues unchecked. Education is essential for women to reach gender equality and become leaders of change. Even though  women and girls today are far more educated than ever before, gaps  still remain, yearning to be filled. Educated women benefit entire societies, contributing to flourishing economies and the improved health, nutrition and education of their families. Education and training are also tools to help change harmful gender stereotypes.

  The world must also commit to challenging the spate of rape, not only by chanting slogans that indicate dislike for rape, but by being involved in the real fight against rape even when there is no attached relatipnship with the victims.

Today’s celebration calls to mind the need to evaluate the 12 key areas flagged by  the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action,  where urgent action was needed to ensure greater equality and opportunities for women and men, girls and boys. I think countries around the world would want to know the outcome of the  UN Women’s parnership with governments in various countries,  to ensure such change is real for women and girls.

How about the economic  status of African women? Whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or through unpaid domestic or care work at home, women make enormous contributions to economies. Unfortunately, gender discrimination means women often end up in insecure, low-wage jobs, and constitute a small minority of those in senior positions. When women are poor, their rights are not protected and they face double discrimination, on account of their gender and economic situation. Women, their families, communities and economies suffer as a result.

To ensure that women can contribute fully and benefit from the economy, UN Women had put in place multiple programmes for women’s economic empowerment, promoting  women’s ability to secure decent jobs, own land, accumulate assets, and influence institutions and public policies determining growth and development. What difference this has made needs be kept in the public domain.

The time is indeed rife to challenge  the under-representation of women  as voters, in top positions,  in elected offices, the civil service, corporate boardrooms or academia, even where it is obvious that once in leadership roles, women make a difference.

Women need to be healthy in order to realize their full potential. This includes proper nutrition, sexual and reproductive rights, and mental health, as well as freedom from violence. This is why UN Women advocate for States to better coordinate the provision of health services for women and girls –including for survivors of violence– and supports non-governmental partners providing essential services. In all their efforts, any  end to practices that bring danger to women and girls, including child marriage, female genital mutilation, dietary restrictions, and others?.

We must always remember that violence hurts women and girls and hampers their ability to thrive in multiple ways. Luckily, since the Beijing Conference, an historic two-thirds of countries have put laws on the books to stop domestic violence. Laws and  policies and action plans to help step-up investments in prevention, the most cost-effective, long-term means to stop violence against women by addressing its root causes. The world is inteterested in knowing  the extent of the  implementation of legal protection as well as the access to essential services  for women globally.

Women are among the most affected by climate change. They are often the ones gathering water, fishing or farming land affected by flooding. Meanwhile, their voices are often ignored in environmental planning and management. They also have less access to land and productive resources, not even involved in environmental decision-making . All these call for challenge and like  Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained, “the story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”  So make International Women’s Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi