The International Women’s Day is aimed to help nations worldwide eliminate discrimination against women. It also focuses on helping women gain full and equal participation in global development.
The creation process made men and women with no expressed superiority of one over the other. However, over the years a disparity evolved at the expense of women. This disparity is seen in the place of women in society. There is a gender disparity in access to education, health, employment and representation of women in the boardrooms.
Over 57,000 women have died in childbirth in the last two months, with about 450 maternal dearth’s today. Most of these are preventable, but measures and facilities to prevent these deaths have not been a priority of most governments, especially in low to medium income countries.
The gender gap in employment, pay and representations in board room exists in high, medium and low income countries. The socio-economic contributions of women to society is undervalued.
Today,international women’s day highlights these issues but the quest to eliminate gender discrimination and disparity should continue beyond today and must be a continuous proactive process.
Women bring to the table knowledge,skills and proven performance. Women are skilled in equal measure and there is need for women leaders to be at the decision making table where they will make contributions to growth in their sphere of influence and globally. These critical success factors if expanded will make a positive impact on global socioeconomic development.
Women’s access to quality health, education and employment is a right. Today and always, we celebrate women globally. Stand up for gender equity, stand up for gender equity.