International Women’s Day

Join us in supporting International Women’s Day, celebrated around the world on March 8. Thousands of events take place worldwide to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women and to highlight what still needs to be done. The United Nations’ theme this year is “Empower Rural Women — End Hunger and Poverty”.

…there is a long way to go before women and girls can be said to enjoy the fundamental rights, freedom and dignity that are their birthright and that will guarantee their well-being. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world’s rural areas. Rural women and girls — to whom this year’s International Women’s Day is devoted — make up one quarter of the global population, yet routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income and education to health to participation in decision-making. — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

A resource to stay up to date on issues of women’s empowerment is Womenwatch, run by the UN, which provides information, news feeds and resources on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations system.