 |
Each year on March 8 many celebrate what is known as International Women's Day. IWD was first observed on 19 March 1911 by over 1 million people mostly women who marched the streets in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Austria. It was not until 1977 that the UN General Assembly Member States officially recognized March 8 as the UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace.
Today millions from around the world are celebrating its 100th anniversary...
IWD is an interesting combination of St.Valentine's Day and Mother's Day....In Macedonia for instance - the streets would literally turn into walking flowers with women carrying single variations or red roses in their hands... these flowers are generally given by male office colleagues or family and friends... the flowers are symbols of appreciation, respect, and love for all women...
 |
On this special day, the world highlights the global, political, economical, social achievements of women as well as the injustices against them over the years... yes we have come a long way since women were first granted the right to vote in New Zealand during 1893, but there is still, a lot to be done - and while it is important and positive to reflect on the legacies of great and ordinary women alike, we should also reflect on the negative - the "unheard" voices, roars of women in today's world - the ones whose sounds echo continued struggles for equality, empowerment, security, food, freedom and education - sounds we must never ignore or cast aside...
SOME TOUGH FACTS:
Roughly 500 million women/girls will suffer from rape or attempted rape
About 80% of the 50 million people who are affected by wars are women and children (this should be more than an incentive for solutions to peace...)
2/3 of the world’s 876 million illiterates are females - over 585 million
- Of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women
- 80% of the world's 27 million refugees are women
- According to UNWOMEN- Women perform 66% of the world’s work, produce 50% of the food, but earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the property (this, if we follow international law is paramount to slavery)
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 58% of adults with HIV are women
- If the average distance to the moon is 394,400 km/245,068 mi, South African women together walk the equivalent of a trip to the moon and back 16 times a day to supply their households with water
- It is estimated that 1 in 5 women faces some form of violence during their lifetime
 |
Violence against women whether domestic or otherwise must be strongly fought on all levels...
The result of war throughout history has led to the destruction of mainly women - this must not be allowed to continue - the UN Reform aims to end the cycle using various means one of which eliminates the United Nations Security Consul (UNSC) permanent members' veto power - a veto power that continues to prevent the United Nations from firmly taking action and stepping into conflict zones...
It is up to the people of the world to exercise their given power on our leaders, ensuring that the 192 Member States of the United Nations vote for UN Reform (proposed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan) ... this utter disregard for human life must not be allowed to continue - we have the power to alter many lives for the better and we can make this happen - as Nike's slogan says: "Just do it!"
Let us do it!
- For more information please visit:
No comments:
Post a Comment