A special day

TODAY is a very special day for women around the world. We celebrate their achievements, and reflect on their lives, and their place in our hearts and minds.

Understandably, there will be the line that suggests this should be a daily thing. It should not be reserved for a day in the year.

However, we choose to reflect on this day, women and girls should factor highly.

Today is about them!

As Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretarygeneral, said in his message for this day: “We celebrate the achievements of women and girls across all walks of life, in all corners of the world.”

It is an opportunity, he noted, for us to also recognise the enormous obstacles they face — from structural injustices, marginalisation, and violence, to cascading crises that affect them first and worst, to the denial of their personal autonomy and rights over their bodies and lives.

Gender-based discrimination, he said, harmed everyone — women, girls, men, and boys.

International Women’s Day, he said, was a call to action.

“Action to stand with women who are demanding their fundamental rights at great personal cost.

“Action to strengthen protection against sexual exploitation and abuse.

“And action to accelerate women’s full participation and leadership.”

Investing in women, he said, uplifted “all people, communities, and countries”.

He called for a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.

So today, let’s remind ourselves about the many niggling issues that we must address.

Let’s look within. Let’s consider our shortcomings. More importantly, attend to them, raising the profile of our women and girls, if we haven’t considered already that, on the home-front.

But again, why should we even confine the recognition and celebration of the achievement of women to this day?

Why can’t we do this every day? Perhaps we could see this as an opportunity to re-look at our priorities. Yes, let’s acknowledge the role of women in our lives. Let’s embrace and highlight their achievements, and focus on ways to assist them reach their goals.

Let’s pull all stops and assist our women to realise their dreams.

Surely we all realise they have hopes and aspirations too, so let’s empower them.

Abuse cases and domestic violence issues are real. Let’s show a united front to fight it.

If there is a plethora of advice, and support for the cause of our women, then this has to be buoyed by our commitment.

Our women and girls have a right to be heard, so let’s respect and acknowledge the important roles they play in our lives.