IWD: Thriving women drive prosperous economies

THE theme: ‘ Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ which the United Nations chose for this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day ( IWD), cannot be more appropriate as a measure of empowering women towards obtaining their contribution to national and global development. The theme is especially relevant to Nigeria where, over the years, there has been more rhetoric than action in lifting women to meet their potential.

Indeed, the hazards women are exposed to because of their weaker physiological and psychological characteristics have remained high in the country, perhaps higher than in most African countries. This year 2024 therefore presents yet another opportunity for governments across the country to walk their talk and accord due respect and recognition to women’s development, to achieve concrete, measurable and sustainable national development.

For 2024 IWD, the United Nations has designated the theme with a focus on addressing economic disempowerment; while the campaign theme is ‘ Inspire Inclusion.’ Not only does this campaign celebrate the achievements and progress women have made, it also brings to the fore the ongoing struggles for equality and the need for continued advocacy and action worldwide.

The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day ( IWD) in 1975, and two years later, in 1977, the UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for Women’s Rights and World Peace. Since then, IWD has become a global day of recognition and celebration; as it draws attention to the discrimination women face, such as gender inequality, reproductive rights, violence and abuse against women.

While discrimination against women and girls is diminishing, gender inequality continues to hold women back and deprive them of their basic rights and opportunities. The International Women’s Day ( IWD) is meant to reflect on progress made, call for change and celebrate women. Beyond celebrating the achievements of women, the day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity; and as such, a call to action for gender equality; and encouraging reflection, advocacy, and action to continue breaking down barriers for women and girls. Thus, the campaign hashtag (# Investinwomen) places a strong emphasis on recognising the importance of diversity and empowerment in various spheres of society and underscores the pivotal role of inclusion in advancing gender equality. This may be responsible for why the 2024 IWD theme was predicated on the global movement for women’s rights, equality, and justice; as it is hinged on five key priority areas - investing in women: a human rights issue; ending poverty; implementing gender- responsive financing; shifting to a green economy and care society; and supporting feminist change- makers.

On the five key priority areas, UN Women says that gender equality remains the greatest human rights challenge as such investing in women is a human rights imperative and cornerstone for building inclusive societies that ensure progress for women and benefit the entire humanity. Similarly, ending poverty is crucial because the COVID- 19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, climate disasters, and economic turmoil have pushed an extra 75 million women into severe poverty, which could lead to more than 342 million women and girls living below the poverty line by 2030, making immediate action crucial.

Furthermore, the global body says that due to conflicts and rising fuel and food prices, countries will curb public spending leading to austerity, which negatively impacts women and crowds out public spending on essential public services and social protection. As such, countries should implement gender- responsive financing. Also, it is important to shift to a green economy and care society that amplifies women’s voices because the current economic systems exacerbate poverty, inequality and environmental degradation that disproportionately affect women and marginalised groups. Finally, nations should support feminist change- makers and organisations that are leading efforts to tackle women’s poverty and inequality.

Essentially, investing in women is both an economic imperative and a human rights issue because the global economic and financial systems are complicit in perpetuating gender inequality. At the same time, financial resources are required to overcome these challenges and build a world that enables all women to realise their rights. Hence, the push for achieving gender equality is more vital than ever. Ensuring women’s and girls’ rights across all spheres of life is the only way to secure prosperous, just economies, and a healthy planet for future generations.

Although the celebration is over, the campaign is on, which provides a platform for collective action and collaboration in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment. Thus, Nigeria has an opportunity to transform this momentum into action, empower women in all settings – rural and urban – and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realise their full potential.

Nigeria should latch on to the moment, take action, and transform women’s lives using five key priority areas of women’s human rights, ending poverty, implementing genderresponsive financing, shifting to a green economy and care society and supporting feminist change- makers and organisations. Again, it is an opportunity to accelerate the 2030 agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of programmes and activities to achieve SDGS N0s 1, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 15.

Thus, using a well- coordinated multisectoral approach, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAS), community and religious leaders, the organised private sector , media and NGOS in collaboration with international development agencies should work with govern - ment at all levels to design and implement programmes to help accelerate gender parity’ in all spheres of human endeavour aimed at improving women’s rights; and social, economic and political status in Nigeria.

All said, ‘ Invest in Women: Accelerate Pr ogress’ and ‘ Inspire Inclusion’ to engender Nigeria because in vesting in women enables women t o thrive, and thriving women drive prosperous economies. The time to act is now because a nation that is not engendered is endangered!