Malibongwe: International Women’s Day
NEW YORK: At a time when women’s voices are rising around the world, International Women’s Day is commemorated globally today through a rich diversity of initiatives, celebrating women’s achievements, opportunities and potential while reflecting on this year’s theme of “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”.
Technological advances, mobility of labour, the green economy and globalisation can bring unprecedented possibilities for women if they have access to relevant education and training.
On the other hand, an increasing number of women are stuck in the low-paid informal economy with no social protection. Women and girls also still carry an enormous unpaid care burden and face other barriers such as unequal pay, lack of paid parental leave and flexible work arrangements, which affect their participation and contribution to the global economy.
The statistics are staggering: only about 50% of working-age women compared to 76%of men are represented in the labour force globally, and women take on 2.5 times more unpaid work than men. The global gender pay gap is 23%.
“We want to construct a different world of work for women. As they grow up, girls must be exposed to a broad range of careers, and encouraged to make choices that lead beyond the traditional service and care options to jobs in industry, art, public service, modern agriculture and science,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women executive director.
“In roles where women are already over-represented but poorly paid, and with little or no social protection, we must make those industries work better for women.
“For example, a robust- care economy that responds to the needs of women and gainfully employs them; equal terms and conditions for women’s paid work and unpaid work; and support for women entrepreneurs, including their access to finance and markets.”
Along with a wide range of events across the globe, in New York, the commemoration of the day will include a special event at UN headquarters.
UN Women will launch the HeforShe Arts Week, now in its second year, to raise awareness and funding for gender equality through the arts.
Marking International Women’s Day globally, a broad range of dynamic events will be organised by UN Women, from film festivals, panels, solidarity marches, seminars and press conferences to arts, sport and academic activities. In more than 50 countries UN Women will partner with governments, universities, civil society, youth organisations and other UN agencies to organise high-profile events.
In association with UN Women, Snapchat – the popular mobile story-telling app – will feature women in a popular format called “Live Story”, to be shared today. Users who watch the story in their app will have the chance to contribute their own Snaps, telling their stories of empowerment. Twitter has associated a special emoji with the hashtag #WomensDay.
See UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s full message for the Day on Op-ed page 9. UN Women is the UN organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For more information, visit www.unwomen.org