Today
is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The 2019 Theme:
"Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth"
Science and gender equality are both vital for the
achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. Over the past 15 years, the global
community has made a lot of effort in inspiring and engaging women and girls in
science. Yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully
in science.
At present, less than 30 per cent of
researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO data (2014
- 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related
fields in higher education. Globally, female students’ enrolment is
particularly low in ICT (3 per cent), natural science, mathematics and
statistics (5 per cent) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8
per cent).
Long-standing biases and gender stereotypes are steering girls and women
away from science related fields. As in the real world, the world on screen
reflects similar biases—the 2015 Gender Bias Without
Borders study by the Geena Davis Institute showed that of the
onscreen characters with an identifiable STEM job, only 12 per cent were women.
In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science
for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of
women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 declaring 11
February as the International Day of
Women and Girls in Science.
A Prayer for Women Activists
By Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU
God of Truth and Justice,
We thank you for the community of women activists,
Those who use their words to defend the human dignity
Of the oppressed, marginalized, and forgotten among us.
We thank you for the community of women activists
Whose hands bring comfort to the afflicted,
And transform the rejected of society,
To claim their human rights
And to realize their full potential as citizens of the Earth.
We thank you for the community of women activists
Who join hands across the globe and take to the streets
And call on impacted communities to rise
For their rights to dignity, freedom, and equality.
We pray for the safety of our sister activists
Those on the frontlines who risk their lives
And reputations each time they confront institutions of power.
In a spirit of solidarity with out sister activists,
May we draw inspiration from their life's work
And commit to be active witnesses for justice.
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
It is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.
Some key targets of the 2030 Agenda:
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes.
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
2018 Message by UN Secretary-General António Guterres
This year, International Women’s Day comes on the heels of unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice. Sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women has captured headlines and public discourse, propelled by a rising determination for change.
International Women’s Day 2018 is an opportunity to transform this momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential.
Echoing the priority theme of the upcoming 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, International Women’s Day will also draw attention to the rights and activism of rural women, who make up over a quarter of the world population and majority of the 43 per cent of women in the global agricultural labour force.
They till the lands and plant seeds to feed nations, ensure food security for their communities and build climate resilience. Yet, on almost every measure of development, because of deep seated gender inequalities and discrimination, rural women fare worse than rural men or urban women. For instance, less than 20 per cent of landholders worldwide are women, and while the global pay gap between men and women stand at 23 per cent, in rural areas, it can be as high as 40 per cent. They lack infrastructure and services, decent work and social protection, and are left more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rural women and their organizations represent an enormous potential, and they are on the move to claim their rights and improve their livelihoods and wellbeing. They are using innovative agricultural methods, setting up successful businesses and acquiring new skills, pursuing their legal entitlements and running for office.
On 8 March, join activists around the world and UN Women to seize the moment, celebrate, take action and transform women’s lives everywhere. The time is NOW.
Content shared from http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/
International Women's Day 2018 campaign theme: #PressforProgress
With theWorld Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Reportfindings telling us that gender parity is over 200 years away - there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and #PressforProgress. And with global activism for women's equality fueled by movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and more - there is a strong global momentum striving for gender parity.
And while we know that gender parity won't happen overnight, the good news is that across the world women are making positive gains day by day. Plus, there's indeed a very strong and growing global movement of advocacy, activism and support.
So we can't be complacent. Now, more than ever, there's a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.
International Women's Day is not country, group or organisation specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. So together, let's all be tenacious in accelerating gender parity. Collectively, let's all Press for Progress.
March 8 sees the annual IWD campaign theme kick off for the year ahead, although many groups around the world adopt and promote the campaign theme from early in the year. The IWD campaign theme provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize collective action. The campaign theme does not end on International Women's Day. It's just the start. Throughout the year many groups worldwide adopt the IWD campaign theme for further campaign work, gender-focused initiatives, continuing activity and events. A great example of this was in 2017 when the USA Women's Hockey Team went on to adopt the #BeBoldForChange IWD campaign theme to later rally for equal pay, boycotting the national finals unless a suitable deal was struck. Many fans and further teams supported the campaign.
Collectively we can all play a part
Collective action and shared responsibility for driving gender parity is what makes International Women's Day successful. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."
Started by the Suffragettes in the early 1900's, the first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911. International Women's Day belongs to all communities everywhere - governments, companies, charities, educational institutions, networks, associations, the media and more. Whether through a global conference, community gathering, classroom lesson or dinner table conversation - everyone can play a purposeful part in pressing for gender parity.
So make International Women's Day YOUR day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women. Press for Progress!
Please join us in Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative’s International Women’s Day peace campaign. As you know may know, LCWR is a member of the steering committee of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. They are hoping that thousands of women religious across the country and around the world will join us in sending a message to Pope Francis thanking him for his commitment to nonviolence and just peace.
Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for his consistently strong condemnation of nuclear weapons and the vicious arms trade. His clarity on, and commitment to, peace and nonviolence are wonderful gift to our movement.
This year for International Women’s Day (8 March), we invite women to send a thank-you message to Pope Francis, in appreciation for his leadership on these issues. We want him to know that we are listening to and affirming his words and his works.
Please share this online “postcard” with women in your communities and networks and ask them to sign this thank-you message. We will collect the responses over the next month, and will deliver the names and personal notes to the Vatican on 8 March.
This year's theme for International Women's Day 2017 is #BeBoldForChange. Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world - a more gender inclusive world. Submit your #BeBoldForChange action via the IWD website.
What if the world truly stepped up to take bold action?
Will you #BeBoldForChange on International Women's Day 2017 and beyond by taking groundbreaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women.
Each one of us - with women, men and non-binary people joining forces - can be a leader within our own spheres of influence by taking bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.
We have urgent work to do. Are you ready to #BeBoldForChange this IWD 2017 and beyond?
Use International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8 as an important opportunity to:
celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women because visibility and awareness help drive positive change for women
declare bold actions you'll take as an individual or organization to help progress the gender agenda because purposeful action can accelerate gender parity across the world
Find an EVENT NEAR YOU #BeBoldForChange by Joining the National Women's Strike on March 8th
Another way to participate in International Women's Day, is to join with hundreds of thousands of women around the world in an international women's strike on March 8th. The call for a women's strike in the U.S. is being led by organizers of the Women's March on Washington. The organizers are calling it "A Day Without Women," to draw attention to the important role that women play in all aspects of society. Suggested actions include withdrawing from corporations that are harmful to women and finding ways to support the businesses, organizations, and communities that sustain women.
In preparation for A Day Without Women, organizers encourage you to reflect on the following questions:
Do businesses support our communities, or do they drain our communities?
Do they strive for gender equity or do they support the policies and leaders that perpetuate oppression?
Do they align with a sustainable environment or do they profit off destruction and steal the futures of our children?
We unite with the International Women’s Strike on March 8th and we observe Strike4Democracy’s Day of Planning on Friday, February 17th as we gather our friends, families, neighbors and coworkers and make plans to stand up for economic justice, affirmatively building community, and supporting local, women- and minority-owned businesses. In the weeks leading up to March 8th, we will continue to discuss the variety of ways that all people can join the fight for economic justice.
Stay updated at https://www.womensmarch.com/womensday
International Women’s Day was March 8,
2016.It is a day when women are
recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether
national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. International
Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of
the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.
Since those early years, International Women's
Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing
countries alike. The growing international women's movement, which has been
strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences, has helped make
the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women's rights and
participation in the political and economic arenas.
The theme for
the 2016 International Women’s Day was #PledgeForParity.Worldwide, women continue to contribute to
social, economic, cultural and political achievement.And we have much to celebrate. But progress
towards gender parity has slowed in many places.
The World
Economic Forum predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve
global gender parity. Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a
slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn't
close entirely until 2133.
Everyone - men
and women - can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity
more quickly - whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call
for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more
inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a
leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action
to accelerate gender parity.
Throughout history, women have made extraordinary contributions to their societies. Some are well known, some less so, but all have been trail blazers.
Explore a small selection of these women and lear what the reality still is today for many women and girls worldwide.
A lo largo de la historia, las mujeres han realizado aportes extraordinarios a la sociedad. Algunos son muy conocidos, otros menos, pero todos fueron precursores. En esta presentación se manifiesta una pequeña selección de estas mujeres y al mismo tiempo, conozca la realidad que aún viven muchas mujeres y niñas de todo el mundo. Te invitamos a que conozcas su huella a través de: http://buff.ly/1QxOaXZ
Today
is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. 
