International Women’s Day on 8 March was celebrated around the world with jubilant celebrations of achievements by women worldwide in social, economic, culture and politics while also calling for increased gender equality globally removing barriers women continue to face.
In Nepal also, the day was marked with colorful programmes.
This year IWD was marked under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The theme emphasizes the importance of achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls globally.
This day is not just a day to celebrate women’s achievements but is to respect women and their value, encouraging young girls to follow their dreams. Also, the day is a call to action to accelerate gender equality and address ongoing challenges in women’s rights worldwide but also a time to honour their contributions and acknowledge the challenges they continue to face.
While tracing the history, International Women’s Day has occurred for well over a century. The day started with the gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people across Europe protesting for women’s suffrage and labor rights.
Later in 1917, Russian women held a strike on March 8 for “bread and peace” during World War I. This led to Russian Czar Alexander’s abdication four days later and helped pave the way for women to gain the right to vote in Russia.
But, since 1975 the world body — United Nations officially began to observe International Women’s Day on March 8 and formally established the day in 1977.
Though the world has come a long way since, challenging various circumstances, it’s been 30 years now since the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women that catalyzed progress toward gender equality.
Thus, the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is to be kicked off next week in UN Headquarters, New York where they will review global progress on the Beijing commitments and adopt a Political Declaration that will shape policies on gender equality.
IFJ Calls
Meanwhile, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) – the world’s largest organisation of journalists- has launched a global call asking journalists’ unions and media worldwide to take concrete action towards achieving gender equality in the media.
According to IFJ, the campaign, ‘Gender-Equal Media for a Gender-Equal Future’, marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark commitment to advancing women’s rights.
Also, IFJ deplores the growing hostility to gender equality and women’s rights, with far-right movements threatening decades of progress urging media professionals, trade unions, and governments to reinforce their commitment to the Beijing Declaration’s goals, including those related to the media.
For decades, the IFJ has led initiatives to support these goals, including research, training, and advocacy campaigns to tackle violence against women journalists, empower women in unions, and eliminate gender bias in media representation, it said.
However, the IFJ points out that progress remains slow, and growing political opposition to gender rights across the world threatens to undo hard-won gains.
“The role of journalists in upholding truth and equality has never been more urgent,” said Maria Angeles Samperio, the chair of the IFJ Gender Council.
The IFJ urges journalists’ unions to engage with their governments now, to ensure that gender equality in the media remains a key priority and to endorse IFJ demands.
IFJ President Dominique Pradalié said, “Our call is not another campaign on gender equality. It is a wake-up call for unions and the media to fight for equal representation now.”
“Humanity cannot afford to go backward in terms of gender equality. Nor should we tolerate challenges to women’s freedom of expression and their representation in the media. This is an issue for all unions and all media. More than ever, we need inclusive media and strong ethical reporting,” highlights the IFJ President Dominique Pradalié.
