Message from National Council of Women for International Women’s Day

by Beverly Richards

President – National Council of Women

I extend warmest greetings to all women and girls of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Caribbean and world, as we are yet in another year to commemorate International Women’s Day. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality.”{{more}}

Our vision is that we will have a world in which all women and girls have equal opportunities and rights by 2030. Step It Up asks governments to make national commitments that will close the gender equality gap – from laws and policies to national action plans and adequate investment. NOW is the time to Step It Up!

Historic beginning

The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour 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.

Increasingly, 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.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to recognize the achievements of our women who have been through the rough and tough times. We congratulate all women on their achievements. We wish to reinforce the need for education, which is a human right and an essential tool for achieving goals of equality, development and peace; non-discriminatory education benefits both girls and boys and thus contributes to more equal relationships between women and men. And we cannot overemphasize this.

We sympathize and empathize with those of our women and girls who fell prey to the vicious attacks of senseless and inhumane acts of rape and attempted rape, physical and psychological abuse, violation of their human rights, for the favour of jobs and other worthless gifts.

Women will always have to do the necessary thing to help protect themselves from predators and perpetrators, by being more vigilant. Please be reminded that you may be the next victim of a vicious act, or intended inhumane treatment and action.

As women and girls, we are also expected to be resilient. Life has a way of throwing boulders in our path, it can be violent and discriminating. But, I admonish you to stand up and be the victor. Do not be prepared to succumb to anything, but stand up for something.

We recognize the many women and men in our society who work tirelessly to ensure that our fundamental rights are protected and upheld.

We are the agents of change and empowerment; let us move forward despite the indecisions that have tried to hinder our progress; we must place gender equality at the forefront of all development; we must support women’s empowerment as a transformational force for human rights, for economic growth, for sustainability. Investing in women’s education, health, property rights, access to and control over financial resources, knowledge and information is fundamental.

Today, on International Women’s Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to women’s rights and move forward with courage and determination. Let us defend human rights, the inherent dignity and worth of the human person, and the equal rights of men and women.

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, governments, civil society and the private sector are urged to commit to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The energy, talent and strength of women and girls represent humankind’s most valuable untapped natural resource.