Happy International Women’s Day. Today, and everyday! We want to share with you all the reasons why we think we should celebrate women achievements everyday of the year.
How can we talk about gender equality when there are countries like Japan where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is inviting women to participate in its key meetings as far as they don’t talk.
Countries like Italy where the new elected Mario Draghi government earned the nickname “boys club”, because he assigned only 8 out of 24 ministers to female politicians.
Countries like the United Kingdom where only a few weeks ago the first formal maternity leave for ministers that will allow female cabinet members to take up to 6 months of paid maternity leave while their job is covered, has been introduced. A news that comes more than a century after the election of the first female member of parliament. Till now women had to choose between recovering from childbirth and taking care for a new-born child or resigning from office.
Countries like Iran, where husbands can stop their wives from travelling abroad alone; or Saudi Arabia where female activists are detained and only recently women gained the right to drive, join the army and join the labour market.
How can we talk about women empowerment when there are still 3 million girls at risk of undergoing Female Genital Mutilation every year, and when 20 million girls risk to drop out of school because of forced marriages and because they need to take care of their families leaving no time for their education.
It is complicated to talk about equal rights, when men athletes all over the world earn between 15% to 100% more than their female peers, and women are constantly asked to choose between a family or a career, having less access to pay rises and top positions at corporate and academic level.
It is hard, indeed! But it is not impossible to change the narrative, switch the power and work towards a society that is more inclusive, balanced and equal, where every woman and every girl can have access to a life full of opportunities and possibilities.
A life without violence, where they will not be neglected, ignored, taken for granted. A life where they can be who they want to be, inspiring other women and girls to stand up, speak up and take the place at the table.
When I think about a solution on how we can end gender inequality I think it all starts with one person believing that a change is possible and that wherever we go as women we always have to bring our female friends, colleagues, our wolf pack with us, lifting each other up, holding doors open.
It is a work in progress, a challenge, a fight. But I am not alone, you are not alone. We are surrounded by women that have the power within, to make a change and turn everyday into the International Women’s Day.
