The official UN observance will be held at the UN Headquarters in New York on March 7, and webcast on UN Web TV. Representatives of various UN agencies have issued statements commemorating International Women’s Day and highlighting the importance of gender equality in their various areas of work, from combatting desertification to AIDS.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, wrote:
We can no longer afford to hold back half the world’s population. The 21st century has to be different for every woman and girl in the world. She must know that to be born a girl is not the start of a life of hardship and disadvantage.
Together we must make sure that:
SHE is Safe and Secure from gender-based violence.
SHE has Human rights that are respected, including reproductive rights.
SHE is Empowered economically and in every way through Education, Equal opportunity, participation and leadership.
This is the SHE imperative to which I call on you to commit.
Let us all cross the line and stand on the right side of history.
Today and every day, UN Women will stand strong for women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Equality for women is progress for all.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) held a panel discussion on women at work today in Geneva to mark International Women’s Day. [ILO]
The UN Commission on the Status of Women‘s 58th session will focus on challenges and achievements in the implementation of the MDGs for women and girls. States and non-governmental organizations will gather for the 58th session in New York from March 10 to 21, to discuss the draft agreed conclusions. The UN Women webpage on Progress towards meeting the MDGs for women and girls provides a useful summary of the status of efforts toward fulfilling the MDGs.