speech for international women's day 2022

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International Women's Day 2022

Speech by the UN Resident Coordinator at the Commemoration event of International Women's Day

GOOD MORNING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO:

HIS MAJESTY KING LETSIE III,  

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER,   

ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND ALL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS PRESENT HERE TODAY

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN  

ALL PROTOCOLS OBSERVED  

I welcome you all today as we commemorate International Women’s Day, a day which the United Nations began to celebrate almost 50 years ago because it was important to finally recognize that women’s rights are also fundamental human rights.

The commemoration of this day is still as relevant as it was in 1975. Today we celebrate how far women have come in fighting for their rights, and to mention a few, the right to be free from violence, discrimination, to own land, to vote, to be educated, to earn equal wages and many more.

We are indeed recognizing today that women are entitled to these rights, yet they are still denied to many women. How many women in Lesotho have been killed in the past year alone due to Gender Based Violence? How many have been sexually assaulted? How many in our communities are victims of child marriage? The narrative must change, and for change we need to not tire in fighting for the rights of women because winning for women’s rights means we are winning in how society will function. Our society is not equal until we are all equal.

Equality has always had a place in our culture and old age Lesotho. This is visible everywhere in Basotho history, From Queen ‘Manthatisi of the Batlokoa, Queen ‘Mantsebo and ‘me’ ‘Masechele Khaketla the author, educator and one of the first advocates for equality in modern Lesotho, let us continue to uphold their values.

The theme for this years International Women’s day “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” is calling for climate action for women and by women. The current climate crisis has an impact on women, we have already experienced these detrimental effects of heavy rains and droughts, which both have had an impact on agriculture and therefore food security of this country.

It is mostly women, particularly in rural areas who feel the brunt as they are dependent on natural resources to sustain their families. I therefore want to applaud the contribution of women and girls around the world and in Lesotho who are taking charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response and I want to encourage more women to join this movement.

While Lesotho is a minimum polluter, the effects of climate change are already visibly hard and are compounded by limited resources, HIV and AIDS, covid 19 and other issues. Women have been the biggest causalities in all.

The UN working with the government of Lesotho has supported the values of equality and continue to do so. From creating platforms in the National reforms, engendering the Human Rights Commission in anticipation of the passing of the Bill, to supporting the long overdue CEDAW reporting.

I Call upon women, men and all persons in Lesotho to champion equality. Particularly men and women and non-gender conforming persons in rural Lesotho, whose knowledge is premised on what has been passed down for generations and has brought us this far.

I also invite CSOs, private sector and every Mosotho to partake in advocating for equality for a sustainable tomorrow together.

At this juncture I also want to invite the government to speed up the enactment of the domestic violence Bill and the omnibus Bill both that will catalyze the protection of human rights for women and the protection of right.

We need to place gender equality at the centre of our development efforts if we want to stand a chance at solving the many development challenges we have, women have the capabilities, ideas, and leadership to solve them.

I thank you!

KHOTSO PULA NALA

Ms. Amanda Khozi Mukwashi

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International Women’s Day Speech: Best Speeches For Women’s Day

International Women’s Day Speech: International Women’s Day is around the corner. If students or anyone, who wants to deliver a speech on the occasion of International Women’s Day, here are some of the best International Women’s Day speech samples!

International Women’s Day Speech in English For Students (500 Words)  

Greetings to everyone present here. On the occasion of International Women’s day, we have gathered today to celebrate Women and their achievements. On 8th March of every year, people around the world dedicate this day to celebrate Women’s achievements across different spheres of life. From social to political to cultural to personal, people celebrate every achievement of women! It is also an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, and reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide.

In case you are wondering why International Women’s Day is celebrated only on 8th March, then here is the answer! The history of Women’s Day goes back to the year 1909. In 1909, an American political party celebrated 15,000 women who took to the roads and protested against various issues like unequal opportunities, unequal wages, and lack of voting rights. Though the day was originally called National Women’s Day, as the news spread the celebration turned into an annual affair across the world. But, it was Russia, who set March 8th as the day to celebrate International Women’s Day. It was only in 1975 when the United Nations recognized International Women’s Day and from 1996 International Women’s Day became a theme to celebrate Women in society. 

The major significance of Women’s Day is to celebrate the achievements of women in various fields. From artists to teachers to businesswomen to politicians to scientists to many more! But, this day is also important to raise awareness about Women’s rights and gender equality. It is quite heartbreaking how even in the 21st century, many countries are struggling with gender inequality. Women are still not offered equal opportunities as men. Female foeticide and women & girls abuse are still prevalent across the world. It is very disappointing how women face all the discrimination because of an X chromosome.

For many years, men have enjoyed unfair privileges in various aspects of life: be it better pay scale or social status or better opportunities. But now, as times are changing, the world is striving hard to treat women and men equally. This change is necessary because all humans deserve equal opportunities – irrespective of their gender.

On this day, it is very important to show women in our lives how much we care for them! Be it our mothers, sisters, friends, or peers, we should make an effort to celebrate them and their great achievements!

I want to conclude my speech by saying that International Women’s Day is a reminder that we all are born equal. And, no woman or girl deserves to be treated less than a man! Let’s take a pledge that we would treat all men and women equally! Thank You!

ALSO READ: 20 Inspiring International Women’s Day Quotes

International women’s day speech in english for students (short speech: 200-300 words).

Greetings to everyone! In order to celebrate women, professionally and personally, it has become a custom across the world to celebrate International Women’s Day. On March 8, of every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated across the world. In some countries, the day has been declared as a National holiday too.

On this day, women from different walks of life gather together to celebrate their battle for equality, justice, and peace. This day, the world celebrates many women achievers, who against all the odds, managed to overcome all the difficult situations in their life to achieve great milestones.

Even though it is the 21st century, men and women are treated differently. Even today, women are treated lesser than men. They are not given equal opportunities as men. And, hence it is much more important to celebrate International Women’s Day to remember how women are scaling new heights despite our regressive society. International Women’s Day is a great way to change society’s mindset that treats women lesser than men. Leaders like Indra Nooyi , Melinda Gates , Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah Winfrey , and many more have shown the world that women can achieve anything, if given equal opportunities. We salute every woman, who is fighting for justice and equality and making this world a better place.

International Women’s Day Speech in English For Students (Short Speech: 200-300 Words) 

Greetings to everyone present here. On 8th March of every year, people around the world dedicate this day to celebrate Women’s achievements across different spheres of life. From social to political to cultural to personal, people celebrate every achievement of women! It is also an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment and reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide.

The history of Women’s Day goes back to the year 1909. In 1909, an American political party celebrated 15,000 women who took to the roads and protested against various issues like unequal opportunities, unequal wages, and lack of voting rights. But, it was only in 1975 when the United Nations recognized International Women’s Day and from 1996, International Women’s Day became a theme to celebrate Women in society. 

The major significance of Women’s Day is to celebrate the achievements of women in various fields. But, this day is also important to raise awareness about Women’s rights and gender equality. It is quite heartbreaking how even in the 21st century, many countries are struggling with gender inequality.

For many years, men have enjoyed unfair privileges in various aspects of life. But, now, as time is changing, the world is striving to treat women and men equally. This change is necessary because all humans deserve equal opportunities irrespective of their gender.

ALSO READ: 10 Strong Women Who Inspired Us This Women’s Day

 10 lines on international women’s day speech for students or others.

1. International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year across the world. 2. This day is dedicated to celebrating Women’s achievements across different spheres of life. 3. In 1909, an American political party celebrated 15,000 women who took to the roads and protested against various issues like unequal opportunities, unequal wages, and lack of voting rights.   4. It was only in 1975 when the United Nations recognized International Women’s Day and from 1996, International Women’s Day became a theme to celebrate Women in society.  5. The significance of Women’s Day is to celebrate the achievements of women in various fields. 6. This day is also important to raise awareness about Women’s rights and gender equality. 7. It is quite heartbreaking how even in the 21st century, many countries are struggling with gender inequality. Women are still not offered equal opportunities as men. 8. Female foeticide and abuse against women and girls are still prevalent across the world. It is very disappointing how women face all the discrimination because of an X chromosome. 9. For many years, men have enjoyed unfair privileges in various aspects of life. But now, the times are changing. 10. International Women’s Day is a reminder that we all are born equal. And, no woman or girl deserves to be treated less than a man!

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Statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on International Women's Day

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On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls everywhere.

We celebrate their contributions to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their ideas, innovations and activism that are changing our world for the better.

And their leadership across all walks of life.

But we also recognize that in too many areas, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards.

The pandemic has kept girls and women out of schools and workplaces.

They face rising poverty and rising violence.

They do the vast majority of the world’s unpaid but essential care work.

They’re targets of violence and abuse, just because of their gender.

In all countries, women are scandalously under-represented in the halls of power and the boardrooms of business.

And as this year’s theme reminds us, they bear the brunt of climate change and environmental degradation.

Starting now, on International Women’s Day, it’s time to turn the clock forward for every woman and girl.

Through guaranteeing quality education for every girl, so they can build the lives they want and help make the world a better place for us all.

Through massive investments in women’s training and decent work.

Through effective action to end gender-based violence.

Through bold action to protect our planet.

Through universal care that is fully integrated into social protection systems.

And through targeted measures like gender quotas so we can all benefit from women’s ideas, experience and leadership everywhere decisions are made.

Gender inequality is essentially a question of power, in a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture. Power relations must be reversed.

At the United Nations, we’ve achieved gender parity in senior management at headquarters and around the world — improving our work and better representing the communities we serve.

We need more women environment ministers, business leaders and presidents and prime ministers. They can push countries to address the climate crisis, develop green jobs and build a more just and sustainable world.

We cannot emerge from the pandemic with the clock spinning backwards on gender equality.

We need to turn the clock forward on women’s rights.

The time is now.

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Statement on International Women’s Day - 8 March 2022

Theme: ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.’

March 7, 2022

Achim Steiner

UNDP Administrator

The world wants an end to the tremendous human suffering in Ukraine, with millions of Ukrainians displaced by the conflict. The situation jeopardizes the safety of all Ukrainians and, as with other conflicts in other parts of the world, puts women and girls in particular at increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence , especially those who are refugees or otherwise displaced from their homes. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has joined the UN-system wide response to support those affected by the conflict, both inside Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries receiving refugees.  In Ukraine, as with many other crisis and conflict contexts, from Afghanistan and the Sahel to Myanmar and Yemen -- increasing the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in peacemaking, conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts is crucial to find lasting solutions .

This approach also holds true when it comes to tackling climate change and environmental degradation; and boosting disaster risk reduction -- the theme of this year’s Commission on the Status of Women . Women play a crucial role in the climate and environmental sectors, and they are often leading frontline natural resource management strategies. This makes them well-placed to identify and implement effective and sustainable solutions. Yet environmental degradation and increased competition over scarce resources are exacerbating the risk of gender-based violence while women environmental human rights defenders, including indigenous women, often face threats and violence . UNDP and the University of Pittsburgh’s Global Report on Gender Equality in Public Administration shows that even though women are disproportionately impacted by the climate and environmental crises, they are still hitting a glass ceiling that stops them from advancing to the highest levels of leadership in environmental protection and climate action. Women’s participation in ministries of environmental protection averages 33% globally, for instance, and parity in decision-making on these critical issues is exceptionally rare.

Yet change is possible . UNDP’s Climate Promise is currently assisting 120 countries to enhance their climate pledges, known as National Determined Contributions (NDCs). These NDCs are important vehicles for advancing not only sustainable development but also gender equality. Globally, over 110,000 people have engaged in NDC stakeholder consultations and women are leading the process in many cases. 96% of second-generation NDCs supported under the Climate Promise include references to gender compared to 48% of first-generation NDCs. Or look to the Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition , co-led by UNDP and a consortium of partners. It aims to accelerate progress on climate justice and gender equality over the next five years. We need to build on such efforts to advance more ambitious gender-responsive environmental and climate agendas. In particular, they must take the unique needs and perspectives of women into account and actively promote women’s participation and leadership. They must also make climate and environmental finance work for women. Driving forward this change can have a ripple effect . Research shows, for instance, that countries with a high representation of women in parliament are more likely to ratify the international environment treaties that the world now needs.

Guided by the Global Goals, our new  Strategic Plan 2022-2025  and our upcoming Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, UNDP will continue its steadfast efforts to realise #GenerationEquality . UNDP itself is changing and has now achieved a 50-50 balance in our workforce.  We know that a sustainable, green, and equal future for all is simply not possible without gender equality. Informed by data and analytics provided by resources such as the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker , countries must now put women and girls -- and their needs -- at the centre of the growing green recovery. That includes new policy measures that address women’s economic and social security including unpaid care work, the labour market, violence against women, and the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on women and girls. This much is clear: creating a more equal world today will set the conditions for a more sustainable tomorrow .  

Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Here are some great tips for writing IWD speeches and presentations

International Women's Day provides a useful opportunity to reinforce the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world. IWD is for celebrating the achievements of women and/or calling for gender parity.

Around the world - from small grassroots gatherings and local celebrations, through to large scale events and press conferences - people everywhere are delivering exciting and engaging speeches and presentations that reinforce a commitment to women's equality and rally action and awareness raising.

Below are some useful points to cover in IWD addresses - whether addressing young children, employees in the workforce, members of the community, public audiences, or the press.

About International Women's Day 

Even though International Women's Day is a well-known moment in most countries, it is often helpful to still set some context. 

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

The day has occurred for well over a century, with the first​ ​IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Prior to this the​ Socialist Party of America, United Kingdom's Suffragists and Suffragettes, and further groups campaigned for women's equality. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.

Read more about International Women's Day  here .

Engaging topics and angles to cover

Some engaging topics and angles to include in International Women's Day speeches and presentations include:

• The rise of women is not about the fall of men
• Everyone can play a role in forging gender parity
• Gender balance is not solely a women's issue, but also an economic issue
• What is bias and how does it play out?
• Advocacy, inclusive mindsets, and tangible action are needed from all

Speeches and presentations can reference successful women and their achievements and this can provide great context for the speech or presentation and its audience.

Consider using a powerful and engaging IWD video  to set some context for a speech and presentation. 

Key points to convey

Some engaging angles to elaborate upon may include:

• Many societies have moved on from women having to succeed in a man's world
• Gender stereotypes are being challenged and diverse representation of women is more evident
• There is still a continuing need worldwide for more progressive mindsets and inclusive behaviors to be forged
• There are many examples of gender bias - both conscious and unconscious - and each impacts women
• Collectively everyone everywhere can strive for women's equality and continue to make positive gains
• Equal opportunities aren't enough because equity is different to equality
• What it means to truly include women and ensure a sense of belonging

Setting some interesting historical context

The path to women's equality has been long and challenging, and here are some reasons why. Each stage provided an important focus in forging the gender agenda further along.

• Activism:  In the late 1800's and early 1900's, women activists fought hard for equality. The focus was largely on securing the right to vote and equal pay for equal work. These two issues - women's voice and participation in government; and the gender pay gap - largely remain key priorities well over a century later.  
• Feminism: Fast-forward to the 1970's and widespread feminist action saw women rallying, protesting and lobbying hard for inclusion, influence and equality. Feminists faced many challenges - systemic and societal - not only from opposing men, but also from other women.  
• Fix the women:  The 1980's saw an array of "Fix the Women" programs that were well-meaning in trying to help women become more confident, visible, well-networked and assertive - but many reinforced a notion that women needed to "act like men" and "fit" into existing patriarchal structures and organizations if they were to succeed (all while still being a superwoman in the home). Shoulder pads, power suits, high heels and a loud voice were in fashion.  
• Change the organization - The 1990's and noughties focused on organizational development: "Maybe if we change or fix the organizational structures, women will thrive?" So a focus on areas like 'women in the boardroom' escalated, as did more diverse recruiting, inclusive talent pipelines, and attention to wider diversity groups beyond gender such as race, LGBT+ and so forth. The introduction of "Top Company" and "Top Women" style lists occurred and as they increased in popularity, the number of new lists launched each year increased exponentially. The number of women's awards, conferences and networks also increased significantly - and continue to play an important and necessary role across all countries. The volume of gender-related research also increased - new insight, new terms and understandings, new phrases, measurement of the extent of problems or success; hard facts and numbers; incremental data.  
• Diversity & Inclusion: The 20-teens's saw an increasing focus on intersectional feminism and the important role that diversity and inclusion play in forging an equal world. "Men as allies" (i.e. men as advocates and champions of change), with this being recognized as a major element in accelerating women's equality. Many progressive CEOs and influential leaders have committed via formal public channels to helping build diverse and inclusive organizations that challenge stereotypes and bias. Furthermore, the global rise of social media provided a greater voice to groups often marginalized or sidelined from positions of power. Increasingly the global collective conversation for feminism continued to open up and grow. Understanding, challenging and calling out gender stereotypes, bias and discrimination became more prevalent. In 2013,  Lean In was founded to provide community, education and resources to support women's development, with an annual Women in the Workplace Study conducted with McKinsey & Company. The #MeToo movement (founded by activist Tarana Burke who coined the term “MeToo” in 2006) gained widespread attention in 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano urged victims of sexual harassment and assault to share their stories on social media. A global wave of activism and much needed change ensued. Much ground was made in the 20-teens, yet there was still a lot more to do.  
• The world expects diversity, equity and inclusivity: And so here we are in the 2020's. The significant global rise in International Women's Day activity in every corner of the world - along with the many female-focused campaigns and initiatives worldwide - means gender is firmly on the agenda. As expectations rise and information spreads faster and wider than ever before, organizations face unprecedented scrutiny from candidates, consumers, communities, investors, governments, and the media in terms of their support for and treatment of women. Many employers now publicly publish annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) reports and participate in various indices and accolades. 

Gender-related conversations and activity are certainly on the rise. Over the years, the term "International Women's Day" was one of the most discussed topic on Facebook by millions (even more than the Super Bowl). And back in 2018, Pantone's 'Color of the Year' was purple (i.e. women's color). Everywhere, gender is on the mainstream radar and impacting the narrative. Stereotypes, discrimination and bias are more likely to be called out. Men's role in society is more varied, and gender roles are more fluid. We are moving to a very exciting time in history where the world now "expects" diversity, equity and inclusion. The world notices its absence and celebrates its presence.

Step back over the years. International Women's Day has seen groups rally around many different focuses. For example, International Women's Day 2016 saw people worldwide being asked to support women's equality and develop an inclusive mindset via a #PledgeforParity. Then for International Women's Day 2017, the world was asked to #BeBoldforChange and identify tangible action to help accelerate gender parity. International Women's Day 2018 saw a massive #PressforProgress as the world stepped forward to push the boundaries and go beyond in achieving greater equality for women. International Women's Day 2019 saw& groups continue to play a critical role in helping forge a more gender-balanced world as we worked towards a #BalanceforBetter. International Women's Day 2020, amidst the pandemic, saw an important wave of collective individualism as we all strived to be #EachforEqual - because we know that an equal world is an enabled world. Then in 2021, we saw widespread global adoption of the #ChooseToChallenge campaign theme as groups committed to actively watching for and calling out inequity. In 2022, we stepped up and increased awareness of the significant impact that bias has on women's equality - both conscious and unconscious bias. We need to recognize it, and call it out, and so we called to everyone to #BreakTheBias. In 2023, the world truly made a massive effort to understand the difference between equity and equality , and why treating everyone the same can be discriminatory, and why in fact equal opportunities aren't enough. As such, the world saw a considerable narrative about why and how to #EmbraceEquity.

And so now for 2024, here we are living in a world that's incredibly turbulent, complex and exciting. The IWD 2024 campaign theme focuses on a global request to #InspireInclusion because when we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. So the aim of the IWD 2024  #InspireInclusion   campaign is to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women.

Insightful statistics to include

Download the Women in the Workplace Report  report to gain a sense of where women are at on the long road to equality.

Or download the Global Gender Gap report  that reinforces the growing urgency for action.

Whether covering the rise of women creatives, the work of women film directors, the status of equal pay, scientific prizes awarded to women, the number of women leading in government, or women in the boardroom - insightful statistics and associated visuals are very engaging.

It is also worthwhile to refer to a summary of actions countries have taken around the world to help forge women's equality. 

Use your voice and power on International Women's Day

Via  Influential speakers  and highly engaged audiences, International Women's Day has a global following with a shared purpose.

Let's use the opportunity of International Women's Day speeches and presentations to truly forge the gender agenda further and to make positive gains for women and girls worldwide.

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Join the global IWD Community

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.

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‘Turn the clock forward on women’s rights’: UN chief’s International Women’s Day message

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Ahead of International Women’s Day, celebrated on 08 March, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has insisted that the world “cannot emerge from the pandemic with the clock spinning backwards on gender equality”.

Mr. Guterres highlighted the contribution that women have made to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, hailed the ideas, innovations and activism that are changing our world for the better, and welcomed more women leaders across all walks of life. 

However, as the UN chief pointed out, women and girls have frequently borne the brunt of the consequences of the virus spreading worldwide, which have included girls and women being shut out of schools and workplaces, led to rising poverty and rising violence, and seen women doing the vast majority of the world’s unpaid but essential care work. 

To remedy the situation, Mr. Guterres called for guaranteed quality education for every girl, massive investments in women’s training and decent work, effective action to end gender-based violence, and universal health care.

Other measures recommended by the UN chief include gender quotas, that could result in the world benefiting from more women leaders.

Women and climate action

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, underscoring the fact that women bear a disproportionate burden of the impacts of the climate crisis, and that they need to be central to the solutions for a sustainable planet.

The Action Coalition for Feminist Action for Climate Justice , is helping to make sure that this happens. The Coalition, which brings together governments, private sector companies, the UN system and civil society, is part of a drive to bring about global action and investment, with a focus on financing for gender-just climate solutions.

These include increasing women’s leadership in the green economy, building women’s and girls’ resilience to climate impacts and disasters, and increasing the use of data on gender equality and climate.

To find out more about the ways that women are leading the fight against the climate crisis, read our feature series, “ Women Building a Sustainable Future ”.  

UN observance of International Women’s Day 2022

• The United Nations observance of International Women’s Day will be held virtually on 8 March, 10 – 11.30AM UTC–5 (New York time).
• The year 2022 is pivotal for achieving gender equality in the context of climate change, and environmental and disaster risk reduction, which are some of the greatest global challenges of the twenty-first century. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.This year’s IWD observance is in recognition and celebration of the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation and response, and to honour their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future.
• Senior UN officials will be speaking at the event, including Secretary-General António Guterres, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and Abudallah Shahid, the President of the General Assembly.
• UN International Days

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Statement by First Lady Jill   Biden on International Women’s   Day

From soft lullabies to battle cries for justice, women nurse and nurture, teach and build, lead and dream our world forward each and every day.

Women have never been silent, but women have been silenced. That’s because our voices are powerful. When we raise them, we can tear down injustice, topple tyrants and demagogues and shatter the shields of oppression.

This International Women’s Day, we honor women throughout the world who courageously use their voice, no matter the cost.

To our sisters from Ukraine who are fighting to keep their country free and their families alive: We stand with you in solidarity.

To our sisters in Russia who are protesting and speaking out against the invasion at great personal risk: We see your courage.

To women warriors around the world, those fighting for justice and working for change: Thank you for building a better future for all of us.

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Closing Speech: International Women’s Day 2022 Virtual Forum

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow"

Climate change is reconfiguring our habitats, making prediction and planning more challenging, and agile approaches are imperative.

Yesterday’s flood was another humbling reminder, and we send our thoughts to all who struggle in its aftermaths.

Yet, people’s needs remain unchanged, and ever more inclusive solutions are needed to reach our Sustainable Development Goals, on a journey presented with ever new twists and turns.

Today asks for Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

Selamat petang and salam sejahtera

Excellencies

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood

Executive Director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health,

Pro-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

Ms. Karima El Korri

UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam

Distinguished speakers, members of the media, colleagues from the UN, ladies and gentlemen, and all following this event.

Today we have been deeply inspired by our panelists and role models, leading the charge calling for Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow .

The forum today has clearly highlighted that while changing climate affects everyone, it impacts the world’s poorest and those in vulnerable situations ever more so, and particularly women.

Women and girls are often the last to eat or be rescued; they face greater health and safety risks as water and sanitation systems become compromised; and they take on increased domestic and care work to mitigate and cope with stressors, and the consequences of dwindling resources.

While climate change is everyone’s business, women bear the steepest costs, and yet their voices need to be heard, and needs reflected, in policy agendas and investment decisions.

Our afternoon together has concluded loud and clear: We need climate actions by, and for, women.

While climate changes general conditions, needs remain unchanged. For example, when looking at women’s and girls reproductive health and rights; irrespective of the natural challenges, women will continue to give birth, menstruations will continue, and these will become more difficult to manage, under erratic climatic conditions.

In addition, new challenges emerge as women are often primary care givers, and have to find ways of providing care under fluid circumstances. Mental and psychosocial tolls are mounting. Paradoxically, under the stressful conditions, gender-based violence does not take a rest; and instead we learn that violence often increases under these stresses, while the remedies and support may be even harder to access, steepening women’s vulnerabilities.

Studies have shown that when people are displaced, women orient unfamiliar territory in looking for resources to run households, facing increased risk of gender-based violence. Cases of violence spiked after cyclones and typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as other regions. Malaysia also saw cases of violence among the Penan women and girls in Sarawak, by timber workers as a result of deforestation process, that left them with limited and risky travel options.

Hardships, compounded by weather extremes, can destroy livelihoods and exacerbate poverty. To cope, some families cope by marrying off young daughters, and we have seen increases in child marriage in countries affected by climate disasters; a risk to avoid at all costs.

The study by ARROW and Penita reinforces the need to link climate response to the needs of population taking into account their socio-economic circumstances – the different needs for those in different locations, regions, generations, age classes, income groups, occupations and genders – poorer states in Malaysia are more vulnerable to climate related circumstances. Persistent structural inequalities pose greater, and exacerbate, risks to health care, food, clean water and other resources which are crucial to the enjoyment of one’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality.

With Malaysia seeing increases in rainfall during the wet period and longer drought during the dry period, and with increasing urban population as well as inland farming communities and coastal areas, research has found that women suffered the most from the floods, especially the disabled, the pregnant, nursing mothers and single mothers.

There is a need for tailored response to women’s needs – for example to plan on how to address pregnant mothers who are expecting child delivery after floods when roads are cut off due to water rise, as well as the need to consult these women to mitigate the effects of floods also in Malaysia.

A long and strenuous journey for example to health clinic in rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak poses increased challenge to access to proper nutrition, clean water; to ensure maternal, child and reproductive health are met.

Climate crises also impacts women’s entrepreneurial-based income, as many livelihoods as well as food security that directly depend on forest ecosystems. Investment in green technologies also needs to redress women’s needs, and benefit women.

Women and girls living in emergencies around the world are robbed of the ability to take charge of their bodies, lives and futures. Sexual and reproductive health services must not be an afterthought in emergencies. For the woman about to give birth or the adolescent girl subjected to sexual abuse, these services are as vital as food, water and shelter, and can mean the difference between life and death.

As I am about to close circle on today’s global theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, we recall that in as much that the stressors of climate change can trouble the path towards sustainable development and requiring our new and innovative solutions; this International Women's Day, on 8 March, we also remember that peaceful co-existence is an important condition to solve the already large humanitarian challenges. Today we also send our thoughts to women and girls who are disproportionately affected in humanitarian crises from around the world. In all crises, the most vulnerable, disenfranchised and disempowered suffer the most.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today we also celebrate women’s resilience. We have also seen how women play a critical role in supporting female peers cope and navigate the changes they are confronted with, addressing the unique needs of women, through their participation and leadership. Women possess unique knowledge and experiences; women’s brave voices need to be heard at the decision-making tables, influence guiding policies, and women’s needs should orient investment decisions.

This afternoon and the evidence leading up to it, has convincingly demonstrated that disaster preparedness and response needs to integrate pronouncedly a gender perspective, inclusive of all. This will maximize community resilience, and help bounce better back from shocks with minimum disruptions, perhaps even ride the wave of innovation, towards chartering the course towards the SDGs.

Today’s deliberations has conclusively showed that we must listen to women's voices and invest in women’s leadership and resilience. Women bring communities together; women lead efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change; and women can drive reconciliation and ensure long-lasting peace, and more prosperous countries.

It has also showed that due to its complexity and wide ranging scope, collaboration. Cross-sectoral collaboration among ministries – between Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development - in legal, policy and action framework development are needed. In the same way, collaboration needs to be activated among all solution providers.

Lastly, Ladies and gentlemen, in concluding this enriching and inspiring afternoon

It is our hope that Malaysia will embrace the call to action, recent one being last year at COP22; to adopt gender-responsive climate policies, to develop a gender action plan in order to support the implementation of gender-related decisions and mandates under the UNFCCC process, including detailing priority areas and details for their implementation and execution, and accountability in their completion; as well as strengthening and supporting the voices of women in climate action as Agents of Change, in households and in communities. We stand ready to provide any support that we can to this process.

In closing our forum for today, I wish to again take this opportunity to sincerely thank our distinguished speakers, the support from the Ministry of Environment and Water, our organizing committee and your kind participation in today’s forum.

Malaysia is a tremendously beautiful country! We look forward to an even greener, sustainable, equitable tomorrow for Malaysia.

Selamat petang and wishing you a restful evening. Thank you.

Rewatch the Forum here

Julitta Onabanjo

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Statement on the International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022

Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2022

By the South Sudan Women, Peace and Security Group co-chaired by the Embassies of Norway and Sweden, facilitated by UN Women

On International Women’s Day, we recommit to achieving a world in which every woman and girl can enjoy their full range of rights and reach their full potential. The Women, Peace and Security Group of South Sudan 1 urges the Government to ensure that women’s voices are heard, their needs taken into account, and their inclusion and participation at all levels of government be prioritized.

A number of important steps have been taken towards gender equality in South Sudan. In the last year, women have been appointed to the Parliament and senior leadership, and the Action Plan for the Armed Forces on Addressing Conflict Related Sexual Violence in South Sudan has been adopted. However, many challenges and obstacles persist. Harmful gender norms continue to impede women’s full participation in decision-making in their homes and communities, and at the national and sub-national level. A disproportionately high number of women employed in the informal sector are more vulnerable to climate and conflict related shocks, and dependent on natural resources. Women and girls continue to be at risk of physical, sexual, and psychological violence.  

The Women, Peace and Security Group stands in solidarity with women in South Sudan who play a critical and active role in peacebuilding and nation-building. We call on the Government to meaningfully engage with civil society, particularly women-led and women’s rights organizations in pivotal processes such as constitution building and electoral design. We advocate for the enactment of the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Bill to ensure that women and girls are protected against Gender Based Violence (GBV), courts and mechanisms to end impunity for GBV are prioritized, and perpetrators held to account.

Inclusion of women and girls are pre-conditions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Gender equality and empowering women and girls benefits everyone and contributes to stronger, more peaceful, and prosperous societies. This International Women’s Day, we invite all stakeholders to renew efforts to advance gender equality, amplify the voice and accomplishment of inspiring women, and champion their needs in South Sudan and around the world.

Signatories

British Embassy Juba

Delegation of the European Union to South Sudan

Embassy of Canada to South Sudan

Embassy of Sweden in South Sudan

Embassy of Japan in South Sudan

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Sudan

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Sudan

Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD)

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba

Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba

CARE International

TITI Foundation

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

______________________

[1] The WPS WG consists of the Embassies of Norway, Sweden, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK, United Nations (UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UNMISS), EU Delegation, AUMISS, IGAD, RJMEC, and institutions established under the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), as well as CARE International and TITI Foundation

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International Women's Day 2022: First Minister's statement - 8 March 2022

Statement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opening the debate, International Women's Day 2022 in the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 8 March 2022.

Thank you, Presiding Officer

It is a privilege to open this debate today.

I will talk shortly about what International Women’s Day means for us here in Scotland – but this is also an opportunity to show solidarity to women and girls across the globe, not least those on the frontline of conflict and war.

Today, in particular, I know all of our thoughts are with the women and girls of Ukraine.

Ukraine is one of the countries across the world that marked International Women’s Day with a public holiday.

This time last year, thousands marched through the streets of its capital city Kyiv, to demand gender equality.

Today, the reality could not be more different.

Kyiv, and cities across Ukraine, are under brutal Russian bombardment.

Far from participating in peaceful, democratic protest, Ukrainians are now fighting and fleeing for their lives.

So today, from our national Parliament here in Edinburgh, Kyiv’s twin city, let us send the women and girls, men and boys of Ukraine our love, solidarity and support.

But let us also, Presiding Officer, send this message:

In the face of the horror engulfing Ukraine, words are not enough.

In the past 10 days alone, more than two million people have already fled the horrors of war – that number is rising rapidly.

The majority of those seeking refuge are women and children.

So far, the UK’s response has fallen short.

Today, on International Women’s Day, I appeal to the UK government to follow the example of Ireland, and other EU countries.

Refuge and sanctuary first – bureaucracy second.

Let people in and do the paperwork afterwards.

Let’s open not just our hearts, but also our doors.

Our common humanity demands it.

Presiding Officer,

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Break the Bias’.

Three short words that mask the scale of the task we face if we are to ensure equality for women and girls here at home, and across the globe.

The bias we seek to break is engrained.

Its roots are deeply historic, and I will reflect on that later, but its impacts are very current and all women experience it in some way, shape or form.

Of course, for  minority ethnic women, disabled women, trans women, lesbians, the impact is compounded.

The bias we must break encapsulates prejudice and discrimination, outdated gender stereotypes, sexism and misogyny.

Attitudes that have no place in modern society but which still shape and limit the lives of women on a daily basis.

These attitudes result in the systematic under-representation of women.

They result in the under-valuing of the contribution women make to our society.

And they result in too many women living in perennial fear of harassment, abuse, domestic and sexual violence and in too many cases, murder.

Breaking the bias must mean changing all of that – or it will mean nothing at all.

And let’s be clear it is not women who need to change. What must change is a culture, in which prejudice, sexism and misogyny still thrive.

International Women’s Day is, of course, a time to take stock of progress made.

And there has been progress.

I stand here as the first woman to hold the office of First Minister.

I lead a gender balanced cabinet.

Forty five percent of this Parliament’s members are women and, albeit very belatedly, we now count amongst our number women of colour.

All of that is progress and it is helping drive deeper change.

The world’s first comprehensive women’s health plan, free period products, removing for women and girls both the financial costs and the stigma of periods, reform of the law on domestic abuse, the doubling of early years education and childcare, and the new Child Payment.

Tangible examples of policies that are making the lives of women and girls better.

So we should celebrate progress made.

But we mustn’t let it mask the deep inequalities that still exist across society, or distract us from the work still to do.

Better representation is not yet equal representation. Not here in Parliament or across our council chambers, not on company boards or decision-making bodies the length and breadth of the country.

Women still bear the biggest responsibility for child care and unpaid care more generally.

Women are still much more likely to work in occupations that are underpaid and undervalued.

And of course the lives of women are still blighted each and every day by an epidemic of harassment, abuse, threats and violence – an epidemic that seems to be getting worse, not better.

That problem is real and very current.

But the misogyny that motivates it is age old.

That’s why I want to focus the remainder of my remarks on two issues. One deeply historic and one contemporary, but linked by that common thread of misogyny.

Before this Parliament just now is a petition demanding a pardon for the more than 4,000 people in Scotland – the vast majority of them women – accused, and in many cases convicted and executed for being ‘witches’ under the Witchcraft Act of 1563.

Those who met this fate were not ‘witches’.

They were people. And they were overwhelmingly women. At a time when women were not even allowed to speak as witnesses in a court room, they were accused and killed because they were poor, different, vulnerable, or in many cases just because they were women.

It was injustice on a colossal scale, driven at least in part, by misogyny in its most literal sense – hatred of women.

The pardon the petition calls for would require this Parliament to legislate, and in future this Parliament may choose to do so.

But in the meantime, the petition also calls for an apology.

After all, these accusations and executions were instigated and perpetrated by the state.

And so today, on International Women’s Day, as First Minister on behalf of the Scottish Government, I am choosing to acknowledge that egregious historic injustice and extend a formal, posthumous apology to all those accused, convicted, vilified or executed under the Witchcraft Act 1563.

Now, some will ask why this generation should say sorry for something that happened centuries ago – though it might actually be more pertinent to ask why it has taken so long.

But, for me, there are three reasons.

Firstly, acknowledging injustice, no matter how historic, is important.

This parliament has issued, rightly so, formal apologies and pardons for the more recent historic injustices suffered by gay men and by miners.

And we are currently considering a request for a formal apology to women whose children were forcibly adopted.

Reckoning with historic injustice is a vital part of building a better country.

So too is recognising, and writing into history what has been, for too long, erased – the experiences and the achievements of women.

Second, for some, this is not yet historic. There are parts of our world where, even today, women and girls face persecution and sometimes death because they have been accused of witchcraft.

And, thirdly, fundamentally, while here in Scotland the Witchcraft Act may have been consigned to history a long time ago, the deep misogyny that motivated it has not. We live with that still.

Today it expresses itself, not in claims of witchcraft, but in everyday harassment, online rape threats and sexual violence.

All of it intensified by an increasingly polarised and toxic public discourse, and amplified each and every day by social media.

It is no wonder that more women than ever before, certainly in my lifetime, are now questioning whether politics and public life are safe environments for women.

And it is no wonder so many still feel scared to walk the streets.

In recent days, we have marked the anniversary of the horrific murder of Sarah Everard.

Her death sparked outrage and a demand for change.

And yet in the year since Sarah was killed, dozens more women have been murdered across Britain.

Just last week, I chaired the Cabinet’s annual meeting with the Scottish Children’s Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

One of the Trustees of the Youth Parliament, Sophie Reid, gave a powerful presentation about the experiences of young women today.

She spoke of the ways in which women are forced to adapt their own behaviours and restrict their own lives to protect themselves as far as possible from the harassment, abuse and violence of men.

These experiences are heart-breaking.

But they are not new. These are also experiences of my generation, and my mother’s, and my grandmother’s.

If they are not to become the experiences of the next generation too, a line in the sand must be drawn.

It is no longer acceptable to expect women and girls to adapt and accommodate.

It is time to challenge unacceptable male behaviour, and better protect women from it.

We must change for good the culture of misogyny that has normalised such behaviour for far too long.

It is of course in this context, that Baroness Helena Kennedy’s Working Group on Misogyny has this morning published its ground-breaking report.

I thank Baroness Kennedy and the working group, including of course, the late and sadly missed, Emma Ritch, for producing such a powerful and compelling report.

Its recommendations are bold and they are far reaching.

It proposes a new Misogyny and Criminal Justice Act, and it recommends that this new Act include a statutory misogyny aggravation.

Now it is important to stress Presiding Officer, in anticipation of concerns about freedom of thought and speech, that this would not criminalise misogyny, per se.

But it would allow crimes, assault for example, which are motivated by misogyny to be treated more seriously in sentencing.

Importantly it would not apply to crimes, such as rape, which are inherently misogynistic.

The report also recommends three new criminal offences to reflect and better address the daily lived experience of too many women.

These would be:

• stirring up hatred against women and girls
• public misogynistic harassment, and
• issuing threats of, or invoking, rape or sexual assault or disfigurement of women and girls, whether online or offline

The Scottish Government welcomes these recommendations in principle.

We will now of course, give full consideration to the detail and we will respond formally as soon as possible.

However, this report, in my view, matters beyond the detail of the specific recommendations it makes.

It matters because it acknowledges and it gives powerful voice to the stark realities of everyday life for women.

It recognises that misogyny is endemic, and that it blights the lives of women every single day.

And it rightly points out, that not all men are misogynist - but all women do experience misogyny.

It also recognises the power of the law to drive social and cultural change, and concedes that for women and girls, our law is currently failing.

And perhaps most importantly of all, it articulates a fundamental truth that on this International Women’s Day, we must all reflect on.

A society in which women do not feel safe is not one in which we can ever be truly equal.

On International Women’s Day, let us in this Parliament re-dedicate ourselves to building a society, in which women and girls are safe, and in which they feel safe.

Let us acknowledge and reckon with historic injustice, and in doing so, let us redouble our work now to consign age-old misogyny to the history books, once and for all.

And let that then be the foundation on which we build a truly gender equal Scotland, and offer it as an example and an inspiration to women and girls across the globe.

On this International Women’s Day, at a time of real darkness for our world, let us today send a message of hope and light to women and girls everywhere.

I move the motion in my name.

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