Mar 8, 20203 min read

Happy International Women's Day

Updated: Jan 8, 2021

Written by:Gurreet Bhandal & Neha Vashist

“On International Women’s Day, equality means paying attention to the women of the past, who stood up against discrimination and demanded equal rights. It is about glimpsing the future generation exercising freedom, free from violence and discrimination. These ignite the fire in today’s youth to call for and work towards parity in all aspects of development, including gender.”

– Jonathan Monis

International Women’s day first became official on March 1911 to support women’s rights. There’s a common misconception that the fight for equality is just a crutch for advancing feminism and women's rights; however equality extends beyond gender, sexual orientation or race. We must acknowledge that International Women’s day has now become a day in which we not only celebrate women but also understand that all minorities, including people who identify themselves as non-binary or LGBTQ+, must be treated with respect and dignity.

Intersectionality is non-negotiable in 2020 and creating an equal and enabled world involves a collective effort among all individuals. It's vital that all of us understand our individual privilege in our class and race and, in turn, what our responsibilities are in making room for others, leaving open the doors we break down, and generally dismantling all the inequalities that exist between us females. We all need to actively reflect on our own thoughts and actions, to challenge stereotypes, to broaden our perspective, to praise everyone on their accomplishments without judgement, and to speak up for those who are misrepresented.

We ALL have to be #EachforEqual.

The path to equality looks different depending on where you live. In Malta, if a man abducts a woman and then marries her, he is exempt from any and all prosecution and punishment. In Canada, the homicide rate for Indigenous women is nearly seven times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous women. These examples illustrate that although inequality manifests differently in each country, it is evident that gender inequality is still a global phenomenon that exists even in progressive, western-liberal democracies. Inequality is not a thing of the past; it is still intricately woven into the fabric of our society.

PLAN International recognizes that around the world, millions of girls around the world are denied their basic human rights simply because they are girls. They face unique barriers including gender-based violence, low access to education, and child marriage that prevent them from reaching their full potential and becoming independent, successful members in their community. PLAN’s “Because I am a Girl “ movement supports the efforts of everyone, including the efforts of men and boys, to advocate for girls’ rights and gender equality. This movement allows girls to become aware of their rights and become leaders as they fight for these rights.

Today is a day to not only celebrate the progress we have made but also express gratitude for everyone who put their life on the line in the ongoing fight for equality. On International Women’s Day, we reflect on how far we have come but also how far we have yet to go.