International Women’s Day is almost here!
It’s a day to acknowledge the incredible achievements of women and to shine a light on the progress yet to be made.
Over the last year, global aid cuts have disproportionately impacted – the services girls’ rely on to reduce child marriage, give birth safely, or heal after violence. In conflicts, girls are even more vulnerable to violence.
The girls of today will become the women of tomorrow and it is integral that their rights are protected, their voices are heard, and they are given the opportunities to continue their education and reach their full potential.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March every year and is a focal point for the movement of women’s rights.
This day began as a protest movement in New York City over 100 years ago, when women garment workers took to the streets to demand fair working conditions. It was marked for the first time by more than one million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
The day is about calling not only for better conditions for women, but an equal world that will benefit us all.
However, we’ve stopped talking about the continued inequalities women face, and started spending this day celebrating the progress they are making – the workplace policies achieved, and the high achieving women to be inspired by.
This optimism matters, and has been hard-earned, but it’s only half of the story. We need to continue standing with those still fighting hard for their basic rights.
Celebration without solidarity makes the assumption that equality is nearly won.
Help the girls of tomorrow – join Change for Girls
For millions of girls, education is a lifeline – a connection to safety and survival.
Change for Girls supports our work in addressing the immediate needs of girls and their families, and the deep-rooted barriers to gender equality. Your regular donation can mean girls and young women around the world are free from violence and have choices for their futures.
Today, it is a global moment where people around the world – men, women, girls, boys and everyone in their diversities – come together and push for change and for a more equal world.
When girls are educated and supported, they can create incredible change.
- 12 years of education for every girl would reduce child marriage worldwide by 64 per cent.
- For every year a girl stays in school, her country’s climate resilience measurably improves.
- 5 to 10% is how much infant mortality rates are reduced for every additional year of school that a girl completes.