Today, March 8th is International Women's Day, a day that was established to commemorate the struggle women and girls across the globe have endured in order to obtain their ‘full’ human rights. Sadly while I sit here and enjoy my ‘full’ rights, millions of women and young girls worldwide are still being denied. Millions of women and girls every day are faced with Gender Inequality and face specific issues such as; Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)/Female Circumcision, Child Marriage, Child Trafficking, and other gender based human rights abuses. While many women and girls still struggle, others have set forth to be industry and world leaders, and it is these female leaders that will pave the way forward for the those who still struggle to achieve their ‘full’ rights.
This month the United Nations will bring women from around the globe to New York to attend the UN Commission on the status of Women. The celebration will also mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) is using the month of March to bring highlight the leadership role women play in guaranteeing human rights.
Rights for women and girls have come a long way, but let us not forget to protect those who's rights are being violated. The role of women and girls in all aspects of society is vital to a sustainable and peaceful global community. Celebrate women and girls, empower them and they will lead us towards a better tomorrow!
