As March comes to its close, so to does Women’s History Month. Even though women are not forgotten the other eleven months of the year, March is a special time to reflect on a woman’s position in society. As women, we navigate through a world filled with double standards and struggles. But let’s not forget the joy and positives of being a woman!
Women make up half of the world’s population. Which means women comprise half of all oppressed groups in societies. Meaning, a woman’s voice should carry a tremendous amount of influence. We are a powerful group.
The United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW60) has been around for sixty years and meets annually to discuss international women empowerment. They have done some amazing things such as having more inclusive language in the International Declaration of Human Rights–of the course the word “men” should not be used to generalize humanity when half of us are women!
This month, government officials came together at CSW60 to discuss the role women play in humanitarian action. In the UN article, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka states:
Our world is seeing the increasing effects of climate change, violent extremism and an unprecedented number of displaced persons. Women and girls are affected disproportionately by these crises. At the same time, women are essential to recovery and resilience-building.
Thus, it has been decided that gender equality–the plight of women and girls on a global scale–will be central to humanitarian talks at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. They comprised a list of four commitments:
- Empowering women’s groups to enhance women and girls leadership and participation
- Ensuring access to quality, comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare for women and adolescent girls
- Implementing a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence
- Establishing accountability
Here’s to us, women. Here’s to having our reach extend beyond the confines of Women’s Herstory Month. May we be strong and may we matter all twelve months of the year.