International Women’s Day
Details
When — 08/03/2024
Where — International
Category — Event
Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.
March 8 is marked on our calendars as the celebration of International Women’s Day across the world, a day where companies typically host a purple themed morning tea - which the women have organised - with cupcakes and high level conversation about recognising the contribution women make to teams.
At it’s roots however, International Women’s Day is a day for reflecting on women’s rights, and recognising the work that needs to be done to invest in women and girls to meet economic, conflict and climate related challenges head on. It gives focus to issues such as reproductive rights, violence and abuse against women, and gender equality, the latter of which is an immediate challenge within the Mining & Minerals resources industry in Australia.
From the opening remarks delivered by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous at the UN official commemoration of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2024, UN headquarters:
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous delivers opening remarks at the UN official commemoration of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2024, UN headquarters. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown.
Investing in women and girls is indisputably the best pathway to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, to peace and security.
When more women are economically empowered, economies grow.
Where women are equally represented in government, governance thrives.
Where women are free to live their lives without the perpetual threat of violence, families flourish, and businesses benefit.
Where women have a bigger say in peace processes, peace is found sooner and is more durable.
But in spite of these clear facts, we continue to stubbornly invest in weapons more than we invest in women and girls.
We continue to say gender equality can be postponed for “later”, as we watch the world fall further off track, and even “later” is postponed.
More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education, healthcare, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits. We know that when women raise their voices it is for equality, for their rights and for the rights of others, for peace and justice for all. They fight to leave a better world behind them for all the people and for our shared planet.
On International Women’s Day we elevate their voice. We elevate their cause, and our cause. We commit to affording it the resources it deserves and demands.
As leaders in our workplace, and quite often the employees our companies turn to for coordinating International Women’s Day events, it’s more important than ever to ensure the importance of this day is being communicated to our teams.
If this means putting in a request for amazing tasting, homemade chocolate cupcakes from the husband to make sure the right people even want to sit at the table to start these discussions, then this is what I will continue to do until we no longer need to have a dedicated day to highlight the challenges women face.
As our company cultures mature, so can our conversations, to ensure this day is focused on identifying and removing the significant obstacles women face to achieving equal participation in the Mining & Minerals resources industry, as well as our local community and larger global economy.
My personal contribution this International Women’s Day has been the formal launching of South West Women in Mining & Minerals (SWWiMM), a passion project I have launched to provide opportunities for the women and alllies in my working community to network and grow together. A problem shared is a problem halved, and I’m excited for what the future will bring with our combined voices.
More Information
For more information, visit: https://unwomen.org.au/get-involved/international-womens-day/
How Can I Help Out?
To support women and girls through UN Women, you can:
In Western Australia, Dress for Success strives to make a difference in the WA community by creating opportunities for women in need.
The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
You can support Dress for Success by:
