DDiAdmiNToday is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.” It is a day when women are celebrated and reminded to dream without any form of restriction. It is a day that signposts a call to action for accelerating gender parity; a day to celebrate women’s achievements and rally for women’s equality. With this year’s theme as ‘Choose To Challenge’, underscoring that a challenged world is an alert world; and from challenge comes change.
Specifically, it is a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about women’s equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity and fundraise for female-focused charities.
As an organization, DDI fully recognizes the undeniable fact that women should, and must be given the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the crucial decisions that will affect the wellbeing of people and the planet for the now and for generations to come. DDI fully supports a dismantling of the deep-seated historic, cultural, and socio-economic barriers that prevent women from taking their seat at the decision-making table for an equal distribution of resources and power. Hence, we lend our voices to this year’s theme as we strike the #ChooseToChallenge pose in these quotes…
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“A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let’s all #choosetochallenge. – internationalwomensday.com
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“Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence; a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all. To get us there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made.” – www.unwomen.org
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As we commemorate this day, let us celebrate the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world who are shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain. – www.unwomen.org
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Women are Heads of State or Government in 22 countries, and only 24.9 per cent of national parliamentarians are women. At the current rate of progress, gender equality among Heads of Government will take another 130 years. – www.unwomen.org
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Women are also at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19, as front-line and health sector workers, as scientists, doctors and caregivers, yet they get paid 11 per cent less globally than their male counterparts. An analysis of COVID-19 task teams from 87 countries found only 3.5 per cent of them had gender parity. – www.unwomen.org
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When women lead, we see positive results. Some of the most efficient and exemplary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were led by women. And women, especially young women, are at the forefront of diverse and inclusive movements online and on the streets for social justice, climate change and equality in all parts of the world. Yet, women under 30 are less than 1 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide. – www.unwomen.org
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“We need women’s representation that reflects all women and girls in all their diversity and abilities, and across all cultural, social, economic and political situations. This is the only way we will get real societal change that incorporates women in decision-making as equals and benefits us all.” – UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
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Every day, through our actions, and in the way we lead, talk, question and act, we challenge norms, transform habits, change laws, take action and inspire others to create a world without gender-based discrimination. – www.unwomen.org
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Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence; a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all. To get us there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made. – www.unwomen.org