Press Release: International Women Day
celebration 2016
March 8th each year marks International Women
Day originally called international working women day. This is a day set aside
to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.
The UN theme for this year's celebration is" planet 50_50 by 2030: step it
up for gender equality”. A mission that we all have to embark on for the
achievement of a society where gender parity is a basis of harmony and mutual
development.
For us, it is a time to reflect on progress
made, to call for change and to honor actions of courage and determination by
ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of our
country and communities. As this year marks another year for elections in
Ghana, Abibimman Foundation would like to use this day to promote the interests
of women in leadership as the previous elections saw more women in positions
which would be a drive and motivation for others in the ultimate goal of
achieving gender parity in some few years to come. Abibimman Foundation’s theme
for this year’s International Women’s Day celebration is “The role of women in national
elections and governance" as a talk on the progress made by women in
positions would help other nations make way for such inputs.
Abibimman Foundation therefore urges all
Ghanaians and organizations to know that discrimination, stigmatization and
outrage are major barriers to the achievement of gender parity as to suit the UN theme for this year's
celebration " planet 50_50 by 2030: step it up for gender equality”.
The role of women in national elections and
governance is important and therefore, women’s rights
has to be at the center of every political party’s manifesto as a strategy to
address the staggering and growing challenge of gender parity. There is
therefore the need to stress for platforms to discuss issues that militated
against women’s empowerment. Women play an
important role in society when it comes to elections and governance. As we
approach yet another season of election where tension and violence are prone in
certain communities, there is the need for extra measures for peace and
security to be put in place for their rights to be protected by stakeholders
and organizations.
Everyone, both men and women can
pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly,
whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for
gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more
inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a
leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action
to accelerate gender parity.
Christiana Boni
Projects Coordinator (Gender and Human Rights)
Abibimman Foundation
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