The right to vote, to hold public office and to even be vocal has not come easily for women. For women to be at the helm of businesses and governments as we see today - did not come easy.
Vast shifts have been made that have seen women becoming heads of state, going to universities and participating in decisions about their families.
However the battle is still far from won as women are still not represented in equal numbers in politics, while globally, women's education and health is still worse than that of men. Women, because of their physique, childbearing responsibilities and other psychosocial factors, are still being physically, sexually, emotionally and economically abused.
A worrying trend has also emerged in the growing disparity between the numbers of men and women living with HIV, with women constituting the greater percentage of those newly infected.
This year's International Women's Day is being commemorated on March 8 under the theme “Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women.” It comes at a time when several countries have heeded the call to introduce stiffer punishments for perpetrators of violence against women. Laws to protect women from gender-based violence have been introduced in some countries, showing commitment by people in the region to end all forms of violence against women.
While in some countries, International Women's Day is commemorated on a large scale with rallies, business conferences, marches and networking, in many countries in this region the day will pass and many women will not even know that a day has been set aside for them to reflect on their lives.
As journalists, we should look at our countries and gauge the level of awareness people have about the day, what it stands for and how it can be used to better their lives.
As journalists we need to heighten awareness of gender issues and the link between them and HIV.
As journalists we need to lobby for women's empowerment and look for ways of bringing the gender dimension into our coverage of news.
It is important to highlight some of the problem areas in the various spheres we operate in with regard to gender disparities.
International Women's Day, if effectively organised and commemorated has the potential to be as prominent as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence period. How can the media link the advocacy campaigns of the period to International Women's Day to create continuity of the messages?
For a commemoration whose message is meant to reach every woman regardless of social, financial or political status, the use of complex language with words like ‘impunity' seems ill advised. How can journalists, on behalf of the different publics they represent, highlight such issues and advocate for organizing bodies to formulate campaign themes that can be understood by all?
Sources
For more information:
Ministries of Women's Affairs or Gender in different countries
United Nations Development Fund for Women
www.unifem.undp.org
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