(NATCOM) BASSETERRE St. Kitts, March 03, 2014 -- International Women’s Day (IWD), in which UNESCO is the lead agency, is celebrated annually on 8 March. This year, the theme is: “Equality for women is progress for all”. International Women’s Day has been celebrated by the United Nations since 1975 and emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.
Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO stated in her International Women’s Day (IWD) 2014 message that, “this is a moment when we review past achievements and look ahead to the challenges that remain, as well as to untapped potential and opportunities”. She continued that, “in moving forward, we must ensure that women’s empowerment and gender equality stand at the heart of all of our work to craft a better future”.
The Director General is proud to confirm that “The United Nations Charter was the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men and that over the years, the United Nations and its agencies have promoted the equal participation of women and men in all efforts to promote sustainable development and lasting peace, on the basis of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. Not to mention, “the empowerment of girls and women stands at the core all of UNESCO’s work”.
Irina Bokova also reminded us that, “empowering women is a frontline for building a more peaceful and just world. Enduring violence, discrimination and inequalities – which remain deep across the world – are major barriers to positive change, and we must act now and together to tackle them”.
On this International Women’s Day, the St.Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO echoes the call of the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, as she implores ‘all partners in Government, the private sector, civil society, across the United Nations and on all women and men, to join forces, to accelerate the pace, to redouble efforts to achieve gender equality in every region of the world”.
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