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What will you make happen this year?
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated globally every year on March 8. Each year, the Australian National Committee for UN Women hosts International Women's Day events across Australia. Taking place in the first week of March, these events are attended by more than 8,000 people each year. The theme for this year is "Make it Happen".
In 2015 IWD commemorates Beijing +20, a global campaign celebrating progress towards gender equality since the landmark Beijing Platform for Action was signed in 1995 by 189 countries.
While we have come a long way, we still have a long way to go. Beijing + 20 also highlights what still needs to be done, so we don't have to wait another 20 years to achieve gender equality.
As well as achieving gender equality and women's empowerment on a global level, what would you, as an Australian woman, like to achieve in your personal life this year? What do you want to make happen for yourself this year?
It could be going back to school and getting that degree or qualification you've always regretted not doing. It could be changing your job and doing something that's more fulfilling. You might want to start your own business; work from home a couple of days a week to see your children more; run that marathon or City to Surf; do the Kokoda Trail; get that long-deserved promotion; learn a language; get fit and healthy by taking up a sport or to be more involved in your community or children's school.
Whatever it is that you want, make 2015 the year you do whatever it takes to make it happen for you.
International Women's Day Events
Tickets are now on sale for selected IWD major events. View the Events Calendar for booking details and to play your part in creating a brighter future for women and girls.
Achieving gender equality starts at a grass roots level, in educating kids about equality, empowering our own girls and giving them a sense that they can achieve as much if not more than any of their male friends.
It's about giving them opportunities, encouragement and a sense of their own potential.
So if you're thinking about hosting your own IWD event, don't just think about doing something in your workplace or amongst your adult friends, think about hosting something at your school or child care centre.
About UN Women
In case you don't know about UN Women, the organisation is the United Nations entity responsible for promoting women's empowerment and gender equality. It was formed in 2010 through the merger of UNIFEM and other smaller UN offices that had dealt with gender equality as part of a system-wide reform program.
The main roles of UN Women are:
- To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in the formulation of policies, global standards and norms;
- To help Member States implement these standards through technical and financial support and facilitating effective partnerships with civil society; and
- To hold the UN system accountable to its own commitments on gender equality.
UN Women's priority areas are:
- Expanding women's leadership and participation, particularly through formal institutions such as political parties and electoral processes;
- Ending violence against women by enabling states to set up the mechanisms needed to formulate and enforce appropriate laws and services;
- Strengthening the implementation of the Women, Peace And Security agenda;
- Enhancing women's economic empowerment; and
- Making gender equality priorities central to national, local and sectoral planning and budgeting.
To find out more about UN Women internationally visit www.unwomen.org.au.
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