Celebrating women also means investing in them for the benefit of all!

This has turned into a tradition now! Every year on March 8, the world takes a break to “celebrate” women. The 2024 is no exception to this rule established by the United Nations Resolution 32/142 adopted on 16 December 1977, which instituted the International Women’s Day (IWD). Although its origins go further back than that, there is no need to recall here the historical context of this day. Beyond the celebrations and parades marking that day, the activities organised around it generally focus on the need to create favourable conditions for the full development of women and their participation in the life of humanity. It is also a moment to take stock of equal opportunities for men and women in different countries. 

By deciding to look at the “glass as half full”, we notice notable progress since the first claims that led to this Day being instituted with its relevant goals. A succession of concepts have been developed to give a real value to women, who are increasingly found in business sectors that only a few years ago would have been unimaginable, in decision-making circles and so on, even if their number remains limited.

We refuse to turn back the clock and take up the struggles that have enabled women to achieve a higher standard in a sphere that was previously reserved for men, simply because the challenges have not been exhausted! While many people, after arguments and awareness-raising efforts, are beginning to have a different perception of the role of women in the development of a nation, of a society, starting by the family circle, the task remains demanding. To have a real impact, actions require resources, however limited.

The theme of this year, “Investing in Women to Accelerate Progress”, is an apt illustration of the message we want to convey. The world is changing. In many countries, conflicts, economic instability and climate change, as a major concern, create a humanitarian situation that affects women to a greater extent than men.

Contrary to previous years, women are more aware that they can effectively contribute to creating a better world. They have numerous solutions that are just waiting to emerge. However, most of the time, they face a huge obstacle: investment! Empowerment! Gender equality is not the issue. Men and women will never be equal. The game is already rigged in terms of physiology. As women, we face realities that men don’t and vice-versa!

The issue is equality in terms of rights: the right to quality education; the right to funding for the implementation of projects or start-ups led by women; and many other rights such as access to land which are not mentioned here. In this area, the process is slow. Where legislation does exist, it is certainly “regardless of gender”, but most of the time it is “stagnant”, due to a lack of monitoring or a lack of proper monitoring.

“Investing in Women to Accelerate Progress” is more than just a call to action. For us, it is a call to move beyond the traditional scientific sessions, seminars and panels organised on this occasion, and take action to implement the resolutions and other ensuing recommendations.

Some progress has been made, but we need to move faster, if we want to avoid losing what we have already achieved! Everything needs analysed from a gender perspective! That means integrating specific characteristics more than we did in the past! The International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate women and their economic, political and social achievements. However, we must keep in mind that celebrating women also means investing in them for the benefit of all! This is no longer an option, but an absolute necessity!