Celebrating International Women’s Day

This week, UN Women National Committee Australia is hosting the largest event series around the country to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th.

The events held in six capital cities around Australia spanning the next four days will bring together over 8,000 people to celebrate the achievements of women and reflect on the progress we have made as well as highlight the work that still needs to be done.

“Still today, women are locked out of decision-making tables all around the world: less than a quarter of parliamentarians are women. Poverty is rife: women and girls make up more than 80% of people living on under $2 a day in Asia and the Pacific. When disaster and crisis strike, women and girls are often left behind in planning and response efforts, leading to poor outcomes for everyone.” says Janelle Weissman, Executive Director of UN Women National Committee (NC) Australia.

The International Women’s Day events for 2018 with the theme ‘Leave No Woman Behind’, will kick off in Brisbane Tuesday 6 March and will put the focus on the impacts disaster and crisis have on women and girls and highlight the vital role women play in planning and response efforts.

“All too often, it is the women who are left behind in times of conflict, disaster or other crisis. Disasters kill more women than men, and hit women’s livelihoods hardest. Trafficking, child marriage, and all other forms of violence against women and girls increase.” said Ms Weissman.

Women have important resources and talents to contribute to planning for and responding to disasters and conflict. Women play a vital role as leaders, given their wealth of knowledge and connections to family and community and are well placed to help protect and empower other women and girls so that they can survive and thrive. When women have a seat at decision making tables, the entire community benefits. UN Women works around the world to ensure that women are not merely vulnerable victims, but are agents of change.

Funds raised at the events will support programs working to ensure women are included in crisis and disaster planning and response efforts and to secure seats at the table during peace-making processes. Funds will also support those programs ensuring that the unique needs of women and girls are not forgotten, so that they are protected from gender-based violence in the midst of crisis and the wake of disaster.

Everyone can show their support for gender equality and women’s empowerment by purchasing and wearing a purple ribbon this International Women’s Day. Purple ribbons are available to buy now at Esprit stores throughout the country.

Executive Director of UN Women NC Australia, Janelle Weissman is available for comment.

UN Women NC Australia’s events will be held across Australia on the following dates
Brisbane Breakfast – Tuesday 6 March, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 7:00am – 9:00am
Melbourne Breakfast – Wednesday 7 March, Melbourne Park Function Centre, 7:00am – 9:00am
Perth Breakfast – Thursday 8 March, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, 7:00am – 9:00am
Canberra Breakfast – Thursday 8 March, National Convention Centre Canberra, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Sydney Breakfast – Friday 9 March, International Convention Centre Sydney, 7:00am – 9:00am
Adelaide Breakfast – Friday 9 March, Adelaide Convention Centre Adelaide, 7:00am – 9:00am