On this IWD I don’t want to read any “Happy international Women Day” without the acknowledgement of how backwards we are going.
It’s not fair.
It’s not honest.
It’s complacency.
The fight for women’s rights is facing alarming setbacks worldwide not only in traditionally conservative regions but also within Western countries.
In USA, the Supreme Court’s decision removed federal protection for abortion rights and allowing individual states to impose restrictive abortion laws.
In UK, anti-abortion activists have intensified their efforts by holding silent vigils outside abortion clinics.
In Scotland, the organization For Women Scotland has been actively involved in legal challenges concerning the definition of “woman” in legislative contexts. Their efforts aim to exclude transgender women from the definition of “woman”.
Violence against women and girls has surged, with a 50% increase in conflict-related sexual violence since 2022.
Globally, an average of 66,000 women are violently murdered each year, accounting for approximately 17% of all intentional homicides.
A recent UN report reveals that nearly a quarter of governments have reported rollbacks in women’s rights, with gender discrimination deeply entrenched in global economies and societies.
Not to mention the exclusion, or limited inclusion, of women from clinical trials which has led to significant gaps in medical knowledge, resulting in misdiagnoses and suboptimal treatments for women.
I just want to remind everyone that DEI is not about performance nor innovation. It is about human dignity.
These statistics are not just numbers; they are a call to action. Struggle for women’s rights is far from over, even in nations often perceived as champions of gender equality. It is imperative to remain vigilant and proactive in defending and advancing these rights globally.
We have spent an enormous amount of energy, resources and time to produce the data and evidences that prove that diversity is good for organisations, politics, education, you name it. Governments and businesses have implemented gender, racial and age quotas to support diversity. And yet we haven’t moved the needle far enough to ensure equality and fairness. We do not lack data or understanding. We lack compassion!
Our silence is violence too!
It’s imperative to challenge the systemic biases that persist in all areas of our society.
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The true teachers of our time are not the loudest voices, but the ones who move with clarity and purpose. The ones who ask, What is the true cost of this path? and What else might be possible?
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