Planet 50-50 by 2030 : Step it up for gender equality

Ranjan K Baruah *

We have made progress in many spheres of life. There has been changes and positive transformation taking place in different parts of the world. While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world.

There are still differences which could be seen when it comes to man and woman. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Empowering women means empowering entire community. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.

Like many other events on different days and dates, International Women's Day is observed on 8th march every year. The United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women's Year 1975. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

This year theme is "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality". The United Nations observance on 8 March shall reflect on how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals. It will equally focus on new commitments under UN Women's Step It Up initiative, and other existing commitments on gender equality, women's empowerment and women's human rights.

Some of the key targets of the 2030 Agenda includes end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere; eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation; Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of United Nations on his message on the occasion has said that "on this International Women's Day, I remain outraged by the denial of rights to women and girls – but I take heart from the people everywhere who act on the secure knowledge that women's empowerment leads to society's advancement. Let us devote solid funding, courageous advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the world. There is no greater investment in our common future."

Message by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on International Women's Day stated that "to arrive at the future we want, we cannot leave anyone behind. We have to start with those who are the least regarded. These are largely women and girls, although in poor and troubled areas, they can also include boys and men.

Women and girls are critical to finding sustainable solutions to the challenges of poverty, inequality and the recovery of the communities hardest hit by conflicts, disasters and displacements. They are at the frontline of the outbreaks of threatening new epidemics, such as Zika virus disease or the impact of climate change, and at the same time are the bulwark to protect their families, work for peace, and ensure sustainable economic growth and social change."

"We reiterate the greater participation of women as one of the necessary conditions for an inclusive Agenda 2030. Their leadership is insufficiently recognized but must emerge with greater participation in decision-making bodies. Each one of us is needed—in our countries, communities, organizations, governments and in the United Nations—to ensure decisive, visible and measurable actions are taken under the banner: Planet 50-50: Step It Up for Gender Equality.", she added on her message .

Every year different theme is chosen on the occasion. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to get engaged and make it reality. Empowering women and gender equality is important and at the same time it is also important for us what action we are taking for the same. Women must be involved in the governance process for bringing change and development.

Together we can make it and each and every one of us need to take action for it . Governments have different role and civil society has different role to play but at the end we must make sure that we can make a society where there is gender equality and women could get their rights and justice.

(With inputs from UN Publication, published on the occasion of International Women's Day )