On March 8, we celebrate International Women's Day together with all women. For these dates we want to honor the work of organizations, communities, collectives and projects led by women who have taken the great step to demonstrate that progress is in the hands of women.
This date commemorates the historical struggle of women for their rights, gender equality and the recognition of their contributions in various areas of society. The choice of this day has its roots in the feminist movements and the struggle of working women for better working conditions in the 20th century.
International Women's Day is also a time to reflect on the challenges still faced by women around the world, as well as to highlight achievements and progress in the quest for gender equality.
In a world facing multiple crises that put communities under immense pressure, achieving gender equality is more vital than ever. Guaranteeing the rights of women and girls in all spheres of life is the only way to ensure sustainable development.
Increasing the education of women and girls plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth. It is estimated that about 50 percent of the economic growth experienced in OECD countries over the past 50 years is attributed to higher levels of education.
More than half of this progress is due to girls' improved access to higher levels of education and the achievement of greater equity in the length of training between men and women.
Despite these significant educational gains for women, many of these achievements are not reflected in substantial improvements in their employment outcomes.(*)
However, labor inequality for women is a complex and multifaceted situation, some key reasons behind gender labor inequality include:
Gender pay gap.
Gender discrimination and bias.
Family responsibilities.
Stereotypes and social expectations.
Lack of reconciliation policies.
About "Progress of the World's Women".
"Progress of the World's Women" is UN Women's periodic investigation of progress towards a world where women live free of violence, poverty and inequality. Provocative and revealing, this series is the result of years of research, in-depth analysis and statistical findings based on the experience and knowledge of organizations, experts and academics at the highest level.
We recognize that there is still much to be done, but we remain confident that women, day by day, will succeed in closing the inequality gap through our joint, community and networked efforts. All economic and sustainable growth begins at home, and women and girls are the first to contribute to nurturing these households.
The world we aspire to depends on the intrinsic work of women. For these and many more reasons that we will share in the coming weeks in honor of International Women's Day, we celebrate the extraordinary collective work, community projects and empowerment of women leaders who inspire us every day to do our best.
In our Zoe Network, composed mostly of women, we wish to highlight the importance of teamwork, personal development, empathy and mutual support among women. We understand that through deep personal work, we are sowing the way for progress towards a new world.
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