Many societies tend to ignore the significant role of women in the homes and communities. Women’s unpaid labor is often neither valued nor factored in GDP, frequently remaining unseen and unrecognized. It is time to recognize how important their role and contributions are. Let’s ensure both sexes see each other as partners, let’s continue creating more awareness, let’s #PressforProgress.
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated on March 8 every year, is the day when we should all renew our commitment to gender equality.
This year’s theme is #PressforProgress. It should remind all of us to evaluate and push issues that are most relevant for the progress of gender parity and equality.
Can we take a moment and reflect what we have achieved since the last commemoration of IWD? How are we achieving? How are schools becoming more equal for all girls and boys? Is the implementation of the right to education for girls and women making solid and substantial progress?
There are many laws already in place to promote the rights of women and girls. In the Gambia, these rights are enshrined in our Constitution, women’s act, children’s act, sexual offences act, etc.
All these laws are meant to empower women and girls and promote their rights. Many other countries also have laws that promote these rights. We should now focus on ensuring that these laws are actually implemented.