INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MEET, GREET AND SHARE FORUM.
International Women’s Day is observed annually on the 8th of MARCH to commemorate the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women globally. It is an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. It is a day to recognize the extraordinary acts of women and to stand together, as a united force, to advance gender equality around the world.
The theme of IWD 2022 was #Break the Bias. Which was a campaign basically to promote a world that is free of inequality, discrimination and stereotypes against women. On the 8th of March 2022, together with Women volunteers for peace (WOVOP) and other partners (County Government of Kisumu (CGK), Clothe a Child, Peperusha Binti, Centre of the study of adolescents (CSA), TIMADA Youth Organization, Youth Empowerment on Sexual reproductive health rights Advocacy & Mentorship (YESAM), Reducing HIV in Adolecents and Youths (RHAY), Winam child without limit, Oxfam Kenya, Tuelimishe Vijana (TUVI), Social Justice Centre, Pambazuko La Wanawake Magharibi (PALAWAMA), Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Gulf Hub, Good Deeds Day) we held a young women leaders meet, greet and share edutainment forum to celebrate women, whereby young women were given a platform to learn and share the challenges they have gone through, how to overcome them , their achievements, failures and also motivated each other to exploit their strength.
Together with the women we discussed various challenges they may have faced or would like to tackle such as; Not getting spaces in the political arena, being denied leadership positions in their respective work areas, denied access to property after the loss of a spouse, being forced into wife inheritance, being forced to become housewives, sexual abuse, gender-based violence and discrimination on land issues i.e., land inheritance.
Majority of women have managed to overcome these challenges despite the trauma that they are associated with. Through various programs such as Dream Girl they were able to speak up and learn how to be resilient enough to pursue their dreams. By gaining innovation and creativity, they can start their own entrepreneurial careers which makes them proud breadwinners of their households. They are encouraged to aspire for political and even leadership positions at their work places, most stood up for themselves and managed to reject some cultural practices such as FGM and wife inheritance.
Women for a long time have been denied their rights. Even in the contemporary world, the original motive of the day of achieving gender equality has not fully been accomplished. It is still necessary to celebrate the International Women’s Day, this is because gender discrimination still persists despite all these years of demanding the same. Patriarchy still rules the world where men hold all the power and women are held against it. So, to all the strong and courageous women out there.
LET’S BREAK THE BIAS!