International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries across the world as a day to recognize how far women have come. Furthermore, UN Women organize the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to take place in March. This has further strengthened the symbolic representation of the day and month as a rallying call to continue to push for women’s rights and their equal participation in everyday life.
As is now becoming the tradition, HSF has taken intentional effort over the past 3 years to commemorate this day individually and with her partners. 2024 would be the 3rd International Women’s Day where HSF would actively join in commemorating the day which motivated me to take a step back and personally reflect on the importance of this day. This is against the backdrop of recent events in Kenya over the past year that is creating a sense of worry/ stress that we are backtracking on important gains or stagnating as opposed to making significant, lasting and inclusive gains for all women regardless of their economic, political, cultural or religious background. For example, failure to meet the two-third gender threshold and increased cases of violence against women.
These events, among many others, led me to the question of the importance of this day and should we celebrate it. These questions are important and valid as they show the need to demand for more proactive, responsive and intentional work everyday as we work towards sustainable achievement of gender equality goals.
Work on gender equality or women empowerment should not begin and end on Women’s Day or Month, and at the same time what is done on this day or month should not be used as a measure of the seriousness or validity of gender equality/ women’s empowerment as sustainable development goals on their own. However, it is my belief now that we should not downplay the importance of International Women’s Day/ Month.
To me this day and month is a celebration of hope. Hope, that feeling of expectation that our dreams and ambitions will come to be a lived reality. Hope that the women of today, the women of tomorrow and the women for many generations to come will live a free and dignified life. They will live their life to the best of their abilities and not be pulled back just because they are a woman. Hope that encourages us to keep moving forward even though we face numerous setbacks or challenges. Hope that brings us the happiness and joy that makes the fight worth it.
Therefore I challenge us to see this day not as a band aid or symbolic gimmick, but as a day to refill our cups with hope. Hope that will recharge our energies and sense of confidence; and a moment of pause to reflect, re-strategize, rest, recover and continue to push forward. Happy International Women’s Day and Month 2024!
