International Women’s Day: Tributes, strikes, protests and holidays
United Nations, NEW YORK — Marches and protests are held Friday across the globe to mark International Women’s Day under the slogan #BalanceforBetter, with calls for a more gender-balanced world.
The day, sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, celebrates women’s achievements and aims to further their rights.
In Samoa a group of women makes strides toward combating climate change, while thousands of women walked off the job in Spain, joining millions more around the world demanding equality amid a persistent salary gap, violence and widespread inequality.
THE PACIFIC
The women at the helm of Samoa’s biggest ever climate change and disaster resilient project are celebrating on International Women’s Day in Samoa.
The GCF, or the Green Climate Fund is now behind Samoa’s biggest climate change and disaster resilient project to date, the Integrated Flood Management to Enhance Climate Resilience of the Vaisigano River Catchment in Samoa.
And leading the local Project Management Unit that is in charge of seeing this project through to successful completion is a woman who not only knows all too well the magnitude of the mammoth task ahead but is ready and able to take it all in her stride.
Pisaina Leilua-Lei Sam of Tanoale’ia, Vaivase-uta aged 61 is an independent consultant, married and a mother of two grown up children. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, a Post Graduate Degree in Development Administration from the Australia National University and a Diploma in Commerce from the University of the South Pacific.
It’s women like Pisaina and others like her whose achievements and contributions are being celebrated on International Women’s Day, which is commemorated on March 8th every year.
It recognizes the important role women play in all facets of society and country development. It celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call for action the accelerating of gender parity.
The day is celebrated in Samoa through a series of events hosted by different organizations.
For the United Nations in Samoa, this will in the form of a roundtable for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to be held at the One UN House at Tuanaimato on the day.
In Sydney, Australia on Friday,speaking at the International Women's Day celebration hosted by the UN Women National Committee Simaima Taufa took time to reflect on the inroads women continue to make in all aspects of society.
"International Women's Day is acknowledging the fact that women are here," Taufa said.
"Women are moving up in the corporate ranks and the sporting ranks and it's good to see that women are getting acknowledged and recognised for their hard work and their efforts."
"It all starts at home. Nothing was a limit for me – I could pursue any dream I had and I was never held back by my family," Taufa said.
"I started playing rugby league and I felt empowered and strong.
"Knowing there are young girls looking up to the girls that are playing in NRLW or at their local clubs, it makes you want to help be part of that movement to get women playing rugby league."
Along with Taufa, NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks and Manly second-rower Frank Winterstein helped celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women at what was Australia's biggest IWD function.