International Women's Day 2024 - Takeaways
International Women's Day, observed worldwide every March 8, serves as a central event in the ongoing women's rights advocacy.
IWD highlights concerns like gender parity, reproductive freedoms, and combating violence and mistreatment of women.
This occasion stands as a moment to honor women's accomplishments, irrespective of distinctions like nationality, ethnicity, language, culture, economic status, or political affiliation.
This year's IWD was centered around the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress. According to UN Women, 'achieving gender equality and women's well-being in all aspects of life is more crucial than ever if we want to create prosperous economies and a healthy planet. However, we are facing a key challenge: the alarming $360 billion annual deficit in gender-equality measures by 2030'.
In Kenya, President William Ruto led the country in celebrating the milestones women have made in the country and went on to reward some women with lucrative government positions as the country joined the world in marking the International Women's Day.
He declared that his administration has designated 10 women as ambassadors to various nations and six as deputy envoys, recognizing the pivotal role women play in the country.
The president committed to ongoing support for women and urged fellow Kenyans to rally behind women in all their endeavors.
Addressing a gathering in Embu, citizens from diverse backgrounds convened nationwide to celebrate the contributions women have made to the country and advocate for their integration into national development initiatives. While some focused on addressing the financial security of women, others unveiled projects aimed at enhancing their well-being.
Meanwhile, in Kisumu, First Lady Rachel Ruto emphasized the importance of women's empowerment and gender inclusivity, describing it as a crucial stride forward for the nation. Her remarks coincided with the government's active endeavors to empower women and ensure their significant role in the country's progress.
"This morning, due to the respect of women of this republic of Kenya, I have appointed 10 Ambassadors who will represent us in various countries in the world. I have further appointed six women to become deputy Ambassadors," Ruto said in his address at Moi Stadium in Embu.
Nevertheless, the President urged women across the nation to confidently embrace leadership roles in different sectors and have faith in their abilities to excel.
"I want to ask the women of Kenya to listen to me. Even as we believe in you, the women of Kenya must believe in themselves. We will do whatever we can to support women. But you must start by believing in yourselves. That way, you can make progress," president reiterated.
He reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the two-thirds gender rule, enabling women to assume leadership roles in various high-ranking positions across the country.
During his address, President Ruto announced that his administration would eliminate collateral requirements for women's groups seeking loans from the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) to establish or expand their businesses.
Ruto argued that this action would streamline the process, removing bureaucratic hurdles that have historically hindered many women in the country from accessing the Fund.
Anna Mutavati, the UN Women Kenya Country Representative, praised the Kenya Kwanza government for promoting equality, which has contributed to a gradual reduction in cases of violence against women.
"We are aware of the rising cases of femicide that have continued to dog this country. We call for increased resources towards your commitment (Ruto) to end gender-based violence. Let us give the best present ever to the people of Kenya by finally adopting the law on two-thirds gender rule which is very elusive," Mutavati said.
Ann Kiusya, the sole female County Assembly Speaker currently serving in the country, highlighted Kenya's significant potential for increased female leadership, emphasizing the need to harness it to elevate more women into decision-making roles.
READ ALSO: UN Secretary-General's message on International Women's Day
Ms. Kiusya stressed the urgency for women to overcome obstacles to leadership across political, corporate, and academic domains.
"As women, we need to rise up against odds and claim our rightful position in the society. We must stop relying on affirmative action. That is the only way real transformation will be realized," she said.
Kiusya praised the initiative by the Women Governors Caucus, G7, to initiate a program aimed at mentoring and providing support to more women aspiring to hold diverse leadership roles.
She identified fear of failure, intimidation, limited exposure, and inadequate resources as significant hurdles that women must overcome to attain positions of authority and impact.
"There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise. There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish," she further stated.
Meanwhile, advocates for gender equality have launched a campaign to promote women's land rights in Kenya.
In the Western region, women have petitioned authorities to safeguard widows from land grabbers and individuals who hinder their efforts to secure land rights.
Priscillah Wangui, a land rights advocate from the Defenders Coalition, which champions land rights for women, called on the government to ensure the protection of women's rights in matters of inheritance.
"I am a widow, and I was once a victim of retrogressive cultural beliefs where I was denied the opportunity to inherit land after my husband died. It was not until I moved to court that I became a landowner and later on defender of women's rights seeing the troubles they faced in succession," she said while marking IWD in Kakamega.
Josephine Ndirias, the creator of Mukogodo Girl Empowerment, an organization dedicated to human rights advocacy against early marriages and female genital mutilation, emphasized the importance of law enforcement in preventing these harmful practices.
"We have rescued at least 5,000 girls from early marriages and FGM and they have gone back to school. Investigators and the Judiciary should ensure retrogressive cultural beliefs do not supersede the constitution and civility," she said.
Even as we continue to rally for more investment in women and creation of more spaces for women in top leadership and other facets of society, let us take a moment to appreciate some of these gains made so far. They stand as testimony to our collaborative efforts and growth as a society. Happy International Women's Day 2024 as you continue to inspire inclusion.
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