8 March 2017 International Women's Day: Planet 50-50 by 2030

8 March 2017 is International Women’s Day, with the theme ‘Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.’

The world of work is changing, with significant implications for women, including both challenges and opportunities. Against this backdrop, only 50% of working age women are represented in the labour force globally, compared to 76% of men.

The United Nations observance on 8 March will call upon everyone to ‘Step It Up for Gender Equality towards a Planet 50-50 by 2030’ by ensuring that the world of work works for all women. The upcoming 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61), from 13–24 March at the UN Headquarters, will discuss the topic: “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.”

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said, “We want to construct a different world of work for women. As they grow up, girls must be exposed to a broad range of careers, and encouraged to make choices that lead beyond the traditional service and care options to jobs in industry, art, public service, modern agriculture and science.”

But the World Economic Forum predicts that the gender gap at work won’t close entirely until 2186. The #BeBoldForChange on International Women's Day 2017 and beyond is promoting groundbreaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women. The campaign maintains that each one of us - with women, men and non-binary people joining forces - can be a leader within their own spheres of influence by taking bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. Through purposeful collaboration, the campaign aims to advance and unleash the limitless potential of women offered to economies all over the world.

https://www.internationalwomensday.com

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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