New Delhi: International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated every year on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. While its significance differs from place to place, being a day for fighting for gender equality in some countries whereas in some countries it is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women. Here are some important things to know about International Women’s Day 2022.
Theme
Every year, women’s Day is celebrated with a unique theme. This year, UN’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’, with an aim to highlight the contribution of women and girls around the globe, who participate in their communities promoting climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, in order to build a more sustainable future for all.
Women are increasingly being recognised as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most. At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action, says the official statement by the UN Women for IWD 2022.
Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future remains beyond our reach, it adds.
Facts About Women and Climate Change by UN Women
1. 70 per cent of the 1.3 billion people living in conditions of poverty are women. In urban areas, 40 per cent of the poorest households are headed by women.
2. Women predominate in the world’s food production, 50-80 per cent, but they own less than 10 per cent of the land.
3. 80 per cent of the displaced by climate-related disasters and changes around the world are women and girls.
4. Climate change may lead to more gender-based violence, an increase in child marriages, and worsening sexual and reproductive health.
5. Violence against women has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also Read: “I Have Never Owned Underpants, So How Could I Use A Sanitary Pad?”
History
In 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th for the first time. Since then, the UN has become the primary sponsor of the annual event and has encouraged countries around the world to embrace its goal of celebrating ‘acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.’
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
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