International Women’s Day: 8 March 2016
International Women’s Day is on 8 March each year celebrating women’s achievements throughout history and across nations.
It is also known as the United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. This year’s theme is #PledgeForParity.
We know that women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement worldwide and have much to celebrate. But progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places.
The World Economic Forum predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. One year later, they estimated that a slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant that the gender gap wouldn’t close entirely until 2133.
Here in Dumfries and Galloway, our councillors have been celebrating International Women’s Day by pledging their commitment to gender parity, helping women and girls to achieve their ambitions more quickly, working towards gender-balanced representation and leadership, and developing more inclusive and flexible cultures in our working arrangements.
We also know that violence against women and girls is a cause and consequence of gender inequality. So our Council has also signed up to the Dumfries and Galloway White Ribbon Campaign and pledge to ‘never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms’.
Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson said “Being an inclusive council is a priority for us and International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our support for equality. I have already supported a number of initiatives that improve the position of women, including representation within our national body COSLA. As a Council, we’re committed to continuing that work to improve the profile and position of women in politics and the workplace.”
Photo: PledgeForParity
L to R: Councillors Ronnie Ogilvie, Jeff Leaver, Yen Hongmei Jin, Colin Smyth, Ronnie Nicholson (Leader), Finlay Carson, Jane Maitland, Archie Dryburgh, Ted Thompson
