This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. This day was first established in the fight for the universal suffrage of women. In 1975 the United Nations marked March 8th as the day dedicated to the fortitude and strength of women. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: PROGRESS FOR ALL. March 8th is a day to remember the achievements of women, to celebrate their force and resilience, but perhaps most importantly, to remind ourselves of the violence that is daily perpetrated against women everywhere.
This year International Women’s Day will mark the launch the first global Join Me on the Bridge campaign, organised by Women for Women International. On this day, women from two neighbouring African states, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will stand together in peace on a bridge linking the two countries to demand an end to war. In solidarity, the people of Edinburgh, alongside campaigners in the Sudan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and cities across the UK & the USA, will gather together to draw awareness to the plight of women as well as their capacity as peace-builders in the Great Lakes region of Africa and other war-torn countries and conflict zones.
This campaign draws on the work of Women for Women International, an organisation empowering women in war-torn countries. Since being established in 1993, Women for Women International has empowered women survivors of war with the requisite financial and emotional support needed to move towards economic self-sufficiency, making available jobs and business skills training alongside rights and leadership education.
Join CAS MSc students who have helped to organise this great event on Monday March 8th from 12pm to 2pm in the Prince Street Gardens (at the stage).
Watch the UN Secretary General’s International Women’s Day address, click here
Jenna Sapiano, Edinburgh
CAS from the Edge 