Why International Women's Day is Important

International Women's Day falls on 8th March each year. It is a day to celebrate the inspirational and courageous work women around the world have done, and continue to do, to secure women's rights and shape more tolerant and equal societies. This year the theme is Pledge For Parity, because whilst women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement across the world, progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places. We must remember that there are still millions of women whose voices go unheard, and who continue to be prevented and excluded from realising their full potential.

The Gender Gap

The World Economic Forum predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already slow pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn't close entirely until 2133. Isn't that shocking?

We Can All Celebrate Women

International Women's Day isn't just a day for women to celebrate other women, it's for everyone. Men who celebrate women can help to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, with their own call for gender-balanced leadership, by showing respect and value differences, developing more inclusive and flexible cultures and help eradicate workplace bias. We can all be a leader in our own ways, in our own area of influence.

Personal Tributes

The 8th March is a poignant day for me personally, because it's the anniversary of my Mum's death. It's a fitting tribute for me that International Women's Day should fall on the same day, because Mum was an inspirational women who grew up in Nazi Germany and overcame many obstacles and inequalities in her young life, but despite this was one of the kindest, considerate, loving and caring people I have ever known. We all have an amazing woman in our lives, our Mum, Grandmother, Aunt, Step-Mum, neighbour, whoever they are, use 8th March as the day you pay them your personal tribute.

Do we still need to mark International Women's Day in 2016?

There has been much written about International Women's Day, but we particularly love this piece by Andrea Thompson in Marie Claire International Women's Day: 16 Reasons Why We Still Need To Shout About It where they asked 16 of their favourite women, from tech pioneers to TV presenters, "Do we still need to mark International Women's Day in 2016?". Their responses are great food for thought and remind us that the answer is: Yes, we do still need to mark International Women's Day in 2016 and for many, many years to come.

Strengths