Happy International Women’s Day 2020! The United Nations has deemed March 8th a day to celebrate the achievements of women around the world. The campaign hopes to help create a more just and equitable world for future generations of women in developed and developing countries. The theme this year is, I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights a great way to start the new decade. On the UN website, the important day and what it represents is explained as a mobilization to end gender-based violence and says, “Together, we want to mobilize to end gender-based violence; we are calling for economic justice and rights for all; bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health and rights; and feminist action for climate justice. We want technology and innovation for gender equality; and feminist leadership.” For more information on ways to get involved with the United Nations go to the UN Women website and for further inspiration— check out the amazing quotes from women across the MENA region below.
# IWD2020 # EachforEqual
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-womens-day
“I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
– Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan)
“A male editor I once worked with tried to dissuade me from the personal: “Who care about what happened to you?” The most subversive thing a woman can do is talk about her life as if it really matters.
It does.”
― Mona Eltahawy (Egyptian-American)
“When I first started the business I felt a lot of frustration. Being a women in this region was challenging. People were treating us like our brand was just hobby. One of my favourite pieces of advice I’ve been given is just to be patient. There’s an Arabic phrase that means ‘with every delay there is a blessing’ – words to live by!”
– Huda Kattan (Iraqi-American)
“I want to apologize to all the women I have called beautiful
before I’ve called them intelligent or brave
I am sorry I made it sound as though
something as simple as what you’re born with
is all you have to be proud of
when you have broken mountains with your wit
from now on I will say things like
you are resilient, or you are extraordinary
not because I don’t think you’re beautiful
but because I need you to know
you are more than that”― Rupi Kaur (Indian-Canadian)
“I know; it’s always been the words I don’t say that can move mountains.”
– Hala Abdullah (Saudi Arabia)
“They said, ‘You are a savage and dangerous woman.’ I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous.”
– Nawal El Saadawi (Egypt)
“When a woman succeeds, she reaches out to those around her and pulls them up with her. That is why if you empower a woman, you empower a whole society.”
– Queen Rania Al-Abdullah (Jordan)
“Women should stop being or feeling that they are part of the problem and become part of the solution. We have been marginalized for a long time, and now is the time for women to stand up and become active without needing to ask for permission or acceptance. This is the only way we will give back to our society and allow for Yemen to reach the great potentials it has.”
– Tawakkol Karman (Yemen)
“I don’t fear death; I fear remaining silent in the face of injustice. I am young and I want to live. But I say to those who would eliminate my voice: I am ready, wherever and whenever you might strike. You can cut down the flower, but nothing can stop the coming of the spring.”
– Malalai Joya (Afghanistan)
