International Women’s Day (IWD) is held each year on 8 March to:
• celebrate women’s achievements
• raise awareness about discrimination
• take action to drive gender parity
This year’s theme is #InspireInclusion.
When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.
The aim of the IWD 2024 #InspireInclusion campaign is to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women.
We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion.
To mark International Women’s Day we’ve asked SWSPHN’s Executive Team and other staff answer: Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
Here’s what they said:
Alyssa Horgan, Integration and Priority Populations Coordinator
To me International Women’s Day is an important opportunity for women to band together and to recognise our collective strengths. It is an important reminder for us to reflect on how far women’s rights have come, and to refocus on the work that is still to be done. It provides a platform for us to shine a light on the issues that are important to women, and to bring issues such as the gender pay gap into the forefront of the public sphere.
Ben Neville, Integration and Priority Populations Manager
In my career, I have worked in services providing domestic violence counselling for victims and run programs for perpetrators. I have seen firsthand the impacts the continued gender imbalance causes and how it maintains a culture where male privilege and machoism is expected. To me International Women’s Day helps to keep in our collective conscience that despite the platitudes, women are still not considered, paid or treated as equals.
Pritika Desai, Mental Health and AOD Team Lead
International Women’s Day is important to me because it recognises the challenges women (including non-binary identifying people) face for equity and equality throughout their lives, but also celebrates every woman and non-binary person who works hard to break through stereotypes and barriers, paving the way for those that follow. To me, that is every one of us however little or big our contribution, it all matters.
Keith McDonald, Chief Executive Officer
Frankly, without women it’s all over… it’s a day to acknowledge that every day since civilised cultures have existed, each of us has relied on the feminine life force to sustain us. Strength through an intricate weave of passion, resilience, insight, care and nurturing – all too often this is taken for granted. Viva le donne!”