International Women’s Day is observed every year on March 8th to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to advocate for gender equality. It is a day to recognise the progress made in women’s rights and to call for continued efforts to address the challenges that women face globally, such as discrimination, gender-based violence, and unequal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
Every year, International Women’s Day has a theme that reflects the current global context and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. This year’s theme is ‘Embrace Equity’! People often mistake equity for equality, and whilst the words are very similar, they are not the same. Equality refers to the idea of treating everyone the same, without discrimination or bias. It means providing the same opportunities, resources, and rights to all individuals, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or socio-economic status. Equality assumes that everyone has the same starting point and the same needs.
Equity, on the other hand, refers to the idea of providing everyone with what they need to be successful, based on their individual circumstances and experiences. It means recognizing that different individuals have different starting points, and therefore require different levels of support to achieve their goals. Equity is about fairness and justice, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. This year’s theme ‘Embrace Equity’ is something we are really proud of at Involve!
