International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.
Marked annually on 8th March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to:
- Celebrate women’s achievements;
- Raise awareness about women’s equality;
- Lobby for accelerated gender parity;
- Fundraise for female-focused charities.
The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2022 (IWD 2022) is, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.
Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. The issues of climate change and sustainability have had and will continue to have, severe and lasting impacts on our environment, economic and social development. Those who are amongst the most vulnerable and marginalized experience the deepest impacts. Women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.
At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.
FP-ICGLR urges Parliaments and Members-states of ICGLR to domesticate and implement international protocols aimed at containing and eradicating the negative effects of climate change for sustainable development and greater gender equality.
The Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) is an inter-parliamentary organization bringing together the National Parliaments of the 12 Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), namely: the Republic of Angola, the Republic of Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of the Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Uganda, and the Republic of Zambia respectively.
The Forum will be holding the 12th Ordinary Session of its Plenary Assembly and related meetings, April 2-6, 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Kinshasa, March, 2022
Clic here to download the statement:
11th Statutory Meeting of the Committee on ” Peace and Security ” of the Forum of Parliaments of ICGLR-Final Communiqué
9th Statutory Meeting of the Committee on “Democracy and Good Governance” of the Forum of Parliaments of ICGLR-Final Communiqué
7th Joint Statutory Meeting of the Committees on “Humanitarian and Social Issues” and “Gender, Children and Vulnerable Persons” – Final Communiqué