International Women’s Day

Why transparency in the extractive industries matters for women

Mar 8th, 2011 6:40 PM UTC
By David Cole

Each year around the world, International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, with thousands of events occurring not just on this day, but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

As the world marks this special day ONE spoke to Winnie Ngabiirwe, Chairperson of Publish What You Pay Uganda and Executive Director of Global Rights Alert, on why transparency in the extractives industries will benefit women in Uganda and other countries.

Winnie leads the effort to make sure revenues received for Uganda’s recently discovered oil are not wasted, and are put towards social and economic development programmes.

As Winnie says:

“Once governments disclose how much they are receiving from oil and mining companies it creates a conducive environment for debate in which women’s issues can be put into consideration. And that debate can translate into beneficial investments in sectors like health and education… so if investments of the monies that come from the extractive industry are invested wisely then the status of women will improve.”

Find out more about International Women’s Day and sign our petition to the UK Chancellor, George Osborne, asking him  to support laws that will require oil, gas and other extractive companies to declare exactly how much they are paying foreign governments.

Joining women on the bridge

Mar 12th, 2010 3:11 PM UTC
By Jessica Gomez-Duran

On a sunny Monday hundreds of women met on London’s Millennium Bridge to show their solidarity with women around the world on International Women’s Day.

They were joined with thousands of other women in more than 100 Join Me on the Bridge events in 18 different countries around the globe.

From Sudan, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States women came together to show that they build the bridges to peace and development.

They also remembered those women in other countries who were not able to meet on bridges due to the insecurity and for fear for their lives.

Watch a video of what happened in London:

In the last 100 years, since International Women’s Day was first celebrated, a great deal has changed for many women. But for those in developing countries change has not been so swift with an estimated 70% of people living in poverty being female.

In 1910, when International Women’s Day was established, 355 women per 100,000 live births died as a direct result of childbirth or pregnancy-related causes in England and Wales. Today the number of maternal deaths stands at around 14 per 100,000 across the UK.

Meanwhile recent figures show that in developing countries an average of 450 women per 100,000 live births die in childbirth.

By joining other women on the bridge on Monday we showed our commitment to change this.

P.S. If you weren’t able to take part in an event you can still join the Join me on the Bridge campaign and show your government that you want them to invest in women.

Ban Ki-moon: Let us look forward to a world of equality and progress for all

Mar 8th, 2010 7:34 PM UTC
By Chris Scott

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commemorates International Women’s Day:

Take action on International Women’s Day

Mar 8th, 2010 4:09 PM UTC
By Roxane Philson

Today is the 100th year of International Women’s Day – please join me in marking this occasion by taking action on behalf of women around the world. In the last century, a great deal has changed for many women, however, for those in developing countries change has not been so swift—an estimated 70% of people living in poverty are female and unbelievably every minute a woman dies in childbirth. This is shocking and it is why today we are launching Women ONE2ONE, a campaign unlike anything we’ve done before.

While women often suffer the greatest hardships, when given the opportunity it is women who can make the greatest difference. In growing the economy, educating children, and keeping families healthy. The Women ONE2ONE campaign will use our collective strength today to empower millions of other women to flourish and make their own change tomorrow.

Our first step is something that sounds remarkable to me, but according to health experts is possible: ending mother to child transmission of HIV. The group that can make this happen is The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – who will be meeting with their key donors next week. Please join me in encouraging Global Fund Director Michel Kazatchkine and Global Fund donors to support efforts to end mother to child transmission of HIV as a priority intervention to stop the spread of the disease.

90% of the 430,000 children newly infected with HIV each year acquire the disease through birth, and half of them will die before their second birthday. Ending mother to child transmission will prevent these deaths and allow children to be born free of this devastating disease. This requires a range of actions including providing better mother and child health care and treatment, and the right kinds of anti-retroviral drugs.

As you sign the petition, I hope that you’ll also ask an important woman in your life to join us on this journey. I believe this year is going to offer us the best possible chance to make a difference and we need as many people as possible to help. I’ll be asking my friend Ruth Kennedy, I’ll let you know what she says (no pressure, Ruth). And don’t worry men, you can help too! I hope there is a special woman in each of your lives that you can ask to get involved as well.