within/Africa
Last year I wrote a blog suggesting that women’s day could be celebrated in a manner that encouraged a
review of women’s rights at all levels as well as engaged women to celebrate this day in a more positive
way by celebrating their achievements as well as demanding changes as necessary.
This year I had the opportunity to revisit a number of countries and observed the celebrations of this
day. The situation had not improved and even more worrisome, the reason for celebrating May 8th and
the messages given to women and young girls was erroneous. It occurred to me that the problem lies in
each individuals understanding of women’s rights and empowerment in the context of their
environment and the reality of their lives.
There is clearly no common understanding of women’s empowerment and until we have clarity on this
point it will be difficult to identify where change is needed and how to make it sustainable. Change can
happen only when the individual understands the benefits and is willing to take action to obtain the
intended result. The focus on women’s rights today creates a conducive environment to push for
changes at all level. We need a movement of both men and women armed with the right message and
actions to impact change and to do so we need to know how people understand and perceive women’s
rights.
To this end I am asking the following question:
What does women’s right mean to you? Send answers
within/Africa
Ask your parents, siblings’ grandparents, friends, family members. Include the gender, age and
educational level of the respondent