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International Women’s Day 2017

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Women attend PISA’s 2014 Myanmar Advanced Leadership Institute on Climate Change (MALICC) in Washington, D.C.

By Leeann Ji, PISA Staff Assistant, March 8th, 2017

As the world becomes increasingly intertwined through trade and politics, the international community has come together to address important global issues such as gender inequality. Every year on March 8 for International Women’s Day, the world commemorates the achievements of women in various disciplinary fields and occupations from around the world. While celebration stands at the forefront of International Women’s Day, this holiday also serves to bring to light issues that continue to face women today. Since the first International Women’s Day in 1909, women’s rights have progressed exponentially, but many communities around the world still have a ways to go.

Every year, the World Economic Forum releases a Global Gender Gap Reportwith infographics to show progression towards gender equality. While the progress made in 2016 should not be discounted, it is important to reflect and consider current policies hindering women’s development in the workplace, in society, and in politics. The present global, political climate has posed threats to the development of women’s rights and equality around the world, and the U.S. presidential administration has neglected to prioritize domestic and international women’s rights on its agenda. As a global hegemon in trade and social development, it is imperative that the U.S. upholds values of gender equality and development because failure in supporting women’s development overseas poses a direct threat to national security.

Currently, women around the world encounter a variety of socioeconomic and health-related issues. For this year’s International Women’s Day, PISA asks our followers and readers to contemplate issues facing women today.

Has the advancement of women in politics improved or regressed with globalization? How can we ensure that women’s voices are being heard and represented in government?

What are the current obstacles facing women’s reproductive health around the world? How can we overcome those obstacles?

As the international community grapples with the consequences of climate change, how does global warming directly affect women’s rights and equality?

Why is international cooperation in women’s empowerment and development important? What can developed nations do to help promote women in less-developed nations with wider gender equality gaps?

These questions are important to consider as the international community works to achieve the seventeen 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Women around the world exist as an untapped reservoir of talent and innovation, and the advancement of their voices and rights should be at the forefront of the international agenda. At PISA, we believe in the advancement of women leaders, and our dedication to forging valuable relationships with partners in Asia has encompassed leadership training for Asian women. For this year’s International Women’s Day, PISA celebrates the landmark achievements made by women around the world and thinks about how our organization can contribute to women empowerment efforts around the world.

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