IWD2021 - #ChoosetoChallenge

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International Women’s Day 2021: Choose To Challenge

Women’s Rights = Human Rights

Women are entitled to the full & equal enjoyment of all of their human rights & to be free from all forms of discrimination.

For women to be fully empowered, we need freedom from sexual violence

International Women's Day, 8 March, is an opportunity to reinforce the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world. This widely celebrated day highlights the achievements of women and the need to promote equality and justice.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is “Choose to Challenge”.

In Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, we know that gender equality requires equality in sexual activity and relationships. We choose to challenge sexual violence, including sexual harassment, in identifying and overcoming gender stereotypes, in exposing misconception about sexual violence for what it is – a myth, and in promoting empowerment and healthy, positive relationships and attitudes rooted in equality.

We believe that full empowerment of women can only happen when our society is free from sexual violence.

The challenge for us as a society is to make that change in how we view sexual violence: to challenge how we accept and tolerate it in our society and to then make a positive change towards equality and freedom from violence.

Some stark stats...*

*Information sources below

A challenged world is an alert world - from challenge comes change.
So, let's all #ChoosetoChallenge.

The original aim of International Women’s Day – to achieve full gender equality - has not yet been fully reached although much progress has been made.  In addition to the sexual violence, including harassment, which still persists against women and girls, there is still a gender pay-gap, women’s voices are still lacking in many leadership roles, and women still lag behind men in relation to education and healthcare.

On International Women's Day, women across the world come together to shine a light on these inequalities, while also celebrating the achievements of women who have overcome many of these barriers. 

Here in the DRCC, we believe that everyone has a role to play and can contribute to ending violence against women and girls, even during this Covid-19 pandemic.  

Violence against women undermines women’s core fundamental rights such as dignity, access to justice, access to health and gender equality.

How do we make that change?

Change can start by listening, believing, & supporting victims/survivors of sexual violence. 

It’s time to call out harassment, gender bias, victim blaming, & toxic behaviours 

It's time to challenge harmful rape myths & rape culture 

It's time for change: to positive behaviour & attitudes based on equality

On International Women's Day, we commit to working together and making a difference for women and girls - Join the movement! #IWD2021

 

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References

 

If you want to support Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in our work challenging and preventing the harm and healing the trauma of those affected by sexual violence, please share this message and, if you can, please donate to support our work.