International Women’s Day 2015
Celebrate women, help fight poverty
On the first International Women’s Day, more than a century
ago, one million women and men in five countries took to the streets to rally
for women’s economic, social, and political rights. Their efforts helped women
secure the right to vote and make other important gains.
International Women’s Day—which falls every year on March
8—is still celebrated as an important holiday in many countries. It’s a time to
honor everyday women for their accomplishments and salute the efforts of notable
women around the world.
In
the fight to end poverty, women are on the front lines.
The way we at Oxfam see it, poverty is solvable—a problem
rooted in injustice. Eliminate injustice and you can eliminate poverty. We’re
not saying it will be quick or easy, but it can be done.
And we can’t begin to tackle those problems without
considering the vast inequities that exist between women and men—the access
each gender has to education, to resources, and to political engagement. Women,
on every score, fall far behind. Worldwide, they bear the brunt of poverty.
But when women can exercise their rights and gain the
knowledge, skills, and information they need, they can become powerful agents
of change. Consider these facts:
- Worldwide in 2008, nearly 800 million people over the age of 15 could neither read nor write—and two-thirds of them were women. [1]
- In most countries, women earn between 10 and 30 percent less than men.
- As of July 2013, women worldwide made up fewer than 21 percent of national legislators.
- During peace talks, women make up just 10 percent of negotiators at the table.
- Of all credit offered in developing countries, only 10 percent of it is available to women, making it more difficult for them to start businesses or take out loans.
- Among Fortune 500 companies, those with the most women in management jobs produced a total return for shareholders 34 percent higher than firms with the fewest women in management positions
- Women make up an average of 43 percent of farmers and farm workers in the developing world.[2]
- In developing countries, 79 percent of economically active women spend their working hours producing food through agriculture.[3]
- An estimated 150 million people in 34 developing countries could escape hunger if women had the same access as men to the assets they need for farming.[4]
We at Oxfam believe that empowered women can change the
world. Through our work in more than 90 countries, Oxfam helps women and girls
overcome gender discrimination, realize their potential, and assume leadership
roles in their communities. When you join us in celebrating International
Women’s Day, you’re playing an important role in these efforts.
Inspiring stories about women around
the world
How does Oxfam team up with women in more than 90 countries
to fight poverty and injustice? Find the latest stories about our work here: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/stories/women-and-girls/
This ordinary woman stood up to a powerful mining
company—and won. Learn how you can unleash your inner David and stand up to the
Goliaths of the world at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/take-action/unleash-your-inner-david/
[1]
All facts on this list sourced from “Working with
Women,” Oxfam America brochure, updated August 2014, available at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/research-publications/working-with-women-1/ Main sources include UN Women, UNESCO Institute for
Statistics, The Advocates for Human Rights, the United Nations Statistics
Division, and Oxfam. A list of complete sources is available by contacting
editor@oxfamamerica.org.
[2] Source: UN FAO, Women in Agriculture
report, 2011
http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i2050e/i2050e.pdf Note: This figure ranges
from around 20 percent in Latin America to 50 percent in parts of Africa and
Asia. The share is higher in some countries and is changing rapidly in some
parts of the world.
[3] Source: World
Food Programme, http://www.wfp.org/our-work/preventing-hunger/focus-women/women-hunger-facts
[4] Source: “Working with Women” brochure, see previous page.
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