Let us embrace equity

AS women around the world today, celebrate the difficulties and success of women, we in Papua New Guinea should also mirror the same.
Today is International Women’s Day, a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
The day marks the plight and achievements of women for more than a century, with the first informal observance held in 1909.
We write this editorial, as a woman who is a daughter, a sister, a mother and a wife.
We are surrounded in this newsroom by amazing women.
We believe you are, too are surrounded by phenomenal women.
The advancement of women had been one of the most important achievement usually highlighted.
Let’s reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
Commend them.
Acknowledge them.
Reassure them to pursue their passion, and to prosper.
Work towards equality, and as you do, celebrate women, support them, and encourage them to succeed.
So, while the world celebrates this day, women in many rural areas in the country would have wondered what all the fuss was about.
For PNG, while many of us celebrate the success of gender equality in the workforce, the question we should also be asking if this success does translate right down to our communities.
Media reports of women dying during childbirth in rural because of the lack of medical support and the list goes on.
The struggles of women in rural areas is beyond measure, what they endure to put food out for their families or so their children can go to school.
Another issue worthy of the spotlight also is the violence against women which is one of the most persistent human rights violations today.
Gender equality is far from achieved, however.
We still face unconscionable levels of discrimination and violence against women.
The stark reality is that women are a vulnerable group.
Violence against women is a crime. And yet it is a universal global phenomenon.
While there are varying degrees of abuse that women suffer in their homes and the workplace, it goes without saying that women find themselves threatened in every corner of the world.
The barbaric assault defies all boundaries of humanity.
Besides these there are many faceless and nameless women who face violence daily in their homes and societies.
Some speak up, but most bury their voice for fear of a backlash.
Let us join with the theme “Embrace Equity” and become part of the movement to make that change.
Now is the time to harness the power of our activism to make a change for a better PNG.
Like the lyrics to Mary J. Blige song ‘Strength of a Woman’ – ‘We’re the trees left standing through the storms of life. We’ve come so high and we’ve come so far. Can’t hold us back. Strength of a woman’.
Women are the backbone of the family and the foundation of a nation.
They bring life into the world.
They sense the cries of an infant.
Their instincts are to care for the old, the sick and those in need.
Remember, small actions can have big impacts in making this vision a reality.