Breaking Barriers and Achieving Equity: Why International Women's Day Matters Now More Than Ever

Today, on March 8, we celebrate International Women's Day. It's a day to honor the incredible achievements of women around the world and to acknowledge the ongoing fight for gender equity. Exactly, equity, because equality is no longer enough.

We have come a long way, but women still face too many challenges and barriers. From gender pay gap and economic inequality to lack of representation in leadership positions, there is still a lot to achieve to ensure that we have equal rights and opportunities, and we can live in a diverse, equitable and inclusive society.

When I reflect on my own personal and professional journey, the red thread and guiding light for me has been education. I have always thought of #education as a gateway. I spent the first 18 years of my life on an island, off the southwest of another island, in the middle of the Mediterranean. There was no Internet, no social media, no mobile phones (in fact we didn’t even have a landline until I was 13, and that was by choice). Everything I learned about the world was through curiosity, a constant appetite for knowledge and yes, education.

Generationally, I was lucky to grow up at a time when education and further education for women were considered the norm. My mother and grandmother shared the same traits and had similar wishes as me, but they did not have the same support. Access to education was there, but expectations towards women were simply not conducive to taking advantage of those opportunities.

Fast forward to another generation, when I think of my daughter, class 2008, I cannot help but marvel at the options that are available to her. My task is to ensure that she takes none of this for granted and makes the most of it, whether that is through more traditional and formalized educational paths or other learning and development opportunities.?

At Fujitsu, we are working with the International Rescue Committee to help a community in Yemen by utilizing the already-existing safe spaces for women to gain literacy and digital literacy skills in line with what is most needed. We hope that these activities will change how women use technology and also facilitate a shift in social norms, allowing them to be better equipped to exercise their human rights as a result. Technology can help democratize education worldwide. Online courses and digital learning platforms are making education more accessible to women in remote areas or who are unable to attend traditional schools. This tremendous progress is helping women gain the knowledge and skills they need to enter the workforce and pursue their dreams. With greater access to education, better resources, and hopefully a supportive environment, girls and women will be able not only to learn but grow and thrive.

I said that today is also a day of #celebration. Wherever you are in the world, take a moment to celebrate success, small steps forward and big resounding victories. Share them, whichever channel you decide is more appropriate, and keep moving forward.

Let’s build a world where everyone can achieve their full potential, with no discrimination or prejudice. To achieve this, let’s #EmbraceEquity, let’s stand up for all women and let’s be the change the world needs. Happy International Women's Day!

#IWD2023

#EmbraceEquity

#education

#celebration