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International Women’s Day 2021
UN Women Australia’s 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD) events took place concurrently on Friday 5 March. Live events were held in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and, for the first time, these were livestreamed to a virtual hub. We also held our inaugural Day of Giving to mark International Women’s Day on Monday 8 March.
IWD 2021 theme: Women in Leadership
The global UN Women theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021 was “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. Women bear the brunt of problems ranging from poverty to climate change, but they also possess assets and talents to solve them.
This theme celebrated the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future.
Across the globe, women are leading organisations and institutions carrying out effective and inclusive COVID-19 responses, from the highest levels of decision-making through to frontline service delivery. Women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make invaluable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all.
At our IWD events we shared incredible stories from speakers who inspire, lead and are committed to making a difference every day. You can view these stories in the videos below.
Accelerating gender equality
At our IWD events we launched our 10-year gender equality acceleration strategy, Every. Day. Women. with our #WhenWillSheBeRight campaign video. This is a reminder of the slow rate of progress on gender equality and galvanises action to achieving our mission of 100 years of progress in ten.
The difference IWD 2021 made for the world’s women and girls
For women across the Pacific, the impacts of COVID-19 have been exacerbated by a halt in tourism and several cyclones that caused widespread damage to property and livelihoods. UN Women’s Markets for Change program works to empower women to become leaders in their workplace and community and improve the safety and operations of local markets that form the backbone of Pacific economies.
UN Women Australia’s 2021 IWD campaign raised $400,000 to advance UN Women’s agenda, including the Markets for Change program, making a real difference in the lives of Pacific women.
Speakers
Grace Tame
Australian of the Year 2021 – Event: Sydney
* Trigger Warning – please be aware that this video refers to childhood sexual abuse and trauma which some viewers may find distressing*
Zahra Al Hilaly
Youth Representative for UN Women’s Global Generation Equality Task Force – Event: Perth
Elizabeth Broderick AO
Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls – Event: Sydney
Michelle Deshong
Indigenous Advocate for Gender Equality – Event: Canberra
Dr Kirstin Ferguson
Australian Company Director & Writer – Event: Brisbane
*Trigger warning – please be aware that this video refers to sexual abuse which some viewers may find distressing*
Marion Fulker
CEO Committee for Perth – Event: Perth.
Julie-Ann Guivarra
Ambassador for Gender Equality – Event: Canberra
Kate Jenkins
Sex Discrimination Commissioner – Event: Melbourne. Publications referenced in Kate’s presentation can be found here.
Isobel Marshall and Eloise Hall
Co-Founders of TABOO – Event: Virtual
Yasmin Poole
Award winning speaker, writer and youth advocate – Event: Sydney
Jamila Rizvi
Author, speaker and equality campaigner – Event: Melbourne
Natasha Stott Despoja AO
Founding Chair of Our Watch and Member of CEDAW
Janelle Weissman
Executive Director of UN Women Australia
Senator Marise Payne
Foreign Minister & Minister for Women
Gallery
For more photos from our IWD 2021 events, click here.