8th March 2024

Today is International Women’s Day and across the world we mark this day to celebrate the achievements of women from all cultures and mount a call for collaborative action to ensure the equal rights of women. This year, the theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’.
International Women’s day has been celebrated since 1911, and yet despite this day of recognition, and the work of women’s groups internationally, the daily experiences of women continue to vary dramatically in contrast to men. Women still experience inequality in regards to pay, the roles that they play in society, the recognition they deserve and the opportunities that they have access to.

The UN sees equal rights and investment in women as part of the solution to the crises that we face globally, whether they be geopolitical conflicts, soaring poverty or the escalating impacts of climate change. To achieve this, an additional $360B is needed per year to achieve worldwide gender equality. The benefits to all countries and communities is undeniable. Closing the gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20% and closing gaps in care and expanding services with decent jobs could spark almost 300 million jobs by 2035.

The Labour party is committed to raising the profile of women, awareness about discrimination and taking action to drive gender parity both in the UK and internationally. – Sarah Finch, Kingston and Surbiton Labour Women’s Officer.