Last Friday, on March 7, United Nations (UN) Women organized a grand celebration to commemorate the International Women’s Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Members of SDSN Youth have attended the event, and are here to share the insights with you!

This past Saturday, the world celebrated International Women’s Day, a holiday that has been observed since the early 1900s. As humanity advances technological progress and makes goals for the future, it is imperative to remember: there will be no progress without achieving gender equality. Put in the words of UN Secretary General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres, “Age-old horrors: violence, discrimination, and economic inequalities, still plague our societies... From pushback to rollback, women’s rights are under attack.”

During the celebration, we heard from him, as he highlighted the current pushback on women’s rights despite the notable strides in advancing gender equality over the past decades. It was stressed multiple times that humanity cannot stand still as we watch the progress reverse itself; until women and girls have their full rights to educational training, job creation, and social protection, Agenda-2030 cannot be realized. “We have to champion women’s causes in every decision to be made,” was the motto of the celebration as various women leaders from Ingrid Silva, First Dancer and the Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem; and Ishani Desai, a student at the UN International School; to Roya Mahboob, the first Afghan Woman CEO; and Patricia Licuanan, Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women in 1995.

At the end of the event, the emcee, Sade Baderinwa, ABC News Anchor, asked everyone in the hall younger than 30 years of age to stand up. “The torch is yours now,” she said, empowering the youth in the hall to take determined action and leadership to keep advancing gender equality in the future.

The commemoration, full of powerful statements, alarming statistics, and inspiring stories, ended on a positive note with a final performance by the SUFFS musical about the suffragette movement of the early 20th century.

“Our ancestors are all the proof you need, that progress is possible - not guaranteed. It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching on,” as Shaina Taub and the rest of the SUFFS musical cast kept singing to us from the stage.

We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to have attended such an important event. The insights and wisdom imparted during the commemoration from various speakers aligns with SDSN Youth’s mission of youth empowerment, diversity, inclusion, and integrated approach to sustainable development. 

Interested in “keeping marching on”? Find out more about opportunities at SDSN Youth at sdsnyouth.org, and follow us on social media to stay updated with our freshest opportunities and events on gender equality, young women empowerment and more.