Page 12 - COH Newsletter

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Scientific Corner

International Women’s Day: A Call for Equality in the COVID-19 Era

Dr. Nisreen Alwan, Associate Professor, Environmental and Public Health Department

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March every year, reflecting on and honoring
women’s courage and determination in all areas of life. As announced by U.N. Women, the theme for
2021 IWD is ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’.

The theme highlights the extraordinary efforts of women standing in the front lines of the COVID-19
crisis. Women are playing outstanding roles as healthcare professionals, caregivers, and leaders fighting
against the COVID-19 pandemic and leading the response and recovery efforts. Female leaders in the
governments of Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Germany, and many other countries have raised the
bar in this fight and have been recognized for their wisdom, decisiveness, and response to COVID-19.
This has shed light on and led to more acceptance than ever before on the importance of women’s
contributions, diverse experiences, and perspectives in decision and policymaking.

Despite this, many women are still facing violence, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment,
highlighting the urgent need for an equal future now more than ever. Around three billion women
suffer from not having access to the same jobs as men. In addition, data shows that women are
underrepresented in political life, with no more than 13 countries globally having a woman as a head of
state or head of government.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to call for change and gender equality. Let 2021 be the
year we overcome all challenges that women still face worldwide.

References:
• https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/announcer-international-womens-day-2021
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day
• https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-and-figures#_edn1

Abu Dhabi University | The College of Health Sciences E-Magazine | Issue 1 2021-2022 Academic Year