International Women’s Day

On this memorable day, 8 March 2021, I would like to pay a vibrant tribute to our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. Indeed, this International Women’s Day consecrates women’s rights won through hard struggle and takes on a special cachet, especially in Africa.

At the continent level, I would wish to focus on the theme: “Financial inclusion through digital technology for women’s economic development: challenges and prospects”.

At the international level, this year’s theme, “Female Leadership: For an Equal Future in the World of Covid-19”. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is also aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”, and the flagship Generation Equality campaign, which calls for women’s right to decision-making in all areas of life, equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, an end all forms of violence against women and girls, and health-care services that respond to their needs.

I am fully committed to this.

On this International Women’s Day, I pay tribute to our women for their contribution to the development and sustainability of our world. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted how women surpassed the performance of men, as leaders in government.

From Africa to Asia to Europe to America, we have seen women at the forefront during extremely difficult and challenging times.

Nothing great can be built without women.

On this day, I would like to pay a vibrant tribute to HER.