Media outlets report on issues surrounding International Women’s Day, recognized on March 8.

Associated Press/The Guardian: Gender equality still decades away, says chief of U.N. Women
“…Twenty years after 189 countries adopted a blueprint to achieve equality for women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said that not a single country has reached gender parity and equality. The executive director of U.N. Women spoke ahead of International Women’s Day on Friday and next week’s meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women…” (3/6).

U.N. News Centre: U.N. kicks off International Women’s Day celebrations with appeal for gender equality
“Despite great strides in the advancement of gender parity, women still lag behind men across an array of critical areas, from political representation and wage equality to education — a gender gap that the United Nations is once again tackling head-on as it kicks off its annual observance of International Women’s Day…” (3/6).

U.N. News Centre: Gender equality vital for world to fulfill potential, Ban tells thousands at women’s march in New York
“Thousands of people gathered [Sunday] in New York to march from United Nations headquarters to Times Square in commemoration of International Women’s Day and to demand greater efforts by governments to achieve gender equality worldwide. Among the many distinguished speakers who addressed marchers, the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, sounded a call for global action for women…” (3/8).

U.N. News Centre: Women farmers pillar of food security — U.N. agencies
“Ahead of International Women’s Day, United Nations food relief agencies gathered to remind the world that women farmers play a central role in achieving food and nutrition security, urging countries to step up efforts to empower rural women who too often do ‘backbreaking work’ to harvest food…” (3/6).

VOA News: People Around the World Mark International Women’s Day
“…In a statement Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama said ‘the gap between women’s inherent value and how many of them are treated every day is one of the great injustices of our time.’ He said that his administration will continue to work to ensure that women and girls are treated as full and equal human beings in rights and dignity…” (Jones, 3/8).