NAN-H-101
Equality
Abuja, March 7, 2018 (NAN) The European Union has urged countries to promote gender equality to achieve sustainable peace, security, development, economic prosperity and growth globally.
The EU made the call in a statement on the occasion of the International Women’s Day from its commission in Abuja on Wednesday.
The union said it was necessary to invest in the potential of women and girls adding that it was an investment on the society at large.
The EU further said that promoting gender equality “is the responsibility of men and boys as much as women and girls”.
“Equality between women and men is one of the fundamental values of the European Union enshrined in our treaties.
“The path to full equality in practice is still a long one.
“Women and girls still face harassment, abuse and violence, and women are still too often prevented from breaking the glass ceiling, receiving lower pay and fewer opportunities for career and business development.
“We want girls and women to achieve equality in all aspects of life: access to education, equal pay for equal work, access to top positions in companies and politics as well as protection from violence.”
The EU said that advancing women’s leadership and economic empowerment was “an absolute priority” and reiterated its commitment to “lead by example”.
The UN began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975 and in 1977, the UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.
The day has since been celebrated every year to commemorate the movement for women’s rights.
The official UN theme for 2018 is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives”. (NAN)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza