Celebrating International Women's Day

The day started very well today and why shouldn't it...its International Women's Day and I am celebrating my life, my sisters and my work. Press Releases done, meetings planned and radio interviews organised yet the stories kept coming in; stories about the woman whoose husband beat last night, of the young woman who lost her life after giving birth to a baby, of the 12 year old school girl who was raped by a 65 year old man in South-West Nigeria, and I ask myself what exactly are we celebrating today?

Despite existence of laws against gender-based violence particularly violence inflicted on women and of several international instruments on equality, elimination of discrimination, etc, women and girls still have to struggle against social, cultural, religious, economic barriers to achieve their dreams.

I celebrate International women's day today and always because I can speak up and speak out. I can have an opinion and I can lead.

Happy International Women's Day!

Osai