Background
International Women’s Day (March 8, 2012) is recognized around the globe as a day to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. International Women’s Day provides the opportunity to celebrate the achievement of women around the globe, raise awareness of women’s issues, and inspire people to continue to fight for women’s rights.
The Role of Social Workers
Social work has a special focus on women because of the profession’s dedication to ending discrimination and working toward social justice. NASW recognizes the wide range of issues that affect women and is committed to advancing policies and practices to improve the status and well-being of all women, both in the U.S. and internationally.
NASW strongly supports a number of international women’s rights issues, including:
- U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
- Achievement of Millennium Development Goal #3 to promote gender equity and empower women;
- Realization of Millennium Development Goal #5 to improve maternal health and achieve universal access to reproductive health;
- Passage of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in the U.S. Congress.
Take Action
Get informed!
To learn more about International Women’s Day, click here.
Click here for more information about how NASW supports international women’s rights and click here for more information on NASW’s work on women’s issues.
For more information on universal access to family planning and reproductive health care, (Millennium Development Goal #5), click here.
