U.S. Embassy Celebrates International Women’s Day on Eve of PNG National Women’s Forum

The United States has made advancing the status of women and girls a central element of our partnerships with the people of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. As friends, we’ve focused on reducing disparities and promoting gender equality across all of our work to foster economic growth, peace, and security. Nations can only succeed if all citizens are treated with dignity and allowed to participate as actors in delivering transparent, inclusive and sustainable growth for their citizens. A strong, secure and prosperous Melanesia is good for those living in the region and for the rest of the world.

In the next few days, we will be co-hosting a PNG National Women’s Forum with the Ministry for Religion, Youth and Community Development. Since the first National Women’s Forum we have been working with like-minded allies on an ambitious change agenda to advance women’s economic empowerment. Coming out of this week’s Forum we look forward to renewed commitments, new ideas and even better results.

The Forum dates are no accident. March 8, 2015 marks the 104th observance of International Women’s Day. The creation of International Women’s Day emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the 20th century in North America and across Europe. In its early years, the day honored the women’s rights movement, including advocating for the right to vote and hold public office, and for ending discrimination in the workplace. International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have made a difference in their communities and countries.

No country can get ahead if it leaves half of its people behind. This is why gender equality is critical to our shared goals of prosperity, stability, and peace, and why investing in women and girls worldwide is critical for all nations.

The crises we face as partners in a global community – from infectious disease, to violent extremism, to extreme poverty and climate change – impact and enable women and men differently. While women and girls can suffer disproportionately as disease spreads or violence grows, they are also often on the front lines, offering solutions and working diligently to stem the crises at hand – not only for themselves, but for their families, communities, and countries. For these reasons, we must ensure that the women of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are not left behind and are empowered to take their rightful place in their societies.

In too many societies and too many homes, women and girls are still undervalued and denied opportunities to participate and contribute economically, politically, and socially. When the voices of women and girls are left unheard, when their health and safety is left unprotected, when they are denied an education – their potential is wasted. Too often, that lost potential is the difference between peace and instability, extremism and moderation, poverty and well-being.

Economic stability, peace, and prosperity depend upon protecting and advancing the rights of women and girls. The progress we’ve made in advancing women’s employment, health, and education has led to greater economic growth and stronger societies, but we have a long way to go. By integrating women’s perspectives into peace negotiations and security efforts, our partnerships that focus on women’s rights and gender issues have helped prevent conflict and have ensured durable peace agreements. When women and men are equally empowered as political and social actors, governments are more representative and effective.

Together, we must remain strong champions for gender equality and the rights of women and girls. We must continue to promote women’s economic and political participation by addressing discrimination against women in economic and political spheres, by fostering entrepreneurship and leadership, by removing barriers to meaningful engagement and opportunity, and by eliminating gender based violence.

For all these reasons, International Women’s Day and the Forum are great opportunities to renew the call for action, investment, and commitment to women’s equality. As partners, we are at a moment of historic opportunity. Each of us must be an advocate for women’s rights and we must ensure that every individual, regardless of gender or other characteristics, is allowed to contribute to and be a valued member of their society.

Women and girls drive our economies. They build peace and prosperity. Investing in them means investing in global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for everyone. As we honor all women today on International Women’s Day, let us recognize that all women are women of courage and that we renew our resolve to work for the cause of equality each and every day of the year.