Media advisory

Media advisory: International Women’s Day, 8 March 2022

(New York, 1 March) – This year’s International Women’s Day (8 March) takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing global pandemic and emerging new strains, but also in a world desperately trying to emerge from the impact of this pandemic and focus again on other urgent and critical global issues such as climate change.

Expanding into the increasing focus on climate change in the political and public sphere, reinforced by COP26, International Women’s Day 2022 will recognize and celebrate the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the change for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for all.

Despite increasing evidence on the vital correlation between gender, social equity and climate change; historically, climate change scientists, researchers, and policymakers have struggled with how to make the connection. When climate-change induced disasters hit, women and girls’ lives and livelihoods are disproportionally affected. This is due to lack of information, mobility, decision-making and access to resources and training, as well as gender-based cultural norms and barriers.

Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.

Women and girls play a central role in addressing, mitigating, and solving the climate crisis. Women possess unique knowledge and experience, particularly at the local level, in areas such as agriculture, conservation and the management of natural resources. Women are more likely to consider their families and communities in decision-making processes, allowing for more holistic and effective climate action. Their inclusion in decision-making processes, as well as including the gender lens into climate and environmental policies is critical to effective climate action.

Members of the media are invited to cover the following events:

International Women’s Day official UN Observance: Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

8 March 2022, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (EST)

The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day will be held virtually this year. The event will gather powerful voices of UN senior officials, activists, government representatives and experts from around the globe to discuss women and girls’ contributions to Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

Speakers will include:

  • António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations
  • Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Mathu Joyini, Chair of the 66th Session of the Commission of the Status of Women
  • Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women
  • Jane Goodall, Founder of Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

A high-level panel will feature:

  • Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Republic of Maldives
  • Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President, Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad
  • Katharine Wilkinson, Author and Environmentalist; Leader of The All We Can Save Project
  • Maria Reyes, Climate justice activist, Fridays for Future Most Affected Peoples and Areas (MAPA) and leading member of the Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition

The event will include musical performances by Angelica Hale and Broadway Singers.

The event will be webcast live on YouTube and UN Web TV. For any questions contact media.team[at]unwomen.org.

Ring the Bell for Gender Equality Events at Stock Exchange

For the eighth consecutive year, UN Women and IFC, Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, UN Global Compact and the World Federation of Exchanges will collaborate with virtual and in person events in over 110 Stock Exchanges around the world to demonstrate their support for women’s rights and gender equality around International Women’s Day.

Participating Stock Exchanges have also taken the opportunity make public commitment to gender equality through the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) as well as by adopting listing criteria to advance women’s representation on boards; developing sustainability-linked bonds with gender criteria or gender-focused bonds; and encouraging women to invest.

UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia will participate in-person to Ring the Bell in Abu Dhabi ADX Trading Hall, on 7 March at 2:00 PM UTC, during her official visit to UAE.

A list of ‘Ring the Bell’ events around the world can be found here. For additional information contact weps[at]unwomen.org

For more information, editorial content and assets on International Women’s Day 2022

WEBSITE: https://www.unwomen.org

SOCIAL MEDIA: Join the online conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #IWD2022, and by following @UN_Women.

For interviews with senior UN Women officials, contact media.team[at]unwomen.org

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