#HerDay2015: Be Part of the Conversation Making Change

by Sangeeta Haindl
Mar 6, 2015 4:00 PM ET
Campaign: CSR Blogs

Justmeans

International Women’s Day, 8 March, is a time to reflect on progress made, call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. This year’s United Nation’s theme on International Women’s Day is “Empowering Women - Empowering Humanity: Picture It!", which envisions a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, from participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination. However, sadly, for far too many women and girls living in the developing world, they face overwhelming odds from the day they are born.

Gender equality is a human right. Women are entitled to live with dignity and with freedom from poverty. Gender equality is also a precondition for advancing development and reducing poverty: empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities, and they improve prospects for the next generation. Yet, in spite of solid evidence demonstrating the need to empower women to reduce poverty, promote development and address the world’s most urgent challenges, it remains an unfulfilled promise.

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Sangeeta Haindl writes on social innovation, social enterprise, and social entrepreneurs. She is the owner of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer, and Futurist. She enjoys helping others, paying it forward, and being a mum.