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Editorial: Tide turning toward equality

Commit to and practise having modern attitudes about gender equality and women’s rights

International Women’s Day was celebrated this week and it’s the most important one yet. The voices calling for equality are louder than ever, so it’s imperative to seize that momentum and call for change now.

The United Nations theme for the day was The Time is Now, recognizing the activism that is changing women’s lives and that which is still needed.

Something has changed since this time last year. The #MeToo and #Time’sUp movements resonated and empowered women to speak up and forced people to listen. Women who have been abused and have faced inequality are being believed. It has sent a message that women don’t have to accept unacceptable treatment.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN under-secretary-general, said in a statement that the “gathering of strength among women” that is happening right now has to be a tipping point. The feminist movement must continue to increase the diversity and the number of people working on gender equality.”

Change might be a slow process in a lot of places, but it doesn’t have to be in 2018, especially where such a fundamental right is concerned.

Gender equality may have been valued here for some time, but more effort needs to be made to really think about what that means on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis. Women and the men who support, love, value and respect them are getting that message across through rallies and marches here and around the world.

Consider supporting causes such as the South Okanagan Women In Need Society, South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society or any of the various local agencies that work to support and empower women.

We all need to commit to and practise having modern attitudes about gender equality and women’s rights. When we see injustice, we all need to speak out against it in our day-to-day lives, and not just on International Women’s Day.