The following opinion pieces recognize International Women’s Day, which takes place annually on March 8.

Huffington Post: Better Education Will Mean Better Health for Young Women and Girls
Julia Gillard, 27th prime minister of Australia and Board chair of the Global Partnership for Education

“…There is compelling evidence that better education outcomes lead to improved health outcomes for young women and girls, especially when it comes to HIV. … If we invest in girls’ schooling, health benefits will follow. A better-educated girl is less likely to get HIV and more likely to be able to make her own choices about when she marries and how many children she’ll have. … Education empowers girls to make healthy decisions, boosting their self-esteem and building the knowledge and skills they need to negotiate safer relationships. We must continue to place a high premium on access to and the quality of education; because this is the best tool we have for keeping our girls healthy, and keeping the scourge of infections like HIV far away” (3/7).

Huffington Post: Women and Food: The Key to a Healthier Planet
Anika Rahman, non-profit executive leader and lawyer for human rights and sustainable development

“…[F]ocusing on women involved in agriculture will enable us to tackle the key issues of our time — gender inequality and climate change. Women have a crucial role to play in global natural resource management, environmental sustainability, and food security. … [However, they] continue to have unequal access to resources, land, income, information, and technology. They also play a limited role in policy formulation and decision-making related to the environment. … [T]his International Women’s Day, let’s remember the crucial connection between women, food, and our global struggle for equality and climate change. Let’s commit to taking actions that advance women and our planet’s future” (3/7).

Huffington Post: Unlocking The Potential Of 1 Billion Women And Girls
Joel C. Spicer, president and CEO of Micronutrient Initiative

“…Women and girls are the engines of development, but too many of those engines are being held back. Removing the brakes of malnutrition for millions of women and girls is essential for their health and strength and for unlocking their full potential as leaders, workers, caregivers, and human beings. … We need to look at investments in women and girls’ nutrition not as acts of charity, but as the development of a low-cost, high-impact natural resource that can generate high returns for humanity on every level. … As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s right to wonder what the full potential of one billion additional women might contribute to achieving a more stable, inclusive, and prosperous world…” (3/7).