The following opinion pieces and editorial address issues surrounding International Women’s Day, recognized on March 8.

Huffington Post: The Three Common Needs Of Every Woman (No Matter Where She’s From)
Sharon D’Agostino, vice president of Corporate Citizenship at Johnson & Johnson, and Musimbi Kanyoro, president and CEO of the Global Fund for Women

The “Global Fund for Women (GFW) defends and expands hard won gains in women’s rights by focusing on three critical areas: zero violence, economic and political empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. I interviewed Musimbi in commemoration of International Women’s Day. Check out our interview below, where we discuss backlash against empowered women, the 2015 U.N. agenda, and, of course, the courage to keep going…” (3/7).

Huffington Post: Girls and Young Women Inspiring Change
Victoria Dunning, executive vice president of the Global Fund for Children

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, Inspiring Change, is appropriate at a time when the role and influence and future of women are changing rapidly. From Cairo to Kiev, from Washington to Juba, women have been at the forefront of changing history. … Across the globe, we have seen the power of education, mentoring, sports, the arts, leadership and job training to elevate the status and well-being of girls. … As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year, let’s resolve to elevate girls as they sow the seeds of greatness” (3/6).

Huffington Post: International Women’s Day — How Empowering One Impacts Many
Vicki Escarra, CEO of Opportunity International

“…Women are the world’s greatest untapped resource. That is why we must work to remove those road blocks in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, to help women launch and expand businesses to transform their lives, strengthen their families and improve their communities. … International Women’s Day reminds us that by investing in one woman, we give her the power to ignite change around the world” (3/6).

Huffington Post: Empowering Communities in India to Overcome Poverty — One Woman at a Time
Loren Hyatt, emergency response and communications officer with Lutheran World Relief

“Women have the power to pull communities out of poverty. During the past year, I have met countless women who are defying the odds to provide for their families and are slowly but surely changing their destiny and giving their children a brighter future. There is no better example of the power of women as change agents than those living in India’s Bihar State…” (3/6).

The Lancet: An inspired change — stopping sexual violence against women
“International Women’s Day, this year themed Inspiring Change, falls on March 8. For more than a century, this event has marked women’s achievements in a world where the sexes are far from equal in many countries. In promoting the education, health, and success of women, the day has addressed the distressing but key topic of violence against women more than once. … Ongoing development of culturally apt methods to study sexual violence will provide foundations for the deep-seated changes in culture, policy, and law needed to protect women’s lives and health in all countries” (3/8).