International Women’s Day 2019 should be more than just one day on the calendar. Women must be granted with more than one day to honor them properly. Countless times we watch the daily news, tragic stories of girls and women, beaten up, disrespected, brutally mistreated at home, at work, at school, just because they are females. This year theme is “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”.

UN Women research indicates that 740 million women currently make their living in the informal economy with limited access to social protection, public services and infrastructure that could increase their productivity and income security. One in three women are likely to face violence in their lifetimes, yet public services, urban planning and transport systems are rarely planned with women’s safety and mobility in mind. This year’s focus brings innovation to the center stage and leverages it for gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.

The targets we’re trying to aim, do not suffice to achieve the gender equality by 2030.

The achievement of the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires transformative shifts, integrated approaches and new solutions, particularly when it comes to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

In recent years Albania has improved the status of women and promoted gender equality. However, our country still faces many challenges in terms of fully displaying and utilizing the women’s potential in the labor market and economy, increasing participation in decision-making and eradicating the widespread violence against women, particularly in the family realm.

Today we would like to celebrate all of the beautiful, bright and selfless women of this country, our mothers, our daughters, our teachers, the ones that fight for their rights every day.

Empower women, empower the community! Happy International Women’s Day 2019!

#BalanceforBetter #IWD2019 #genderequality

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