by Erica Oakley, Humanitas Global Development
International Women's Day is our time to focus on the issues that are important to women and girls. We think it is also a time to draw attention to the great work that is being done by people and organizations around the world in addressing these needs.
In honor of International Women's Day, we at the Humanitas Global Development blog would like to recognize a few organizations - everyday heroes - that we think are doing tremendous work in tackling issues that impact women and girls:
- Women are the largest untapped pool of human potential according to Vital Voices. By investing, training and mentoring thousands of women every year, Vital Voices is working to unleash this untapped resource and transform the lives of women and those around them.
- According to Every Mother Counts, 800 women die every day from pregnancy and childbirth complications - the leading cause of death for women worldwide of reproductive age. Every Mother Counts is using their resources to ensure that women do not have to die giving life through informing, engaging and mobilizing the global community.
- Women and girls are deeply impacted by the effects of conflict and war and are often invisible victims. Women for Women International is working to change this by tirelessly assisting women in war torn areas through providing key services such as education, training, and counseling.
- Approximately 10 million girls are married before the age of 18. The White Ribbon Alliance For Save Motherhood is making great strides in tackling not only child marriage but a whole host of women's and girl's issues from ensuring government accountability to family planning - and everything in between.
- According to Pro Mujer, Latin America has one of the highest rates of gender inequality and income disparity in the world. Approximately 200 million people—almost one-third of the population—live below the poverty line. Of these, 70% lack access to health services. Pro Mujer is working to reverse this trend by providing financial, training and healthcare services to women in 5 Latin American countries.
- With women accounting for the majority of the world's poorest and six out of ten of the world's hungry, Women Thrive Worldwide has their work cutout for them. But Women Thrive - through their tireless effort in being a voice for women around the globe - are ensuring that women's priorities are seen and heard.
- The International Center for Research on Women believes that women are integral to alleviating global poverty and that no woman or girl can reach her full potential if her basic right to a healthy, safe life is not honored. Through their work on child marriage, agriculture, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and technology (just to name a few), they are empowering women, fighting for gender equality and combating poverty.
These are just a few of the countless organizations who work tirelessly everyday to create a world where women and girls are valued and gender is no longer a barrier for living a happy, healthy and productive life. On International Women's Day, we thank these organizations and people who are working to make the world a better place!
