International Women´s Day, Gender equality, women´s rights, human rights, empowering women, female leadership, March 8th, female voices, sustainable economic development, reducing poverty, equal human rights, change leadership, thought leadership. Each year on March 8th, International Women´s Day is being celebrated worldwide. Some men have asked, why women must be celebrated? Why do men have no International Men´s Day? Should we rather ask why we actually need an International Day for Women? The purpose of International Women´s Day is to remind us all of the fact that we are yet far from having reached gender equality. Women across the world must get their voices heard. Due to many different reasons, including culture, tradition, legislature etc., many countries/societies across our globe prevent women from having the same opportunities in life as men. What we all must understand is that empowering women through women´s birthright, Universal Human Rights, that apply to both genders, we contribute to developing a sustainable global economy, where all human beings have equal access e.g. to education and to workforce (and, a profession of their choice/level of education, knowledge and skills), narrowing down gender gaps and transforming societies to become less gender oriented. According to research and statistics, girls and women that have equal access to primary, to secondary, and even to higher education give birth to fewer children. Not that children would be unwanted in our world, but when girls and women are economically empowered through education and through an unlimited access to the global job market/have the possibility of practicing their learned profession/becoming entrepreneurs, it has multiple beneficial effects upon societies, including better health for both women and children, and less poverty. In our overpopulated world with too many children suffering from hunger, malnutrition and poverty, it is important for parents to have the opportunity of raising healthy children which ultimately will lead to healthier economies and societies. By giving girls and women equal opportunities and allowing females to access their basic human rights, economies and societies worldwide empower and help women to be capable of taking care of, not only their own futures, but the futures of their children equally.... To read the whole article, visit my website https://www.leadingwithpassion.org For more articles upon sustainable economic development, human rights, and leadership, do subscribe to upcoming posts. You can also follow me on Twitter @annemariayritys @LeadingWPassion @GCCThinkActTank @AroundOMedia I do #followback. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. If I am unable to accept your contact request immediately, just press the connect/follow button and I will get back to you. Thank you.