Today is International Women’s Day. I have read a lot of wise words (and less so) in various media today. If you ask yourself “What does the Women’s Day represent in 2011?”, the answer is simple, “it depends on where you are”. After 100 years of marking the day, in a country like Norway some people wonder whether they need it anymore (which could be considered good news). According to UN, we certainly do, but reality is very different for a woman in Bangladesh or Kongo or Norway. A lot has changed the last 100 years, most of it for the better, but if you look at the situation across the globe the sad fact is, quoting retired Major General Patrick Cammaert in 2008, “It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in armed conflicts.”
I am grateful to live in a time and in a part of the world where I can feel relatively safe and have the same constitutional rights as a man. My hat off for the women (and men) who made it possible, and for those who are working to make it a reality for women in other parts of the world. I invite you to look at a photo story from around the world on « Celebrating 100 years of achievements for women and health » from the WHO: http://www.who.int/features/2011/international_womens_day/en/index.html
